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The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for Thoroughbreds, often restricted to three-year-olds. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment in Thoroughbred racing. The term originated in mid-19th-century England and nations where Thoroughbred racing is popular, each having their own Triple Crown series.
Since the 2,000 Guineas was first run in 1809, fifteen horses (including three winners of substitute races at Newmarket during the First World War) have won the English Triple Crown. The most recent – and only winner since World War II – was Nijinsky, in 1970. For many years, it was considered unlikely that any horse would ever win the English Triple Crown again. In the winter of 2006/2007, however, trainer Jim Bolger was training his unbeaten colt Teofilo for the Triple Crown[1] and bookmaker William Hill plc was offering odds of only 12/1 on Teofilo winning the 2007 Triple Crown. The horse was withdrawn from the 2000 Guineas two days before the race after suffering a setback and never raced again.
Since Nijinsky, only Nashwan (1989), Sea the Stars (2009) and Camelot (2012) have won both the Guineas and the Derby. Between Reference Point in 1987 and Camelot in 2012, no Derby winner (not even the potential Triple Crown winners Nashwan and Sea the Stars) even entered the St. Leger. This reluctance to compete in the St. Leger is said to be because of the impact it would have on a horse's stud value in a market where speed is preferred to stamina.
†Wartime winners Pommern, Gay Crusader and Gainsborough are not counted, according to many judges,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". as the three races were all held at Newmarket and racing itself was too disrupted. By this reckoning, there were only 12 triple crown winners, and only three in the 20th century.
Failed Triple Crown attempts
The following horses won the 2000 Guineas and Derby but were beaten in the St Leger:
There is also a Fillies Triple Crown for a filly winning the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes.[2] In the past, this was not considered a true Triple Crown as the best fillies would often run in the Derby and Two Thousand Guineas. As this is no longer the case, the Fillies' Triple Crown would now be considered as comparable as the original. Winners of the Fillies Triple Crown are:
Formosa – 1868 (also dead heated in the Two Thousand Guineas)
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There have been several different versions of the Triple Tiara (sometimes known as the Filly Triple Crown) in the United States. One of them was a national version that consisted of undercard events on the same weekends as the associated Triple Crown races:
Kentucky Oaks, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a dirt track, at Churchill Downs;
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, run over Script error: No such module "convert". (previously Script error: No such module "convert".) on a dirt track, at Pimlico Race Course;
Acorn Stakes, run over Script error: No such module "convert". (previously Script error: No such module "convert".) on a dirt track, at Belmont Park;
Only one filly won this version of the Triple Tiara, Davona Dale in 1979. Few have even tried as the short time between the Kentucky Oaks and Black-Eyed Susan is generally considered too short for fillies.
In 2010, the NYRA changed the configuration of the Triple Tiara to include the Alabama Stakes instead of the Mother Goose. As of 2022, no filly has won the reconfigured Triple Tiara.
New York Handicap Triple
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The New York Handicap Triple is a series of three handicap races run in New York.[4] Although historically notable, the series is now essentially defunct, as two of the races are run on the same day, making a sweep impossible. In addition, only the Metropolitan Handicap maintains a top-level designation and continues to be run as a handicap. The series consists of:
Metropolitan Handicap, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a dirt track, at Belmont Park;
Brooklyn Handicap (now run as the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes), run over Script error: No such module "convert". (now Script error: No such module "convert".) on a dirt track, at Belmont Park;
Suburban Handicap (now run as the Suburban Stakes), run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a dirt track, at Belmont Park;
In 2019, the New York Racing Association established two series of races for three-year-olds on the turf: the Turf Trinity and the Turf Tiara.[9][10] As of 2022, neither has been swept by a singular horse.
