Each summer, there are three races for thoroughbred horses that are more important than any others run during the year. Only three-year-old horses are allowed to run in these races.
The first is the Kentucky Derby, held in Louisville, Kentucky. The second is the Preakness, held in Baltimore, Maryland. And the third is the Belmont Stakes, held at Belmont Park, in Elmont, New York. A horse that wins all three races is said to have won the “Triple Crown.”
Since 1875, when all three races were run for the first time in the same year, only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown. The first to win the Triple Crown, Sir Barton, did it in 1919, and the last was Affirmed, who won all three races in 1978.
The oldest of the three races is the Belmont Stakes, which was first run in 1867!
Related Posts
-
What is the Curse of The Crown of Bohemia?
Bohemia is an ancient region of Central Europe that is now part of the nation of Czechoslovakia. During World War II, when Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, a Czech patriot hid the jeweled crown of…
-
What was The War of the Triple Alliance?
During the 1860s, Paraguay tried to settle a boundary dispute with Brazil by invading that country. The war that followed was called the "War of the Triple Alliance" because Paraguay had to fight…
-
What Does “X-Rated” Mean and Why Does Triple X Mean Super Sexually Explicit Material?
The first use of the X brand was on casks of English beer. It indicated that the contents had been properly aged and had passed government approval after paying a ten-shilling duty, illustrated…
-
Is There a World Championship of Bicycle Racing?
Bicycle racing is a big sport in many countries. And if there is a world champion bicycle racer each year, it would have to be the winner of a race called the Tour…
-
What Do the Different Colored Flags Used in Auto Racing Mean and How Many Flags Are There?
Seven flags are used as signals to drivers in car races. A green flag starts the race; a yellow flag means "don't pass". A red flag means "stop for an emergency". A black…
-
Where Did the Term “Drag Racing” Come From and What Did it Mean Originally?
Drag racing is a quarter-mile race between two cars starting side by side from a standing start. It began in the 1950s and was usually held on the main street of a small…
