First Horse Racing Triple Crown In Thirty-Seven Years

by JASmius



I remember the last one, too, when Affirmed "nipped" Alydar in all three triple crown races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes).  That was the second triple crown in a row (Seattle Slew won it in 1977) and the third in six years including Secretariat's legendary run in 1973.

Interestingly, Secretariat's was the first triple crown in twenty-five years, so you just never know how long a dry spell will last.

This one, though, was evidently not difficult to see coming:

Finally, a Triple Crown winner, and after thirty-seven years of waiting, this one was never in doubt. American Pharoah led all the way to win the Belmont Stakes by 5 ½ lengths on Saturday, becoming the first horse since 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes — one of the sporting world's rarest feats.

"Wow! Wow!" jockey Victor Espinoza said moments after crossing the finish line. "I can only tell you it just an amazing thing."

The bay colt with the unusually short tail easily defeated seven rivals in the grueling 1 1/2-mile race, covering the distance in 2:26.65 — sixth-fastest in Belmont history — to end the longest stretch without a Triple Crown champion in history.

"That little horse, he deserved it," trainer Bob Baffert said. "He's the one that did it. We were basically just passengers."

American Pharoah is the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to win three races on different tracks at varying distances over a five-week span. He won the Derby by one length on May 2nd and then romped to a seven-length victory in the rainy Preakness two weeks later before demolishing his rivals Saturday.

Horse racing isn't exactly my bag, but I'm enough of a general sports fan that I appreciate history when I see it, and congratulations are certainly merited to the winning parties.

But did they really have to name the first triple crown winner in over a third of a century after Barack Obama?  Sheesh.....