Triple Crown Horse Racing refers to the "Triple Crown" event, the name was invented in 1930
by the sportswriter Charles Hatton. It refers to three races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes
and the Belmont Stakes. Triple Crown horse racing is a difficult event to win and the last winner was in 1978.

January 1st marks the birthday for all Thoroughbreds and the new three-year-olds will start their
campaigns for the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown. The Tropical Park Derby, run on New Year's Day, is the first Derby of the year and the beginning of a schedule of preps that will run every weekend
until the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. It has been 29 years since Affirmed won the
last Triple Crown, will someone finally take the big prize this year?

Triple Crown Horse Racing
The Triple Crown is for three-year old horses and is the most difficult race in all of thoroughbred racing.
It has only been won by 11 horses, with 42 falling short of one win. The first victory was in 1919, by Sir Barton. The Triple Crown Challenge was introduced in 1987, where it was announced that a $1 million bonus would be given to the horse that had performed best in the three races. A bonus of $5 million would also be presented to the horse which managed to win all three races. The rules stated that the winning horse must (1) complete all three races, (2) gain points by finishing first, second, third or fourth in at least one of the three races, and (3) must gain the highest number of points based on a points system (10 points for winning, five to place, three to show, one to finish fourth). The Triple Crown Challenge was discontinued in 1994.

It has been 25 years since the last winner of the Triple Crown horse racing event and there are no
living winners left. People are beginning to wonder whether there will be another winner. The Breeders' Cup is now more important than the Triple Crown, to determine the true value of a racehorse. Recently, horses that have won the first race in the Triple Crown have been pulled out of the event to
race elsewhere or to rest.

For more information on Triple Crown horse racing visit the main website.

For contenders and news on the Kentucky Derby click here.

For entries and news on the Preakness Stakes click here.

For information and news on the Belmont Stakes click here.