In Case You Missed It

As you know this coming Saturday May 7th is the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the US Horse racing Triple Crown.  In case you missed yesterday April 30th was the 2000 Guineas, which is the first leg in the British racing triple crown.  Held at the Rowley Mile in New Market England, this is a 1 mile flat track race with no turns and has been held since 1809.
This years winner, Frankel,  won going away is a strong fashion.  Sadly the trainer, Henry Cecil, has said that Frankel is not headed for the 2nd leg, the legendary Epsom Derby, which will Saturday June 4th.

Kentucky Derby - 1960

The1960 Kentucky Derby was won by the American horse Venetian Way.  He would run 5th in Preakness to the 2nd place horse at the Derby, Bally Ache.  He would be runner up at the Belmont to English bred Celtic Ash.

2011 Florida Derby

The Florida Derby has been a barometer for what horses may be the next contenders for the Kentucky Derby each May. This years Florida Derby was to be a day for Soldat to show he is ready for the Roses.   However, an very talented but unhearlded horse by the name of Dialed In became the story in Sunday's showdown.

Making a furious run from dead last to over take Shackleford, who had lead from turn one, Dialed In may be the horse to watch in the 2011 Triple Crown.

Sir Barton

Today in 1919 Sir Barton won the Kentucky Derby, he would go on to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes that same year and many people didn't realize it but he would become known as the first Triple Crown winner in US horse racing history. There wasn't a "Triple Crown" in 1919, it didnt become know as that until the 1930s, but the 3 biggest and oldest races had never been won in the same year by one horse.

Affirmed - The last Triple Crown Winner

In 1978 Affirmed and Alydar dueled each other for the Triple Crown. They went head to head down to the wire in The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and The Belmont.
Affirmed is to date the last horse to win Horse Racing's Triple Crown. Several have won 2 of 3 but none have yet to win all 3 again.
The Belmont Stakes was the greatest duel ever seen in horse racing and it was over the longest track in the Triple Crown.

Seattle Slew

The 1977 Kentucky Derby was won by the undefeated Seattle Slew. He would go on to win the Triple crown, the 10th horse to do so since 1919 and the only undefeated Triple Crown winner.