The Turf Trinity consists of:
Belmont Derby, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a turf track at Belmont Park
The Canadian Triple Crown was established in 1959 and since then seven horses have won it. In 2014, the Hall of Fame decided to honor the five horses who had won the three races before 1959, meaning 12 horses are now officially recognized as winning the Canadian Triple Crown.[12][13][14]
On 9 May 2023, it was announced that Western Canada would have their own Triple Crown, also dubbed the Western Canadian Triple Crown. The Western Canadian Triple Crown consists of:
Tarzino Trophy, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a turf track at Hawke's Bay Racecourse
Horlicks Plate, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a turf track at Hawke's Bay Racecourse
Livamol Spring Classic, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a turf track at Hawke's Bay Racecourse
The New Zealand Triple Crown is also known as the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown or Hastings Triple Crown as all three races are run there.
The only horse to win the New Zealand Triple Crown is Melody Belle in 2019.[18]
New Triple Crown Series
Three new Triple Crown series were announced for the 2019/2020 season. Each series consists of three prestigious Group races with a $100,000 bonus for the winner of all three races.[19]
Previously the French Triple Crown for fillies consisted of:
Poule d'Essai des Pouliche
Prix de Diane
Prix Royal-Oak
No filly ever won the series.
Japan
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Japan's JRA has two sets of races referred to as Triple Crowns. In addition, the NAR has announced that it would create its own Dirt Triple Crown starting from 2024, comprising the Haneda Hai, Tokyo Derby, and the Japan Dirt Derby.[21][22]
The Japanese Dirt Triple Crown is run by the NAR instead of the JRA. Most dirt racing in Japan is run under the NAR. In 2022 the NAR announced an official Dirt Triple Crown that includes 3 pre-existing domestic Grade 1 races, all three of which are run on dirt tracks.[22] These are:
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the Tokyo Derby, run over Script error: No such module "convert".
the Japan Dirt Classic, run over Script error: No such module "convert".
All three races are held at Oi Racecourse in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. Although the Triple Crown did not debut until 2024, the three races comprising it have all been run since 1999. 3 horses have thus retroactively won a Dirt Triple Crown:
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Breeder
1999
Orion The Thanks
Hideharu Hayata
Kiyomatsu Akama
Keiko Hiura
Takanori Morinaga
2001
Toshin Blizzard
Takayuki Ishizaki
Kenji Sato
Eiichi Izumi
Kazue Muranaka
2023
Mick Fire
Norifumi Mikamoto
Kazuo Watanabe
Koichi Hoshika
Takahashi Farm
Argentina
The three races that compose the Triple Crown in Argentina are:[26]
A Quadruple Crown adding the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, run over Script error: No such module "convert". miles on the turf and open to older horses, is also recognised. Winners are:
Prior to 1963,[56] the Rio de Janeiro Triple Crown consisted of the Grande Prêmio Outono[57] (Script error: No such module "convert". on turf[46]), Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul, and Grande Prêmio Distrito Federal (Script error: No such module "convert". on turf).[46] From 1963 to 1993, it consisted of the Grande Prêmio Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul, and Grande Prêmio Jockey Club Brasileiro (Script error: No such module "convert". on turf).[56] From 1994 to 2003, the order of the Grande Prêmio Jockey Club Brasileiro and Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul were reversed in order.[58] The current configuration started in 2004.
The Rio de Janeiro Filly Triple Crown consists of:[45]
Historically, the São Paulo Triple Crown ran without the Grande Prêmio Jockey Club de São Paulo, with the Grande Prêmio Consagração (Script error: No such module "convert". on a turf track) being run as the third and final leg.[74]
All the races that compose the Mexican Triple Crown and the Mexican Fillies' Triple Crown are hosted at the Hipódromo de las Américas in Mexico City.
