A brief history of the Triple Crown
The Triple Crown is one of the most famous traditions in American horse racing, though the three races that make up the series were established long before the term became popular. The Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875, followed by the Preakness Stakes in 1873 and the Belmont Stakes in 1867. Together, these races gradually formed the ultimate test for three-year-old thoroughbreds in the United States.
The phrase “Triple Crown” gained widespread recognition in the 1930s as media coverage expanded and fans embraced the challenge of winning all three races in a single season. Sir Barton is widely recognized as the first horse to complete the feat in 1919, though the title was not commonly used at the time. Later champions such as Citation and Secretariat helped turn the Triple Crown into a nationally celebrated sporting event.
Because the races are held within just a few weeks and each demands a different skill set, Triple Crown winners have always been rare. Long gaps between champions added to the mystique, especially between Affirmed and American Pharoah, which spanned 37 years. More recent winners such as Justify have ensured that the Triple Crown remains one of the most prestigious accomplishments in all of sport.
Composition of the Triple Crown
The Triple Crown consists of three historic Grade 1 races run over a demanding five-week span each spring, with each leg presenting a different test for elite three-year-old thoroughbreds. The series begins in Kentucky, moves to Maryland, and concludes in New York, taking horses from one of the sport’s biggest stages to one of its toughest stamina challenges. Differences in track distance, venue atmosphere, and race tempo are a major reason why completing the sweep is so rare. Together, these races form the most prestigious series in American horse racing.
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the most famous horse race in the United States. First run in 1875, the Derby is contested over 1 1/4 miles and traditionally attracts one of the largest crowds in racing, with attendance often surpassing 140,000.
Known as “The Run for the Roses,” the Kentucky Derby combines history, spectacle, and high-pressure competition unlike any other race on the calendar. A victory places a horse one step away from Triple Crown glory and instantly creates one of the biggest storylines in sport. Claim Bovada‘s 50% up to $250 new customer offer to boost your bankroll before you place a wager on the outcome of this iconic event!
You’ll find the current odds in the table below:
| Kentucky Derby 2026 |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renegade | +450 | +460 | +450 |
| Commandment | +675 | +650 | +650 |
| Further Ado | +700 | +800 | +700 |
| Boyd | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| The Puma | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Chief Wallabee | +1700 | +1700 | +1700 |
| Emerging Market | +1500 | +1500 | +1500 |
| So Happy | +2100 | +2100 | +2100 |
| Solitude Dude | +1700 | +1700 | +1700 |
| Danon Bourbon | +2100 | +2100 | +2100 |
| Regans Honor | +2100 | +2100 | +2100 |
| Gstaad | +2100 | +2100 | +2100 |
| Silent Tactic | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
| Class President | +2100 | +2100 | +2100 |
| Potente | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
| Powershift | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
The Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is the middle leg of the Triple Crown and is typically held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby in Maryland. First run in 1873, the race is contested over 1 3/16 miles, making it slightly shorter than the Derby and often placing a greater emphasis on race tactics and recovery time.
The tighter turnaround between races adds a major challenge, as Derby runners must recover quickly to compete again at the highest level. A Preakness win keeps Triple Crown hopes alive and sets the stage for one of the most anticipated events in horse racing. If you’re looking to get involved in the Baltimore action, sign up at MyBookie today to secure its 100% up to $1000 new customer deal.
Check out the current odds in the table below:
| Preakness Stakes 2026 | |
|
 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes | +500 | +525 | +500 |
| Citizen Bull | +800 | +750 | +750 |
| Blue Magnolia | +1000 | +1000 | +1100 |
| Patch Adams | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Burnham Square | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Colloquial | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Sandman | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Journalism | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| East Avenue | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Chancer McPatrick | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the Triple Crown and has been a defining race in American horse racing since its first running in 1867. It is the oldest of the three Triple Crown races and is closely linked with New York, where it has built its reputation as one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
Known as “The Test of the Champion,” the Belmont is associated with stamina, pressure, and the difficulty of completing a Triple Crown sweep. Its demanding conditions and place at the end of the series have helped make it one of the most dramatic and closely watched races in American horse racing.
Check out the current Belmont Stakes odds in the table below:
| Belmont Stakes 2026 | |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes | +450 | +500 | +450 |
| Journalism | +700 | +700 | +750 |
| Citizen Bull | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Burnham Square | +1200 | +1250 | +1200 |
| Colloquial | +1400 | +1500 | +1500 |
| Sovereignty | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Blue Magnolia | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Chancer McPatrick | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Tip Top Thomas | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| East Avenue | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
Odds on winning the Triple Crown
Odds on winning the Triple Crown are heavily influenced by whether a horse enters the Belmont Stakes with victories in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. When a contender is attempting to complete the sweep, that horse is typically installed as the favorite in the Belmont. History shows how difficult the feat truly is, as 23 horses have won the first two legs without capturing the third, while only 13 have successfully completed the Triple Crown.
The Belmont Stakes has repeatedly spoiled Triple Crown bids with dramatic upsets. Da’ Tara won at 38-1 in 2008 to deny Big Brown, and Birdstone prevailed at 36-1 over Smarty Jones in 2004. Sarava delivered one of the biggest shocks in racing history at 70-1 against War Emblem, and even well backed contenders such as Charismatic fell short despite strong momentum entering the race. These outcomes highlight the pressure and unpredictability that surround any attempt to sweep the series, making Triple Crown futures both enticing and historically difficult to cash.
Triple Crown winners
Only thirteen horses have completed the sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes to capture the Triple Crown. Below is the full list of winners in chronological order.
- 1919: Sir Barton, ridden by Johnny Loftus and owned by J.K.L. Ross
- 1930: Gallant Fox, ridden by Earl Sande and owned by Belair Stud
- 1935: Omaha, ridden by Willie Saunders and owned by Belair Stud
- 1937: War Admiral, ridden by Charles Kurtsinger and owned by Samuel D. Riddle
- 1941: Whirlaway, ridden by Eddie Arcaro and owned by Calumet Farm
- 1943: Count Fleet, ridden by Johnny Longden and owned by Fannie Hertz
- 1946: Assault, ridden by Warren Mehrtens and owned by King Ranch
- 1948: Citation, ridden by Eddie Arcaro and owned by Calumet Farm
- 1973: Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte and owned by Meadow Stable
- 1977: Seattle Slew, ridden by Jean Cruguet and owned by Karen and Mickey Taylor
- 1978: Affirmed, ridden by Steve Cauthen and owned by Harbor View Farm
- 2015: American Pharoah, ridden by Victor Espinoza and owned by Zayat Stables
- 2018: Justify, ridden by Mike E. Smith and owned by China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm
