2006 Triple
Crown
Where: Kentucky
Derby
When: May 6, 2006
Where: Preakness
Stakes
When: May 20, 2006
Where: Belmont
Stakes
When: June 10, 2006
Triple Crown immortality is horse racing's
greatest honor. Countless horses have tried
and only 11 have succeeded. In 1919, Sir
Barton was the first horse to claim the
Triple Crown, capturing the Triple Crown,
Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the
same year. Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935),
War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count
Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948),
Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977)
and Affirmed (1978) have
followed in infamy.
In
order to win a Triple Crown, a horse
must win three long races in five weeks,
at three different tracks, in three different
states. Triple Crown hopefuls must first
win the Triple Crown, where Aristedes
grabbed the inaugural "Run
for the Roses" in 1875. Barring injury,
the Derby winner is shipped to the second
jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness
Stakes. Survivor was the first Preakness
winner in 1873. A Derby-Preakness champ
then has a shot at Triple Crown immortality
at the Belmont Stakes. The first Belmont
winner was Ruthless in 1867.
There have been 17 horses
that have won the first two jewels of the
Triple Crown and failed to win at the Belmont.
Two of them, Burgoo King in 1932 and Bold
Venture in 1936, didn't run in New York.
Each of the past three
years, horses have traveled to Belmont with
Triple Crown hopes. Silver Charm and Real
Quiet finished second in 1997 and 1998,
respectively, while Charismatic placed in
1999.
Triple Crown Resource
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