Panama
Crown Races
The races that make up the Triple Crown in Panama are held at the Hipódromo Presidente Remón and are as follows:
1. Primera Gema: Clásico Arturo, Eric, Max, Eric Arturo, and Eric Antonio Delvalle(Grade 2) (1800 m)
2. Segunda Gema: Clásico Augusto Samuel Boyd Paredes and Daniela Boyd (Grade 2) (1800 m)
3. Tercera Gema: Clásico Carlos Eleta Almarán, Fernando Eleta Almarán, and Raquel Eleta(Grade 2) (1800 m)
In Panamanian racing history, 16 horses have achieved the Triple Crown. Pindín was the first Triple Crown winner in 1964, while El Rojo was the most recent, securing the title in 2023.[88]
A Quadruple Crown adding the Gran Premio Nacional Augusto B. Leguia, run over Script error: No such module "convert". on a turf track, is also recognised.[97] Winners are:
Horses that have won any combination of three of the above races are also sometimes considered Triple Crown winners. Horses that have done this are:[89]
Won Polla de Potrances, Gran Premo Enrique Ayulo Pardo, Gran Premio Nacional Augusto B. Leguia
Hong Kong
The Triple Crown series at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse consists of three races at increasingly longer distances. Unlike most other Triple Crown events, these races are not confined to three-year-olds.[98] They are:
The Hungarian Fillies' Triple Crown (not officially listed by the Hungarian racing authorities) consists of:
Hazafi dij (Hungarian 1000 Guineas)
Magyar Kancadíj (Hungarian Oaks)
Magyar St. Leger (Hungarian St. Leger)
No filly has swept the Hungarian Fillies' Triple Crown.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Triple Crown series consists of:
Swiss Derby (2400 metres, turf, Frauenfeld)
Swiss 2000 Guineas (1600 metres, turf, at Zurich)
Swiss St. Leger
The Swiss Fillies Triple Crown consists of:
Swiss Oaks
Swiss 1000 Guineas (1600 metres, turf)
Swiss St. Leger
One horse has won the Swiss Triple Crown.
Majofils – 2006
Denmark
In Denmark, the Triple Crown series consists of:
Dansk Derby
Dansk Forarslob (Danish 2000 Guineas)
Dansk St. Leger
Three horses have won the Danish Triple Crown:
Sunbeam – 1939
Asa Thor – 1945
Hallo – 1946
The Danish Filly Triple Crown consists of:
Dansk Oaks
Marowinalob (Danish1000 Guineas)
Dansk St. Leger
One filly has swept all three races:
Rossard – 1983
Rossard was one of the most successful runners in Denmark's history, being a Grade One winner in the US. She later became a good broodmare, with her son Unusual Heat being a leading sire in California.
Russia
The Russian Triple Crown differs from other Triple Crowns in a major way by instead having its three jewels be spread out over three years. The Triple Crown consists of:[108]
Grand Prize (1600m for 2-year-olds)
Grand All Russian Derby (2400m for 3-year-olds)
Prize of the Minister of Agriculture (3200m for 4-year-olds)
Currently only three horses have won this version of the Triple Crown
Budynok – 1930
Grog II – 1950
Anilin – 1965
There is a more traditional 3-year-old triple crown in Russia modeled after the English Triple Crown but no horse has ever won all three races. But if they did they would have to win;
Grand Summer Prize (1600m Russian 2,000 Guineas)
Grand All Russian Derby (2400m)
S.M. Budyonny Prize (2800m Russian St.Leger)
Sweden
The Swedish Triple Crown consists of:
Svenskt Derby
Jockeyklubbens Jubileumslöpning (Swedish Two Thousand Guineas)
Svenskt St. Leger
Three horses have swept the Swedish Triple Crown:
Birgit – 1940
Coast Guard – 1952
Homosassa – 1985
The Swedish Filly Triple Crown consists of:
Dianalöpning (Swedish One Thousand Guineas)
Svensk Oaks
Svenskt St. Leger
One filly has swept all three races:
Wonderbird – 1953
Norway
The Norwegian Triple Crown series consists of:
Norsk 2000 Guineas
Norsk Derby
Norsk St. Leger
Eight horses have swept the Norwegian Triple Crown:
Cato – 1943
Sally – 1944
Primadonna – 1945
Askepot – 1948
Trainer's Seat – 1976
Dalby Jaguar – 1981
Sunorius – 1987
Without Fear – 2011
Privilegiado – 2019
The Norwegian Filly Triple Crown consists of:
Norsk 1000 Guineas
Norsk Oaks
Norsk St. Leger
No filly has won all three races.
