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The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing has been around since the early 1920's. It is given to the jockey and horse who wins three of the sports most infamous throughbred horseraces: The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes. It was not given its official name until 1930 when Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton coined the term for the jockey and horse who won the aforementioned races. The term was used during the 20's but was made popular by Hatton.

April showers bring May flowers and when you think of the first Saturday in May you think of none other than the Kentucky Derby. This first jewel of the Triple Crown is by far the most popular. It is run over 1 1/4 miles at the infamous Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This race is affectionately known as the 'Run for the Roses'. The roses also comprise of the leis-type drape that goes over the winning horses' neck. 2009 marks the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Two weeks later the horses head to Baltimore, Maryland's Pimlico Race Track for the second leg in the Triple Crown called the Preakness Stakes. This is the horse race closely associated with Memorial Day Weekend. It is after this one that the anticipation starts for the possibility of a Triple Crown winner. This race is run on a 1 3/16 track and what is also known as the 'The Run for the Black Eyed Susans'. The Black Eyed Susan is the official flower of the state of Maryland and again this is what the drape is made of that adorns the winning horse. This race started back in 1873 and thus 2009 marks the 137th edition.

Three weeks after the Preakness comes the final jewel in the Triple Crown races and the is the Belmont Stakes. It is run in Elmont, New York and is the longest at 1 1/2 miles. This is what makes the Triple Crown so demanding. A horse may have dominated at the shorter distance but can he or she do it over a longer run. This race is known as the 'Run for the Carnations'. The Belmont is by far the oldest race having been run since 1867.

There have been 11 total horses that have won the Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred Racing: Sir Barton in 1919, Gallant Fox in 1930, Omaha in 1935, War Admiral in '37, Whirlaway '41, Count Afleet '43, Assault in '46, Citation in '48, Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew '77, and the last one with Affirmed in '78. Currently, this is the longest drought without a Triple Crown winner. The have been plenty of chances especially over the last 15 years. Most notably have been Smarty

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