The Triple Crown is a prestigious series of three horse races for three-year- old Thoroughbreds in the United States. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win all three races in the same season:
- Kentucky Derby : Held the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is 1¼ miles long and known as "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports"
- Preakness Stakes : Held on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the shortest race of the three at 1 3/16 miles
- Belmont Stakes : Held the first Saturday in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is the longest race at 1½ miles and the final leg of the Triple Crown
The Triple Crown trophy was first awarded in 1950, though the series dates back to the 19th century, with all three races existing simultaneously since 1875. Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown, with the first being Sir Barton in 1919 and the most recent being Justify in 2018
. Winning the Triple Crown is considered one of the highest honors in sports due to its difficulty and historical significance
