TRIPLE CROWN
The Triple Crown of horse racing is a prestigious achievement that involves winning three specific races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses.
These races are:
The Kentucky Derby: The first leg of the Triple Crown, held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s a 1.25-mile (2.0 km) race known as “The Run for the Roses” due to the blanket of roses awarded to the winner.
The Preakness Stakes: The second leg, taking place two weeks after the Kentucky Derby at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It’s a 1.1875-mile (1.91 km) race often referred to as “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” after the floral blanket presented to the winner.
The Belmont Stakes: The final leg, held three weeks after the Preakness Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It’s the longest of the three races, at 1.5 miles (2.4 km), and is sometimes dubbed “The Test of the Champion.”
To win the Triple Crown, a horse must triumph in all three of these races within the same racing season. The demanding schedule, varying distances, and different track conditions make winning the Triple Crown an incredibly challenging accomplishment. It’s considered the pinnacle of achievement in Thoroughbred horse racing, with only a select few horses managing to achieve this feat throughout history.
2024 Triple Crown Schedule:
- May 3 – 4, 2024. The Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.
- May 18, 2024. Preakness Stakes. Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD.
- June 8, 2024. Belmont Stakes. Belmont Park, Elmont, NY.