The Netherlands
The Dutch Triple Crown consists of:
Hengsten Productenren (Dutch 2000 Guineas)
Dutch Derby
Dutch St. Leger
The following horses have won the Dutch Triple Crown:
Tosto – in 1951
Sans Valeur – 1954
Jolly Peter – 1959
Jolly Jinks – 1966
Frances Hope – 1976
Ishamo – 1981
Boxberger Speed – 1982
Boxberger Civano – 1984
Sydney Raaphorst – 1985
Double Fun – 2002
The Dutch Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
Merries Productenren (Dutch 1000 Guineas)
Diana-prijs (Dutch Oaks)
Dutch St. Leger
The following horses have swept the series:
Ramana – 1947
Qualissa – 1949 (also won the Dutch Derby)
Que Sara – 1967
Queen of Roses S – 1973 (also won the Dutch Derby)
Libelle – 1980
Carmona – 1983
The Dutch Triple Crown races, except the Dutch Derby and possibly the Dutch Oaks, have not been run since around 2008.
No filly is known to have won the Polish Fillies' Triple Crown, which would conclude with the St. Leger. The Polish St. Leger is now open to 3-year-olds and up.
Czechia
In Czechia, the Triple Crown (Klasická trojkoruna) consists of
All three races are run at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai. The St. Leger was run at Pune between 1970 and 1990, before being shifted to Mumbai. It is now again being run in Pune.
The Kenya Triple Crown series is run at Ngong Racecourse, in Nairobi, and consists of:
Kenya Derby (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄2 miles)
Kenya Guineas (1 mile)
Kenya St. Leger (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+3⁄4 miles)
The three races have been won by:
Heron – 1972
Manuscript – 1978
Pretty Witch (filly) – 1981
Morningstar – 1990
Kings Pattern – 1994
Hawker Fury – 2017
Silverstone Air – 2019
Sheriff John Stone – 2025
The Kenya Fillies' Triple Crown consists of:
Kenya Fillies Guineas (1 mile)
Kenya Oaks (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+1⁄2 miles)
Kenya St. Leger (<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1+3⁄4 miles)
The three races have been won by:
Windsong – 1999
Happy Times – 2015
Western Ballad – 2016
Macau
In Macau, the Macau Jockey Club introduced the Triple Crown Series in 2008, with three races all held in Taipa Racecourse, Macau:
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Macau Cup, Macau Group 2 Race, Script error: No such module "convert".
Macau Gold Cup, Macau Group 1 Race, Script error: No such module "convert".
In 2009 Macau Jockey Club changed the series for 4-year-old horses:[26]
Macau Guineas, Macau Group 1 Race, Script error: No such module "convert"., only for 4-year-old horses
Macau Derby, Macau Group 1 Race, Script error: No such module "convert"., only for 4-year-old horses
Macau Gold Cup, Macau Group 1 Race, Script error: No such module "convert".
