SLIDESHOW: U.S. Triple Crown Winners from Sir Barton to Justify

December 23rd, 2024

Triple Crown winners, War Admiral, Omaha, and American Pharoah, BloodHorse Library, Eclipse Sportswire

From left to right: Triple Crown winners War Admiral (1937), Omaha (1935), and American Pharoah (2015). (Photos courtesy of BloodHorse Library/BloodHorse Library/Eclipse Sportswire)

The U.S. Triple Crown in Thoroughbred racing has been swept by only 13 horses in the history of the sport. It takes a special racehorse to win the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby, the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes, and the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes in a five-week stretch during the spring of a 3-year-old campaign.

Let's take a look back at the 13 superstars in this slideshow below who were able to etch their names in the history books as Triple Crown winners.

Triple Crown Winners
Year	Triple Crown Winner	Owner	Trainer	Jockey
2018	Justify	China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, Winstar Farm	Bob Baffert	Mike Smith
2015	American Pharoah	Zayat Stables	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza
1978	Affirmed	Harbor View Farm	Laz Barrera	Steve Cauthen
1977	Seattle Slew	Mickey and Karen Taylor Dr. Jim and Sally Hill	Billy Turner	Jean Cruguet
1973	Secretariat	Meadow Stable	Lucien Lauren	Ron Turcotte
1948	Citation	Calumet Farm	Jimmy Jones	Eddie Arcaro
1946	Assault	King Ranch	Max Hirsch	Warren Mehrtens
1943	Count Fleet	Mrs. John D. Hertz	Don Cameron	John Longden
1941	Whirlaway	Calumet Farm	Ben Jones	Eddie Arcaro
1937	War Admiral	Samuel Riddle	George Conway	Charley Kurtsinger
1935	Omaha	Belair Stud	James Fitzsimmons	William Saunders
1930	Gallant Fox	Belair Stud	James Fitzsimmons	Earle Sande
1919	Sir Barton	J.K.L. Ross	H. Guy Bedwell	John Loftus

Sir Barton in the 1919 Kentucky Derby winner's circle. (BloodHorse Library)

Sir Barton defeats Exterminator in the 1920 Saratoga Handicap. (Keeneland Library-Cook)

1930 Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox after a win. (Keeneland Library)

Omaha wins the 1935 Belmont Stakes to capture the Triple Crown. (Keeneland Library-Cook)

Omaha at Ak-Sar-Ben race track. (BloodHorse Library)

War Admiral after winning the 1937 Kentucky Derby. (BloodHorse Library)

War Admiral went undefeated as a 3-year-old, sweeping the 1937 Triple Crown under jockey Charley Kurtsinger. (BloodHorse Library)

Whirlaway wins the 1941 Kentucky Derby. (BloodHorse Library)

Jockey Eddie Arcaro with Whirlaway in the 1941 Belmont Stakes winner's circle. (BloodHorse Library)

Count Fleet, pictured with jockey Johnny Longden, was an impressive 2-year-old who went on to capture the 1943 Triple Crown as a 3-year-old. (BloodHorse Library)