2015 Triple Crown Winner

Man O'War

The winner of the 1920 Preakness and Belmont Stakes was the great Man O'War.
Considered by many racing experts and horse experts, the greatest thoroughbred of all time and he would have won the 1920 Triple Crown had he entered the Kentucky Derby.  His owner, Samuel Riddle, did not like racing in Kentucky and thought it was too early in the year for young horses to run a mile and a 16th.

Man O'War won the Preakness easily and had the track record but was eased up near the finish, however there was no easing in the Belmont as the won by 20 lengths and set the record for a mile and one eighth at 2 minutes and 14 seconds.  He beat the previous mark set by Sir Barton, the 1919 winner and first Triple Crown winner, by 3 seconds.

1941 Kentucky Derby

Whirlaway

Winner of the 1941 Kentucky Derby.  

Jockey Eddie Arcaro and Whrilaway would go on to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 5th horse to win the Triple Crown of US horse racing.

Ripley's Believe It or Not

Here is your Ripley's Believe It or Not for Sunday August 4th

2012 Belmont Stakes

Today was the running of the 144th edition of the Belmont Stakes and the 3rd and final leg of the US Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing.   We didnt have a Triple Crown winner this year even though I'll Have Another won the first 2 legs of the crown, he was scratched due to worries of tendinitis in his front leg.

Union Rags ran the rail to nose out Paynter for the Belmont victory and gave Michael Matz, the trainer of Barbaro, a Belmont victory to add to his illustrious career.

Horse Racing Update

Lets get caught up on the latest horse racing.

We had the 2011 Belmont Stakes from New York this last Saturday and it was upset city as Ruler on Ice shocked the crowd and took home the 3rd leg of the Triple Crown.   Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom had a near mishap as he almost fell coming out of the starting gate and used up all his energy just getting back to the pack as they entered the turn for home but did manage a 4th place finish.   The 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford held the lead for most of the race but completely gave up about 100 yards from the wire and Ruler on Ice shot past him like he was standing still.



2 weeks ago was the 2nd leg of the British Triple crown and the biggest race in the UK, The Epsom Derby. The winner of the first leg of the British Triple Crown, Frankel, opted out of the Derby this year leaving it wide open.
This was a close finish as Pour Moi, the french entry snuck it at the wire.

WATCH THE RACE HERE.

1953 Kentucky Derby

Today in 1953 the heavily favored and legendary Native Dancer, known as the Gray Ghost, was upset by the unheralded Dark Star, who nipped him at the finish.  This was the only defeat for Native Dancer, who won the Eclipse Award for 2 year old horse of the Year for 1952.  After the Derby, Native Dancer would not lose again and won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and then won the Eclipse Award for Champion 3 yr old Colt for 1953 and then Horse of the Year in 1954.   Sadly, Dark Star would finish 5th in the Preakness and did not run in the Belmont due to a ligament injury suffered during the Preakness run.

Happy Birthday

Today in 1970 one of, if not the greatest thoroughbred of all time, Secretariat was foaled at Meadow Farm in Virginia.

"Big Red" would win the Triple Crown in 1973 and in the process beat the 2 minute barrier in the Kentucky Derby. and win the Belmont stakes in 2:24, both of which have not been beaten. He was called by other jockeys "a living breathing locomotive" and in the famous Belmont race he was called "a tremendous machine".