Triple Crown Betting History, Winners and Records

Triple Crown betting history, winners and records for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The ultimate goal for horse owners, trainers and jockeys is to win the beloved Triple Crown. In order to claim the title, a horse must win three races; the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont. A difficult task to accomplish since a race horse must win at three different race tracks, all at different lengths. In Triple Crown history, only 11 race horses over the span of 125 years have won and none have done so since Affirmed in 1978. Will Street Sense be the next Triple Crown champion?

Winning this prestigious title is without a doubt the most demanding part of horseracing and horse betting alike. A horse must first capture the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, then win the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and finally earn victory in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. The Triple Crown dates are run during a span of only five weeks from May to June which makes betting on the Triple Crown a fearsome challenge.

The difficult Triple Crown schedule makes it hard for the many thoroughbred 3-year-old horses as they attempt to shatter past Triple Crown records.  The three races are run in just five weeks and at different distances which is tricky for some horses, jockeys and horse bettors.

In 2006, a horse betting proposition offered a 1/9 payout if a horse was to win the Triple Crown for the first time in 28 years. The reason why chasing down Triple Crown history is so special, is that very few horses have actually won.

According to Triple Crown history, the term “Triple Crown” is credited to sportswriter Charles Hatton who; wrote about Gallant Fox, the second horse ever to win the Triple Crown. The first Triple Crown winner was Sir Barton in 1919.  Sir Barton actually won all three races before the term came into existence. The difficulty of the task has produced horse betting depression for the many long breaks in Triple Crown history waiting for another champion.

After Citation’s win in 1948, it would take another 25 years before a race horse would make Triple Crown history once again.  It was definitely worth the wait though as the winning horse in 1973 was Secretariat, who thrilled horse betting fans and made Triple Crown history by setting records that to this day have not been beat (Kentucky Derby Time: 2:02.17).

Horse betting fans had to wait four more years until Seattle Slew captured the Triple Crown in 1977.  The most recent Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978 with jockey Steve Cauthen aboard.

Many horses have come close to winning the Triple Crown since 1978 including Afleet Alex who won two of the three in 2005 and Smarty Jones who won two of three in 2004 to the excitement of many horse betting fans.  2006 was a sad occasion when Barbaro looked like he would make Triple Crown history but was injured in the Preakness.  In 2008, big brown has won the 134th Kentucky Derby and looks to extend his Triple Crown dreams in the upcoming Preakness Stakes. Here is a look at the list of past Triple Crown winners and then look at those who almost made Triple Crown history.