Johnny Loftus, rider

Sir Barton, a foal of 1916 bred by Preston Madden, was born too soon. He was never hailed as a Triple Crown winner because the feat had not been named when he swept the Derby,
Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1919. "Triple Crown" began appearing in print about 1936, far too late for Sir Barton.

Commander J. K. L. Ross, who owned a farm in Maryland where the former Freestate harness track was located, purchased Sir Barton for $10,000 as a 2-year-old at Saratoga. Ross had an outstanding 3-year-old prospect in 1919 - Billy Kelly - but Sir Barton, his stablemate, who had never won a race, was started in the Derby as part of the Ross entry.

Sir Barton broke on top in the Derby and never looked back. Perhaps more amazing, Sir Barton was immediately shipped to Pimlico because that year the Maryland classic was run on Wednesday, just four days after the Derby. Once again the unheralded Sir Barton galloped home by four lengths in a display of stamina. In the Belmont, he set an American record of 2:17 2/5 for the mile and three-eighths, the distance then.

Earle Sande, rider                                          

Keeneland-Cook Photo

The son of Sir Gallahad III had a medicore 2-year-old season winning but two stakes. It was hardly an indication of his 3-yearold superiority. After capturing the Wood Memorial, Gallant Fox swept the Preakness, Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in that order. He is the only Triple Crown winner to win the Preakness week before the Derby.

Later as a 3-year-old he captured the Dwyer Stakes, Arlington Classic, Saratoga Cup, Lawrence Realization and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The "Fox of Belair" was retired for breeding after his 3-year-old campaign, which netted $308,275, a single season record then.

Gallant Fox sired the winners of more than ninety races before his death in 1954 at the age of 27. His most famous son was Omaha, the 1935 Triple Crown winner. Omaha enabled him to become the only Triple Crown winner to sire a victor in the
renowned Derby, Preakness, Belmont series.

Willie Saunders, rider                                   Bert Morgan Photo

The William Woodward owned and bred colt, like his sire, was not overly impressive at two but improved with age. After a third in the Wood Memorial, he set sail for the Triple Crown. Nellie Flag, a filly, was favored in the Derby but Omaha rallied and won by a length and a half. The Preakness was more of a romp as he won by six lengths. He became the third Triple Crown winner with a length and a half victory in the Belmont.

Omaha is the only Triple Crown winner to race abroad. Woodward sent him to England at four. After taking two secondary stakes, Omaha just missed winning the Ascot Gold Cup.

Charles Kurtsinger, rider                                      

C. C. Cook Photo

At three, War Admiral, who prepped in Maryland for the
Crown, recorded a perfect eight-for-eight year.

In the Derby, War Admiral led from flag to finish, but
Preakness produced one of the most memorable battles in Crown history. Pompoon and War Admiral ran head-to-head the top of the stretch. At the wire, it was War Admiral by a head.

The Belmont Stakes proved to be War Admiral's easiest victory in the Triple Crown despite his stumbling at the start. fall of 1937, War Admiral won the first Pimlico Special and named Horse of the Year.

In all, War Admiral won 21 of 26 starts and finished out
money only one time.

Eddie Arcaro, rider                       Bert Morgan Photo

With Eddie Arcaro riding, Whirlaway made a dramatic stretch run at Churchill Downs to set a new time record as he ran the mile and a quarter in 2.01 2/5 and won by eight lengths.

A week later, Whirlaway again came from far back to
roll home in the Preakness by five and a half lengths. Arcaro described his Preakness experience like "riding a tornado." Only two challenged him in the Belmont and Whirlaway won racing's fifth Triple Crown and was the first of four in the 1940's.

Whirlaway, who won five other stakes in addition to the
Triple Crown in 1941, was named Horse of the Year. He repeated for the title the following season when he accounted for eleven stakes. Whirlaway was retired at five after he pulled up lame after his second race in 1943. In all, he made 60 starts, won 32 races
and was out of the money only four times.

Johnny Longden, rider                                

Bert Clark Thayer Photo

A son of Reigh Count, the 1928 Derby winner, and foaled by Quickly by Haste, Count Fleet carried the colors of Mrs. John D. Hertz, wife of the Chicago taxicab executive. A striking brown colt, Count Fleet was hailed as a successor to Man O' War by some after his perfect six for six 3-year-old season.

