You’ve probably heard the name Secretariat. Even people who couldn't tell a Thoroughbred from a mule usually recognize that name. But the story of triple crown racing winners is way messier than a Disney movie. Honestly, it's a miracle we have thirteen winners at all. Think about it. A three-year-old horse has to run three massive races in five weeks. Different tracks. Different distances. It's basically asking a teenager to run a sprint, a middle-distance race, and a marathon all in a month while the world watches.
The pressure is insane.
Most horses break. Their legs give out, or their lungs can’t handle the heat. Or, more often, they just get tired of being pushed. Since 1919, only thirteen horses have actually swept the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. As we sit here in 2026, looking back at the list, you start to see patterns. Or maybe you don't. Some experts say it's all just luck.
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The First "Accidental" Champion
Back in 1919, nobody even called it the Triple Crown. Sir Barton was the first horse to do it, but he wasn't even supposed to win the Derby. He was entered as a "rabbit"—a horse meant to set a fast pace so his famous stablemate, Billy Kelly, could win.
Sir Barton didn't get the memo.
He just kept running. He won the Derby by five lengths. Four days later—yeah, just four days—he won the Preakness. Then he smashed the Belmont. It wasn't until the 1930s that a writer named Charles Hatton started using the term "Triple Crown" to describe the feat. By then, Gallant Fox and his son Omaha had joined the club. Omaha is still the only winner sired by another winner. Kinda makes you think about genetics, right?
Why Triple Crown Racing Winners Stopped Showing Up
After Affirmed won in 1978, the sport went into a coma.
Thirty-seven years.
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That is how long the drought lasted. From 1979 to 2014, we watched thirteen different horses win the first two legs only to die on the vine at the Belmont. Real fans remember the heartbreak of Smarty Jones or California Chrome. People started saying it was impossible. They blamed the breeding. They said modern horses were "too soft" or bred for speed rather than stamina.
Then came American Pharoah in 2015.
Bob Baffert, his trainer, has this way of looking at horses like they’re machines. Pharoah was different. He had this weirdly short tail because another horse bit it off when he was a baby. But man, he could fly. When he crossed that finish line in New York, the sound from the crowd was literal thunder. I've never heard anything like it.
The Short List of Legends
- Secretariat (1973): Still holds the record for all three races. His Belmont win by 31 lengths is basically the most dominant sports performance ever.
- Seattle Slew (1977): The only horse to win it while being undefeated.
- Justify (2018): The most recent. He retired right after, which ticked off a lot of purists.
- Assault (1946): Known as the "Clubfooted Comet" because he stepped on a stake as a baby and walked with a limp.
What Most People Get Wrong
One big misconception is that the best horse always wins. Not even close.
The Belmont Stakes is 1.5 miles. That’s huge for a young horse. Most of these animals have never run that far and never will again. If a jockey moves too early, the horse "hangs"—they run out of gas at the top of the stretch. It's a chess match at 40 miles per hour.
Also, the field size matters. Back in the 40s, sometimes only four or five horses would run against the favorite. Today? You’re looking at twenty horses in the Derby. Getting through that traffic without getting bumped or boxed in is pure chaos.
The 2026 Perspective: Where We Are Now
We’re seeing a lot of changes in how these races are handled. With the new facilities at Belmont Park finally opening up later this year and the shifting schedule discussions, the "traditional" five-week grind is under fire. Some trainers want more time between races. They say it’s better for the horses.
Purists hate it. They think if you change the timing, it’s not the "real" Triple Crown anymore.
Honestly, they might have a point. The whole reason triple crown racing winners are legends is because the task is borderline cruel. It's supposed to be hard. If you give them a month off between starts, you’re just winning three big races, not conquering the "test of the champion."
How to Actually Watch These Races Like a Pro
If you're trying to spot the next winner, don't just look at the speed figures. Look at the ears. A horse with "pricked" ears is usually happy and focused. If they’re pinned back, they’re stressed or hurting.
Keep an eye on the "new shooters"—horses that skip the Preakness to wait for the Belmont. They have fresh legs, and they are the number one reason why Triple Crown bids fail.
Actionable Tips for Racing Fans:
- Check the Pedigree: Look for "distance" bloodlines (like A.P. Indy or Tapit) for the Belmont, not just sprinters.
- Watch the Post-Race: See how heavy a horse is breathing after the Preakness. If they're distressed, they won't survive the 1.5 miles of the Belmont.
- Follow the Jockeys: Experience at Belmont Park is everything. The track is so big that jockeys often misjudge where the finish line actually is.
- Ignore the Hype: Just because a horse won the Derby by daylight doesn't mean they can handle the different dirt at Pimlico or the "Big Sandy" at Belmont.
To really understand horse racing, you have to accept that these are 1,200-pound athletes with the minds of toddlers. Anything can happen. A bird flies across the track? They spook. A clod of dirt hits them in the eye? They quit. That’s why being one of the triple crown racing winners is the hardest thing to do in sports. It requires a perfect horse, a perfect jockey, and a massive amount of luck from the universe.
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Start paying attention to the prep races in early spring. That’s where the real stories begin, long before the roses are ever handed out.
Next Steps: You should check the current standings for the Road to the Kentucky Derby to see which three-year-olds are showing the stamina needed for a potential sweep. Watching replay footage of Secretariat's 1973 Belmont is also a great way to understand what "perfect" looks like on a racetrack.