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Most Popular Horses of All-Time
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1) Seabiscuit
2) Secretariat
3) Man-O-War
4) War Admiral
5) Sir Barton
6) Citation
7) Affirmed
8) Spectacular Bid
9) Seattle Slew
10) Kelso
11) Alydar
12) Sunday Silence
13) Cigar
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14) Easy Goer
15) Holy Bull
16) Winning Colors
17) Skip Away
18) Ruffian
19) Round Table
20) Native Dancer
21) John Henry
22) Buckpasser
23) Alysheba
24) Forego
25) Challedon
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Profiles of Triple Crown Winners
1978
Affirmed
Career winnings: $2,393,818
The last horse to win the Triple Crown. Over 25 years later, there has yet to be another horse to do it. Affirmed is known for his rival horse, who just as easily could have won the Triple Crown himself—Alydar. In fact, Alydar went off as the 6-to-5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby. But Affirmed, who was generally known for coming off the pace, did so in winning the Kentucky Derby by 1½ lengths. And the races only got closer. At the Preakness, Affirmed edged Alydar by a neck. Affirmed locked up the Triple Crown with a Belmont Stakes win over Alydar by a head. Affirmed became horse racing's first $2 million winner.
1977
Seattle Slew
Career winnings: $1,208,726
Seattle Slew was a 1-2 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, because of easy wins in the Flamingo Stakes and Wood Memorial. The first two races were unusually close, but Seattle Slew basically walked away with the Belmont. In 1978, as a 4-year old, Seattle Slew ran against Affirmed twice, finishing ahead both times.
1973
Secretariat
Career winnings: $1,316,808
Widely considered the best horses of all-time. Secretariat ended what was then the longest Triple Crown drought. After 25 years of no Triple Crown’s, 7 of them near misses, Secretariat came along in stunning fashion. Secretariat set a course record in winning the Kentucky Derby. Secretariat won the Derby and Preakness by 2 ½ lengths over Sham. In the Belmont Stakes, Sham was not a factor and Secretariat blew away the remaining competition. Secretariat won the Triple Crown with an all-time record 31 length victory at the Belmont Stakes. After winning the Triple Crown so spectacularly, the demand, across the country, to see Secretariat was overwhelming. Secretariat ran an unprecedented 9 more times in 1973. Secretariat died on October 4, 1989.
1948
Citation
Career winnings: $1,085,760
Citation won the Triple Crown with an eight-lengths triumph over Better Self . In his first 3 years, Citation won 27 times with two seconds in 29 starts. All in all Citation won 32 of an amazing 45 starts. When Citation retired in 1951, he had over a million dollar’s in career winnings—the first horse to accomplish that feat.
1946
Assault
Career winnings: $675,470
Assault earned a nickname, "The Clubfooted Comet". Assault was an underdog winner in the Kentucky Derby and even though he won the first 2 legs of the Triple Crown he was not the favorite at the Belmont Stakes either. Handicappers believed he might not be able to handle the distance in the Belmont Stakes. This is because Assault narrowly held off the competition in the Preakness, winning by a neck over a fast charging rival. However, at 7-5, he was a close second in the Belmont Stakes betting. Assault came from behind with a powerful late run to take the Belmont Stakes and win the Triple Crown.
1943
Count Fleet
Career winnings: $250,300
Count Fleet was a powerful horse. And bettors sent him off as the 2-to-5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Count Fleet delivered with a solid (read: easy) victory, and won the Preakness in similar fashion. When it came time for Belmont, many rivals simply stayed home. Steadily, Count Fleet increased his lead throughout the race, winning the Belmont Stakes by 25 lengths, and breaking the previous record.
1941
Whirlaway
Career winnings: $561,161
Should have been called the Energizer Bunny. Whirlway ran in an incredible 60 races. But, Whirlaway was a crazy horse (especially as a two-year old), who showed flashes of brilliance, but was prone to wild adventurous trips around the racetrack. He was literally a danger on the race track.
For the Kentucky Derby, Whirlaway had a new, specially designed blinker, that gave him clear vision on the left side but not on the right. Whirlaway started the Derby near the back of the pack, as he was most comfortable doing. But by the final turn, Whirlaway was flying and passed up everyone to win by about 8 lengths. He won Preakness in similar come from behind manner. But then surprised everyone by going to the front early in the Belmont. Whirlaway was named Horse of the Year two straight years.
1937
War Admiral
Career winnings: $273,000
War Admiral is now forever remembered for his rivalry with Seabiscuit, in which the smaller horse beat War Admiral at Pimlico on November 1, 1938. However, War Admiral has a Triple Crown next to his name (Seasbiscuit does not), which is the reason why Seabiscuit’s victory over War Admiral was so noteworthy. War Admiral won 21 of the 26 races he entered. War Admiral beat 19 rivals to win the Derby in a relatively easy victory as the 8-to-5 favorite. A week later, he won the Preakness. In the Belmont Stakes, War Admiral injured his right leg early in the race but nevertheless went on to win.
1935
Omaha
Career winnings: $328,165
Won the Triple Crown almost by accident. Omaha won only 6 times in 19 other races. He finished 3rd in the Wood Memorial. And, he even lost a race in between the Preakness and Belmont. He may have won the Triple Crown, but he was never really regarded as a true champion of champions. Omaha died in 1959 and was buried at AKsarben race track in Omaha, Nebraska.
1930
Gallant Fox
Career winnings: $328,165
Gallant Fox sired future Triple Crown winner Omaha (1935). Gallant Fox, like Omaha, was only a mediocre 2-year-old, winning just two races in seven tries. But, as a 3-year old, Gallant Fox became a convincing winner. He easily won the Wood Memorial Stakes, and locked up the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes on June 7 beating his leading rival, Whichone, by 3 lengths.
1919
Sir Barton
Before there really was a Triple Crown, there was Sir Barton. Sir Barton was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. Sir Barton ran a showdown race with another very famous horse, Man-O-War. Sir Barton was quite the sire, with 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral the most notable.
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