Sports Then and Now

The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is one of the most prestigious and difficult accomplishments in all of sports. To win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in a single season requires not only immense talent but also endurance, versatility, and the ability to recover quickly between races. Only 13 horses have ever accomplished this feat in over a century of racing. Here’s a ranking of the top 10 Triple Crown winners in horse racing history, considering the dominance of their campaigns, the competition they faced, and their place in the sport’s legacy.

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1. Secretariat (1973)

Trainer: Lucien Laurin
Jockey: Ron Turcotte

No Triple Crown list is complete without Secretariat at the top. Widely regarded as the greatest racehorse of all time, “Big Red” captured the imagination of the nation during his 1973 campaign. After losing the Wood Memorial, he rebounded with an electrifying Kentucky Derby win in which he ran each quarter-mile faster than the previous one—a feat never seen before or since.

He followed that with a record-setting Preakness victory and then delivered the most iconic performance in racing history at the Belmont Stakes, winning by a staggering 31 lengths and setting a still-standing world record for 1½ miles (2:24). Secretariat wasn’t just a Triple Crown winner—he was a supernova.

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2. Citation (1948)

Trainer: Ben A. Jones
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro

Citation was the first horse to earn over $1 million in his career and might be the greatest horse not named Secretariat. He won 19 of 20 starts as a 3-year-old in 1948, including an effortless sweep of the Triple Crown. He could beat sprinters, milers, and distance horses with ease.

He returned from a year-long layoff due to injury and still managed to win after the Triple Crown, showcasing his remarkable durability and consistency. Citation’s ability to win over various distances and against older horses adds to his legend.

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3. Seattle Slew (1977)

Trainer: Billy Turner
Jockey: Jean Cruguet

Seattle Slew made history as the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. From modest beginnings and purchased for just $17,500, Slew had a powerful, almost mechanical stride and could dominate from the front.

His wire-to-wire win in the Kentucky Derby demonstrated both strength and courage. He handled slop in the Preakness and showed grit in the Belmont. After an injury-plagued 4-year-old season, he returned and beat 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup, cementing his legacy.

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4. Affirmed (1978)

Trainer: Laz Barrera
Jockey: Steve Cauthen

Affirmed’s Triple Crown win was defined by one of the greatest rivalries in sports history—with Alydar. The two horses met 10 times, and Affirmed won seven, including all three Triple Crown races. In each leg, Alydar pressed him to the limit, with particularly thrilling finishes in the Preakness and Belmont.

Affirmed’s heart and tenacity were unmatched and his legendary rivarly will forever go down as the greatest 1-2 punch in Triple Crown history.

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5. American Pharoah (2015)

Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza

After a 37-year drought, American Pharoah ended the longest Triple Crown absence in history with style. A graceful mover with a long, efficient stride, he dominated the Kentucky Derby, cruised in the Preakness, and ran away from the field in the Belmont.

What separates American Pharoah is that he didn’t stop after the Triple Crown. He returned to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, becoming the first horse to win the “Grand Slam” of American horse racing. His poise, versatility, and smooth running style made him a fan favorite and a true modern legend.

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6. War Admiral (1937)

Trainer: George Conway
Jockey: Charley Kurtsinger

War Admiral, the son of Man o’ War, had a daunting legacy to uphold, and he delivered. He dominated his competition in 1937, winning 8 of 8 starts that year, including a flawless Triple Crown sweep.

While often remembered for losing the famous match race to Seabiscuit in 1938, that shouldn’t overshadow his brilliance. He had remarkable early speed and toughness, especially evident in his determined Belmont win after a bad start.

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7. Count Fleet (1943)

Trainer: Don Cameron
Jockey: Johnny Longden

Count Fleet was a generational talent who was simply too good for his peers. He won the Kentucky Derby by three lengths, the Preakness by eight, and the Belmont by a jaw-dropping 25 lengths.

Injury cut short his career after the Belmont, but he retired with 10 straight wins and was considered unbeatable at his peak. His dominance in the Triple Crown, especially during wartime, provided a welcome distraction for Americans.

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8. Whirlaway (1941)

Trainer: Ben A. Jones
Jockey: Eddie Arcaro

Whirlaway was one of the quirkiest yet most brilliant horses in Triple Crown history. Known for running erratically in the stretch, he still managed to dominate his 1941 campaign. He won the Kentucky Derby by a then-record 8 lengths and followed it up with victories in the Preakness and Belmont.

Despite his idiosyncrasies, Whirlaway won 32 races in his career and was a fan favorite. He also remains the only Triple Crown winner to win the Travers Stakes as well.

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9. Gallant Fox (1930)

Trainer: “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons
Jockey: Earl Sande

Gallant Fox was only the second horse to win the Triple Crown but was the first to have the series recognized as such. His victory helped establish the concept of the Triple Crown as a unique and prestigious achievement.

He had an impressive campaign in 1930 and later sired Omaha, another Triple Crown winner. Gallant Fox’s success set the tone for future generations of American racehorses.

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10. Justify (2018)

Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith

Justify was a late bloomer who didn’t race as a 2-year-old, defying the so-called “Apollo Curse”—no horse since Apollo in 1882 had won the Kentucky Derby without racing at 2. But Justify had immense raw talent and proved unbeatable.

He won the Derby on a sloppy track, the Preakness in thick fog after a tough duel, and the Belmont in front-running fashion. Though his career was short, ending after just six races, his rapid rise and dominance in each Triple Crown leg were extraordinary.

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Home Stretch

Each of these horses earned a place in racing history by accomplishing something rare and revered. While their careers varied in length, style, and historical context, their Triple Crown sweeps reflect greatness and the pinnacle of equine athleticism. From the incomparable Secretariat to modern marvels like American Pharoah and Justify, these champions define why horse racing remains a sport built on drama, speed, and legend.