The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
Taking place from May through early June of each year, the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a series of races for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. Starting with the Kentucky Derby, moving to the Preakness Stakes and finally the Belmont Stakes, winning these three races is considered the most illustrious achievement in a thoroughbred's career. Each race features its own rituals, as honoring history is an important part of the events. In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about the three races that comprise the U.S. Triple Crown, and about the traditions and difficulties each race presents.
Commonly referred to as simply the Triple Crown, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a series of three races run by three-year-old thoroughbred horses.
The United States Triple Crown is comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Winning these three races is deemed the most illustrious achievement in a thoroughbred horse’s career.
Held annually at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby is the first of the three races, and takes place the first Saturday each May. At one and a quarter miles long, the Derby is known as "the most exciting, or the fastest, two minutes in sports," for its estimated duration.
The Kentucky Derby is also referred to as "The Run for the Roses," as each year’s winner is presented with a red rose garland. A practice now synonymous with the competition, the first garland was presented in 1896. Tradition is a significant part of the Derby atmosphere, and customary food and drink like burgoo and the mint julep, matched with extravagant headwear, complete the Derby experience.
Held on the third Saturday in May, the Preakness Stakes follow the Kentucky Derby as the second leg of the Triple Crown. Held at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, the race runs one and three-sixteenths miles.
Nicknamed "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans," the Preakness Stakes follows the tradition of draping each year’s winner with a blanket made of the Maryland state flower. Another custom sees the audience singing the state song, Maryland, My Maryland, after the animals are called to post.
Once the winner of the Preakness is formally confirmed at the end of the race, the weather vane that sits atop the replica of the Old Clubhouse is painted with the winner’s colors. A ritual that began in 1909, this paint job remains until a new winner is chosen the following year.
If both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness are won by the same horse, excitement begins to rise in anticipation that the same horse will go on to win the final race, and become one of the few to take home the prestigious Triple Crown.
Following the Preakness Stakes, horses and their riders have three weeks to get ready for the Belmont Stakes. The final leg of the Triple Crown, Belmont is also considered the most difficult.
Known as "The Test of Champions" for its length and place as the final leg of the Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes are run in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, the race is one and a half miles long. Many three-year old horses are not used to running this distance, and may lack the endurance to sustain a winning speed throughout the whole race.
Called "The Run for the Carnations," Belmont continues the trend of presenting winners with floral blankets. The white carnation is the official flower of the Belmont Stakes, and this garland is bestowed upon the victor in the winner’s circle.
Also awarded to the winner is the silver Tiffany trophy that was donated by the Belmont family in 1926. This trophy is kept by the winning owner for one year, until the next Belmont winner is crowned.
Throughout the illustrious history of the U.S. races, only 11 horses have succeeded in winning the Triple Crown. To this day, crowds are drawn to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing to partake in longstanding traditions, and for the chance to witness history as the next star leaves the gate.
An Illustrious Achievement
The United States Triple Crown is comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Winning these three races is deemed the most illustrious achievement in a thoroughbred horse’s career.
The Kentucky Derby
Held annually at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, the Kentucky Derby is the first of the three races, and takes place the first Saturday each May. At one and a quarter miles long, the Derby is known as "the most exciting, or the fastest, two minutes in sports," for its estimated duration.
The Kentucky Derby is also referred to as "The Run for the Roses," as each year’s winner is presented with a red rose garland. A practice now synonymous with the competition, the first garland was presented in 1896. Tradition is a significant part of the Derby atmosphere, and customary food and drink like burgoo and the mint julep, matched with extravagant headwear, complete the Derby experience.
The Preakness Stakes
Held on the third Saturday in May, the Preakness Stakes follow the Kentucky Derby as the second leg of the Triple Crown. Held at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, the race runs one and three-sixteenths miles.
Nicknamed "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans," the Preakness Stakes follows the tradition of draping each year’s winner with a blanket made of the Maryland state flower. Another custom sees the audience singing the state song, Maryland, My Maryland, after the animals are called to post.
Once the winner of the Preakness is formally confirmed at the end of the race, the weather vane that sits atop the replica of the Old Clubhouse is painted with the winner’s colors. A ritual that began in 1909, this paint job remains until a new winner is chosen the following year.
If both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness are won by the same horse, excitement begins to rise in anticipation that the same horse will go on to win the final race, and become one of the few to take home the prestigious Triple Crown.
The Belmont Stakes
Following the Preakness Stakes, horses and their riders have three weeks to get ready for the Belmont Stakes. The final leg of the Triple Crown, Belmont is also considered the most difficult.
Known as "The Test of Champions" for its length and place as the final leg of the Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes are run in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, the race is one and a half miles long. Many three-year old horses are not used to running this distance, and may lack the endurance to sustain a winning speed throughout the whole race.
Called "The Run for the Carnations," Belmont continues the trend of presenting winners with floral blankets. The white carnation is the official flower of the Belmont Stakes, and this garland is bestowed upon the victor in the winner’s circle.
Also awarded to the winner is the silver Tiffany trophy that was donated by the Belmont family in 1926. This trophy is kept by the winning owner for one year, until the next Belmont winner is crowned.
Few Have Succeeded
Throughout the illustrious history of the U.S. races, only 11 horses have succeeded in winning the Triple Crown. To this day, crowds are drawn to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing to partake in longstanding traditions, and for the chance to witness history as the next star leaves the gate.
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