How Many Horses Have Won The Triple Crown

Of all the prestigious achievements in the sport of horse racing, none is more rare and revered than the Triple Crown. Worth adding: for a three-year-old Thoroughbred, winning this trio of grueling races—The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes—in a single season is the ultimate test of speed, stamina, and fortitude. It is a feat so difficult that, since the first running of the Kentucky Derby in 1875, only a select few horses have ever accomplished it. The question of exactly how many horses have won the Triple Crown is a common one, and the answer is a testament to the event's exclusivity.

As of today, the official count stands at 21 horses have secured a place in history by winning the Triple Crown. Worth adding: this number is remarkably small when you consider that over 150 horses have won the Kentucky Derby alone. The journey to this elite club is paved with legendary names, each leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

The Complete List of Triple Crown Winners

To fully appreciate the achievement, it's helpful to see the complete list of these equine champions. The winners are not evenly distributed through history; there were long droughts between victors, making each new member of the club a monumental event.

1. Sir Barton (1919) - The first official Triple Crown winner.
2. Gallant Fox (1930) - The first to win the series in the modern era.
3. Omaha (1935) - A daughter of Gallant Fox, making them the first father-daughter pair.
4. War Admiral (1937) - Known for his powerful, relentless running style.
5. Whirlaway (1941) - The first Triple Crown winner to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
6. Count Fleet (1943) - Won by an impressive 25 lengths in the Belmont.
7. Assault (1946) - Overcame a broken blood vessel to win the series.
8. Citation (1948) - The first million-dollar horse and one of the greatest of all time.
9. Secretariat (1973) - Arguably the most famous, setting a still-standing world record in the Belmont.
10. Seattle Slew (1977) - The only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated.
11. Affirmed (1978) - Won in a thrilling duel with Alydar.
12. Sunday Silence (1989) - Overcame a challenging trip to win the Crown.
13. Affirmed is listed, but the next is American Pharoah (2015), ending a 37-year drought.
14. Justify (2018) - Won the Crown without racing as a two-year-old, the first to do so since Apollo in 1882.

Note: While the list is often presented sequentially, it helps to remember that the Triple Crown was not officially "awarded" as a specific title until 1919. Horses before Sir Barton won the three races but were not recognized with the specific designation at the time.

A Breakdown of the 21 Winners

The 21 Triple Crown winners represent different eras, racing styles, and legacies. Looking at them in groups provides a clearer picture:

• The Pioneers (1919-1948): This era includes the first eight winners. Horses like Citation were dominant, and the races, while challenging, were perhaps less competitive than they are today due to smaller fields and different training methods.
• The Golden Era (1973-1978): This period saw an unprecedented run of success, with Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed winning the Crown in six consecutive years. This era is often considered the pinnacle of the sport's popularity.
• The Long Drought (1979-2014): For 37 years, the Triple Crown remained elusive. Horses like Easy Goer (1989) and Smarty Jones (2004) came agonizingly close, losing in the final race. This period heightened the prestige of the achievement, making any potential winner a hero.
• The Modern Revival (2015-Present): The drought was broken by American Pharoah in 2015, followed by Justify in 2018. Their victories proved that the Triple Crown was still achievable in the modern era, reigniting fan excitement.

The Difficulty and the Near-Misses

The reason only 21 horses have won is the extreme difficulty of the challenge. On the flip side, the races are just five weeks apart, and each is a different test. This leads to the Derby is a classic distance of 1¼ miles, favoring speed. The Preakness is a slightly shorter 1³/₁₆ miles but is often run at a furious pace. The Belmont is the ultimate test of stamina at 1½ miles, often described as a "test of the fittest Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

Many horses have won the first two races only to falter in the Belmont. Some of the most famous near-misses include:

• Citation in 1947 (finished third in the Preakness)
• Northern Dancer in 1964 (finished third in the Belmont)
• Spectacular Bid in 1979 (finished third in the Belmont, a shocking upset)
• Easy Goer in 1989 (lost by less than a length to Sunday Silence)
• Smarty Jones in 2004 (lost by a half-length to Birdstone)
• California Chrome in 2014 (finished fourth in the Belmont)
• Nyquist in 2016 (finished third in the Belmont)
• Bodemeister in 2012 (finished third in the Belmont)
• I’ll Have Another in 2012 (injured before the Belmont)

These near-misses underscore how thin the margin is between immortality and obscurity.

Fun Facts and Legacy

• Secretariat's Record: Secretariat’s 1973 Belmont Stakes victory is one of the most legendary performances in sports history. He ran the 1½ miles in 2:24, a world record on dirt that still stands today. He won by an astonishing 31 lengths.
• Undefeated Champion: Seattle Slew is the only Triple Crown winner to go undefeated throughout his entire racing career, retiring with a perfect record of 17-0.
• The Drought Breakers: American Pharoah was the first in 37 years, and Justify followed just three years later. Their successes proved that the Triple Crown is not a relic of the past but a modern-day possibility.
• Jockeys and Trainers: Certain figures are synonymous with Triple Crown success. Eddie Arcaro rode two winners (Citation and Affirmed), while trainer Bob Baffert has conditioned two recent winners (American Pharoah and Justify).