The war-time ban on racing in Florida forced Count Fleet to train at Oaklawn Park in preparation for his 3-year-old campaign. In the Triple Crown, Count Fleet, with Johnny Longden riding, found little opposition. He galloped in the Derby, captured the Preakness with only three challengers by eight lengths, and then, after taking the Withers, annexed the Triple Crown with a 25-length triumph in the Belmont Stakes.

Warren Mehrtens, rider                                        Bert Morgan Photo

To start with, his dam, Iqual, sired by Equipoise, never raced. She was sickly as a foal and never recovered sufficiently to stand the rigors of training. Her first two foals were not notable. Her third, Assault, sired by Bold Venture, the 1936 Derby winner, had the misfortune to step on a surveyor's stake at the King Ranch in Texas where he was born.

The hoof healed but Assault had a tendency to favor the foot, making it appear that he was crippled. His trainer, Max Hirsch, at first thought the colt would not train because of his crooked foot.  Assault was not impressive at two, winning only two races. Even  after taking the Experimental Handicap and Wood Memorial at three, he went off at 8-1 odds in the Derby.

Favored in the Preakness, Assault won by a neck, after holding a four length advantage with an eighth mile to go. Then jockey Warren Mehrtens changed his tactics in the Belmont, reserving the colt and charging from behind to win by three lengths.

Eddie Arcaro, rider                                                 NYRA Photo

There is little argument that the bay colt by Bull Lea -
Hydroplane II by Hyperion, was the greatest horse of the '40's.  Some observers believe he was the most accomplished horse ever to race, even superior to Man O' War. This debate probably will never be settled. Certainly he is on everyone's list of top Thoroughbreds in history.

Big Cy, although bred in Kentucky by Warren Wright, made his debut in Maryland, winning his first start at Havre de Grace in 1947. Later that year he captured the Pimlico Futurity on his way to an 8 for 9 year at two.

As a 3-year-old, Citation went 19 for 20. His only loss occurred at Havre de Grace in a sprint race he should not have lost. He was carried wide by a tiring horse and finished second to Saggy in the Chesapeake Trial.

The Triple Crown was hardly a challenge for Citation.
His only real opposition in the Derby came from his stable mate Coaltown. Only three horses challenged him in the Preakness and the Belmont was also easily accomplished.

Ron Turcotte, rider                               

Maryland Jockey Club Photo

Before he was nominated for the Triple Crown, Secretariat recorded a first - the first 2-year-old ever to be voted Horse of the Year. The son of Bold Ruler-Somethingroyal was a full-fledged celebrity well in advance of his Triple Crown heroics, having been syndicated for a then record $6,080,000 early in his 3-year old season.

In the Kentucky Derby, he set a record for the mile and a quarter, running the distance in 1.59-2/5. In a powerful move from last on the clubhouse turn, Secretariat captured the Preakness with ease. In the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat put on an awesome show, winning by 31 lengths to gain the Triple Crown, a prize which had gone unclaimed for a quarter of a century.

Jean Cruguet, rider                               

Maryland Jockey Club Photo

The grandson of Bold Ruler is the only Thoroughbred in history to capture the Triple Crown with an unbeaten record. After the Triple Crown, Seattle Slew lost only three of seventeen career starts on his way to total earnings of $1,208,727.

Bred in Kentucky by Ben S. Castleman, Seattle Slew was purchased at the bargain price of $17,500 at a Kentucky yearling auction by Mickey Taylor for his wife Karen, in whose silks the son of Bold Reasoning raced.

Veterinarian Dr. James Hill and his wife Sally shared ownership of Seattle Slew. It was Hill who had recommended the purchase of the colt. Seattle Slew was named the 2-year-old champion in 1976 and Horse of the Year as well as the top 3-year-old in 1977. William H. "Billy" Turner, Jr., a former steeplechase rider from Monkton, Md. was only 37 when he trained Seattle Slew to his 2- and 3-year-old championships.

Seattle Slew was retired for breeding in 1979 after being syndicated for $12 million.

Steve Cauthen, rider                     Maryland Jockey Club Photo

Affirmed won 22 of his 29 career starts, earning $2,393,818. The chestnut son of Exclusive Native, was named Horse of the Year twice as well as 3-year-old champion in 1978. As a 4-year-old he captured seven stakes and beat out Spectacular Bid for Horse of the Year honors. After his 4-year-old campaign he was retired to Spendthrift Farm and syndicated for $14.4 million.