And They're Off!!

May 09, 2011

This past Saturday (May 7) the Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The first leg of the Triple Crown was won by a horse named Animal Kingdom. The other two races are the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The Preakness Stakes will be held in Baltimore, Maryland on May 21st, and the Belmont Stakes will be held in Elmont, New York on June 11th.

The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. Since that day thirty-three years ago, eleven horses have almost won the prize, from Spectacular Bid in 1979 to Big Brown in 2008. Ironically, only eleven horses have won the Triple Crown.

The record for the margin of victory at the Kentucky Derby is a tie between Assault and Whirlaway, who both won the race by eight lengths. Triple Crown winner Secretariat holds the record for the fastest Derby run.

The record for the margin of victory at the Preakness goes to Smarty Jones, who won by eleven lengths. The fastest time for this race is a three-way tie between Curlin, Louis Quatorze and Tank’s Prospect. The record for the margin of victory at the Belmont goes to Secretariat, who won by thirty-one lengths. He also holds the record for the fastest Belmont run.

A length is equivalent to eight feet or the length of a horse from nose to tail.

Emily E
Red Bridge Branch