Conclusion

So, how many horses have won the Triple Crown

So, how many horses have won the Triple Crown? But the answer is thirteen. From Sir Barton in 1919 to Justify in 2018, only thirteen horses have swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in a single season Most people skip this — try not to..

This tiny fraternity is what gives the Triple Crown its enduring mystique. Each new attempt carries the weight of history, and every near-miss only deepens the public’s fascination. The combination of speed, stamina, luck, and timing required across three different tracks in just five weeks ensures that the feat remains one of the most difficult in all of sports Worth keeping that in mind..

As long as there are three-year-old thoroughbreds and a starting gate at Churchill Downs, the dream will persist. Future contenders will line up hoping to join the immortals, knowing that even failure can be heroic—and that one perfect spring can turn a racehorse into a legend The details matter here..

Not the most exciting part, but easily the most useful Most people skip this — try not to..

The Modern Era: The Quest Continues (2019–Present)

Since Justify’s wire-to-wire dominance in 2018, the Triple Crown has reverted to its elusive nature. The subsequent years have produced a chaotic parity that makes the 1970s dynasty of Seattle Slew and Affirmed feel like ancient history. In the six runnings from 2019 to 2024, six different horses won the Kentucky Derby, and not a single one managed to capture the Preakness Stakes two weeks later Turns out it matters..

The "Derby-Preakness double"—the essential first step toward immortality—has become a nearly insurmountable hurdle. Authentic (2020) and Essential Quality (2021) both won the Derby only to falter in Baltimore. Rich Strike’s historic 80-1 upset in the 2022 Derby was followed by a decision to skip the Preakness entirely, a strategic choice that has become increasingly common as trainers prioritize the long-term health of their stock over the grueling five-week grind.

The 2023 and 2024 seasons perfectly encapsulated the modern fragmentation. In 2023, Mage won the Derby, National Treasure took the Preakness, and Arcangelo captured the Belmont—three different winners for the sixth time in the last eleven years. The 2024 renewal followed a similar script: Mystik Dan survived a sloppy Churchill Downs to win the Derby by a nose, Seize the Grey dominated the Preakness on the front end, and Dornoch rallied late to win the Belmont Stakes at

Dornoch’s late surge was the hallmark of a race that had been anything but straightforward. Here's the thing — after breaking poorly from the gate, he settled near the back of the field through the first quarter‑mile, only to find a second wind entering the homestretch. Now, a powerful drive from the outside allowed him to rally past the leaders, and he crossed the finish line in a time of 1:46. 20—just enough to hold off the hard‑charging Ravenous by a short head. The victory, while dramatic, underscored a familiar truth in the current era: the three races have become a sequence of distinct challenges, each demanding a different blend of speed, tactical acumen, and stamina Practical, not theoretical..

Not obvious, but once you see it — you'll see it everywhere.

Because the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont each favor a different racing style, the past six years have produced a rotating cast of champions. In 2023, Mage proved his early speed at Churchill Downs, National Treasure displayed a front‑running prowess in Baltimore, and Arcangelo showed a late‑run finish at Belmont. That said, the 2024 edition followed suit, with Mystik Dan edging out a tight finish at the Derby, Seize the Grey dictating the pace in the Preakness, and Dornoch’s late kick sealing the deal in the Belmont. No horse has managed to capture all three events since Justify’s flawless run in 2018, and the odds of doing so have only lengthened as trainers adopt more selective schedules, often skipping the Preakness to preserve their colt’s long‑term soundness Still holds up..

The result is a landscape where the “Derby‑Preakness double” has become a near‑mythical hurdle. But even the most talented three‑year‑olds now face a calendar that forces them to peak three times in five weeks—a feat that tests not just raw ability but also durability and mental resilience. As breeding practices evolve and the racing calendar expands, the traditional five‑week grind remains a unique test of a horse’s all‑around excellence The details matter here. Surprisingly effective..

Counterintuitive, but true.

Looking ahead, the 2025 crop offers a fresh batch of prospects, each with a distinct profile. Early indicators suggest that Starlight Commander, a front‑running gelding trained by a rising stable in Kentucky, could be a contender for the Derby, while Midnight Mirage, a versatile runner trained on the East Coast, may be suited for both the Derby and the Preakness. Meanwhile, Sunset Nova, a late‑blooming filly with a powerful turn of foot, is already drawing attention for a potential Belmont campaign Worth keeping that in mind. Practical, not theoretical..

Regardless of who ultimately lines up for the three races, the rarity of the achievement endures. The record books still list only thirteen horses that have managed to sweep the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in a single year—a testament to the extraordinary combination of speed, stamina, luck, and timing that the Triple Crown demands Simple as that..

In the final analysis, the mystique of the Triple Crown lies not merely in the number of winners but in the relentless pursuit that each new generation undertakes. As long as three‑year‑old thoroughbreds step onto the turf at Churchill Downs, Pimlico, and Belmont