Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown is said to be one of the most elusive feats to capture in all of sports. Three races, in three states, in just five weeks; only the toughest three-year-olds set out in pursuit of it. It starts with the 1 ¼ mile test in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in the heart of Louisville, is followed two weeks later with the 1 3/16 mile Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course just outside of Baltimore, Maryland, and ends with 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on the outskirts of New York City. Below are 13 fast facts about past Triple Crown bids and winners.

1. Triple Crown Winners

As of 2022, there have only been 13 Triple Crown winners:

1919 – Sir Barton
1930 – Gallant Fox
1935 – Omaha
1937 – War Admiral
1941 – Whirlaway
1943 – Count Fleet
1946 – Assault
1948 – Citation
1973 – Secretariat
1977 – Seattle Slew
1978 – Affirmed
2015 – American Pharoah
2018 – Justify

2. Horses Who Have Won First Two-Thirds of the Triple Crown

As of June 2022, 23 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and lost the Belmont Stakes:

1932 – Burgoo King (did not run)
1936 – Bold Venture (did not run)
1944 – Pensive*
1958 – Tim Tam*
1961 – Carry Back
1964 – Northern Dancer
1966 – Kauai King
1968 – Forward Pass*
1969 – Majestic Prince
1971 – Canonero II*
1979 – Spectacular Bid*
1981 – Pleasant Colony*
1987 – Alysheba
1989 – Sunday Silence
1997 – Silver Charm
1998 – Real Quiet
1999 – Charismatic
2002 – War Emblem*
2003 – Funny Cide
2004 – Smarty Jones
2008 – Big Brown*
2012 – I’ll Have Another (did not run)
2014 – California Chrome*

3. Triple Crown Contenders That Lost to a Horse Who Did Not Run in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness

Of the 20 horses who made it to the starting gate while trying to take home the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes, 9 of them lost to a horse that did not race in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness. Those 9 are marked by an asterisk (*) in the list above.

4. Belmont Stakes Favored Running Style is Not What You Think

Contrary to popular belief, the Belmont Stakes does not favor any particular running style. Since 1898, 66 horses have won the Belmont Stakes while running on or near the lead while 51 horses have won by coming from off the pace.

5. It’s Better to Not Be a Favorite in the Belmont Stakes

Favorites have not fared well in the Belmont Stakes. Since pari-mutuel wagering was introduced in 1940, only 22 horses have won the Belmont Stakes while going off as the post time favorite, while 56 have won at a larger price.

6. Man O’ War Skipped The Kentucky Derby For a Reason

In 1920 Man O’ War won the Preakness by 1 ½ lengths and crushed the Belmont Stakes by 20 lengths. Man O’ War, however, did not run in the Kentucky Derby. Sam Riddle, Man O’ War’s owner, elected not to run in the Kentucky Derby due to his thought that a horse should not run a 10-furlong race so early in their career.

7. Only 1 Triple Crown Winning Horse Has Sired a Triple Crown Winner

Gallant Fox is the only Triple Crown Winner to have sired another Triple Crown winner. And he actually sired two: Omaha and Affirmed.

8. Only 2 Triple Crown Winners Won The Belmont Stakes Not Being The Favorite

Gallant Fox and Assault are the only two horses to enter the Belmont Stakes as Triple Crown bids who did not go off as the post time favorite. Gallant Fox faced 3 horses and went off at 8-5 odds. Assault faced 6 horses and went off at 7-5 odds. Both were the second choice behind the favorite.

9. Only 1 Jockey Has Won The Triple Crown Twice

Eddie Arcaro is the only jockey to win the Triple Crown twice.

10. Only 1 Post Positions Has Produced The Most Belmont Stakes Winners

Post position #1 has produced the most amount of winners in Belmont Stakes history; 24 as of 2022.

11. The Oldest Jockey To Win The Triple Crown

Justify’s jockey, Mike Smith, is the oldest jockey to have won the Triple Crown at 52 years old. Victor Espinoza is the second oldest jockey (43 years old) to have won the Triple Crown, aboard American Pharoah.

12. Two Trainers Have Won The Triple Crown Twice

Up until 2017, James E. Fitzsimmons was the only trainer in history to have saddled two Triple Crown Winners (Gallant Fox and Omaha). In 2018, Bob Baffert was added to this incredibly short list after Justify became his second horse to win the coveted feat just three short years following his first Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah.

13. Uncashed American Pharoah Belmont Stakes $2 Win Tickets

In 2015, there were 94,237 $2 win tickets purchased on American Pharoah. 90,128 of those tickets remained uncashed by the next Monday. Many of them are thought to have become souvenirs for race fans across the country.

This story was originally written in 2017 by Sean Alvarez and was last updated on April 19, 2023 to include current data.