In 2010, Luen Yat Forever became the first and, before the Macau Jockey Club stopped holding races from 31 March 2024, the only horse to win the Macau Triple Crown.[110]
Barbados
The Barbados Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is a series of thoroughbred horse races run annually at Garrison Savannah Racetrack near Bridgetown, Barbados, consisting of races of increasing distance:
Barbados Guineas
Midsummer Creole Classic
Barbados Derby
The winners of the Barbados Triple Crown have been:
Watermeet (filly) – 1973
Ginger Lilly (filly) – 1980
Coo-Bird – 1989
Incitatus – 1996
Zouk (filly) – 2006
Areutalkintome – 2009
People's champ – 2021
Hurricane – 2022
Dominican Republic
The three races that compose the Triple Crown in the Dominican Republic are:[26]
Clásico Matías Ramón Mella
Clásico Francisco del Rosario Sanchez
Clásico Juan Pablo Duarte
The winners of the Dominican Republic Triple Crown have been:
Note that thoroughbred horses are not eligible to run at the Indonesian Triple Crown, since the event is limited to only local breeds like Sandalwood Pony, crossbreeds (known locally as G Horses), or Kuda Pacu Indonesia/KPI (crosses between crossbreeds).[124] No Triple Crown for thoroughbred racing is organized by PORDASI, as races exclusively for thoroughbreds are only held in two non-derby classes.
Philippines
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The Triple Crown Stakes backed by the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom).[125] It was first organized in 1978, but a horse did not sweep all three races until 1981, when Fair and Square achieved that feat, becoming the series' first Triple Crown champion.[126]
The races are held at various venues throughout its history. The first two legs of the series have traditionally been referred to as the Cojuangco Cup and the J.V. Ongpin Cup, respectively, while the final leg has been known as the Horseman's Cup.[127][128] However, recent editions commonly refer to the races simply by their order as legs of the Triple Crown series.
In 2025, the Metro Manila Turf Club introduced two new Triple Crown‑style stakes races: the Prince Cup and the King's Gold Cup. Each tournament consists of three legs and is restricted to horses foaled outside the Philippines.[130] The first editions are still ongoing and hence no horse has made a sweep in either tournaments.[131]
Malaysia
In Malaysia the Selangor Jockey Club introduced the Triple Crown Series in 2003, with three races all held at Selangor Turf Club, Malaysia: The Selnagor Turf Club Triple Crown Series consists of three races at increasingly longer distances. Unlike most other Triple Crown events, these races are not confined to three-year-olds.[132]
The Selnagor Turf Club Triple Crown Consists of
Tunku Gold Cup (1200m)
Selangor Gold Cup (1600m)
Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (2000m)
Currently no horse has won all three races. The closest any horse has gotten was Superb Classic who won the Tunku Gold Cup and Selangor Gold Cup in 2005, and Cheval Blanc who won the Tunku Gold Cup and Piala Emas Sultan Selangor in 2024.
Trinidad and Tobago
The three races that compose the triple crown of Trinidad and Tobago were established in 1983 and they are:[26]
†Although Justify finished first in all of his races, litigation filed by the owners of Bolt d'Oro in 2020 called for Justify's disqualification from the 2018 Santa Anita Derby over a positive drug test for scopolamine, a known environmental contaminant. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered Justify's disqualification, for which Justify's connections have filed an appeal. The appeal is pending.[135][136]
Only three jockeys have won the Triple Crown with different horses (i.e., rode horses to Triple Crowns in different years):
Steve Donoghue (United Kingdom : 1915, Pommem; 1917 Gay Crusader)
Eddie Arcaro (United States: 1941, Whirlaway; 1948, Citation)
Emisael Jaramillo (Venezuela: 2005, Polo Grounds; 2007, Taconeo; 2010, Water Jet)
At least two jockeys is known to have won all three of a country's Triple Crown races in the same year on different horses:
Luis Contreras (Canada, 2011: Queen's Plate, Inglorious; Prince of Wales Stakes and Breeders' Stakes, Pender Harbour)
Alfredo García Paduani (Venezuela, 2016: Clásico José Antonio Páez and Clásico Cría Nacional, Ocean Bay; Clásico República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Gran Will)
One trainer is known to have accomplished the same feat as Contreras and García Paduani:
D. Wayne Lukas (USA, 1995: Kentucky Derby, Thunder Gulch; Preakness Stakes, Timber Country; Belmont Stakes, Thunder Gulch)