How come more horses don’t win the triple crown race, what makes that race so hard?

Sandra S.

In the United States, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, commonly known as the Triple Crown, is a title awarded to a three-year-old Thoroughbred horse who wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The Truth is it isn't easy to win the Triple Crown nor is meant to be easy. The reason it's so difficult is because these 3 year old horses are asked to run in 3 races in a very short time span of just 5 weeks. And they are running at distances they never have run before in their short lives. The last race (or leg as we call it) of the Triple Crown is called the Belmont Stakes which is the longest of the three races, and is the most difficult. It definitely takes a special and sturdy horse to win that little lone the Triple Crown. So the short answer is; you're looking at three races, all over different tracks, and at different distances, facing possibly many weather conditions, all in five weeks, and the horses are doing this for the very first time. Making it physically challenging and mentally demanding. Facts - Kentucky Derby, run over 1 and 1/4 miles (2.01 km) dirt track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Preakness Stakes, run over 1 and 3/16 miles (1.91 km) dirt track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Belmont Stakes, run over 1 and 1/2 miles (2.41 km), the longest dirt track in thoroughbred racing, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The THREE races; THE KENTUCKY DERBY, THE PREAKNESS STAKES & THE BELMONT STAKES are the 3 races that make up the Triple Crown, and is reason it's called the Triple Crown. The horse has to WIN all 3 races to be a Triple Crown winner.

Starlight 1

Vic, if you're asking about the American Triple Crown, then Sandra and Blue Jay are correct. A horse must win all three races mentioned in order to be awarded the title of Triple Crown Champion. As for why it's not common for horses to win, there are multiple reasons for this. The length of the races involved, the time between them (3 races in excess of a mile plus in a period of 5 short weeks is a lot to demand of any horse, let alone a young baby who still isn't physically mature) and other factors, such as the horse's strength and stamina. All of these are impacted by the long process of qualifying for and then running in the TC races. Keep in mind, Vic, that what we now call the Triple Crown didn't exist until after the turn of the 20th century. Prior to World War I, the 3 races which now make up the TC were all run as separate events. It wasn't until shortly after the start of the 20th century that anyone had the idea to combine the three and turn them into a series. Something else of note which is important for all TC fans- There has been a recent recommendation made to the Maryland Racing Commission and to the state legislature that Pimlico racetrack be torn down and replaced with a new, modern facility. Articles about this and the study that it was based on are available online from different sources. If this comes to pass, the Preakness will be moved to Laurel raceway, at least until construction is completed. The same is true for the other big races normally run at Pimlico, such as the Maryland Million.

conley39

The Triple Crown isn't a single race. It's three races against tough competition on three different tracks

Snezzy

Vic, there is no "one race" triple crown race. No such thing. If you have found one, then it is someone's local stunt, taking the famous name and applying it some something else. Sort of like getting a little four-banger car and calling it your Ferrari. The other answers with the details on the Triple Crown are all correct, and certainly have more information than I knew before. Pimlico to be torn down and replaced? Who knew? I didn't!