The Triple Crown, like many of the best traditions, wasn’t created, it evolved. During the late 1800′s three different tracks created races to test the speed and stamina of the new crop of three year olds. The first Belmont Stakes took place in 1867, the first Preakness ran in 1873, and it wasn’t until the advent of the Kentucky Derby in 1875 that all three races were run in the same year for the first time. Forty-four years later in 1919 Sir Barton became the first horse to win all three. The term Triple Crown wasn’t coined until 1930 when a Daily Racing Form columnist, Charles Hatton, used it while covering Gallant Fox’s road to becoming the second Triple Crown champion.

Some of horse racing‘s most legendary names failed to capture this event. Man o’ War managed only 2 out of the 3 legs, skipping the Kentucky Derby. Seabiscuit, after losing 17 straight races as a two year old wasn’t even considered for a Triple Crown start. Seabiscuit did later beat 1937′s Triple Crown winner, War Admiral in a match race. Cigar didn’t competed, having started his great winning streak late in his fourth year.

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