So, I’ve been digging into this whole “almost triple crown winners” thing, and man, it’s a wild ride. I started by just poking around, trying to figure out which horses got super close to winning the Triple Crown but didn’t quite make it. You know, those horses that everyone remembers for almost making history.
First off, I hit up a bunch of racing websites and old news articles. I was just skimming through, looking for names that popped up a lot. Funny Cide, that name kept showing up. Turns out, this horse was a real fighter. Back in 2003, Jose Santos rode Funny Cide to win the Preakness Stakes. This horse was a big deal, but from what I gathered, he didn’t clinch the Triple Crown.
Then I got curious about how many horses actually won the Triple Crown. It’s only 13! Can you believe it? Since 1919, only 13 horses have managed to pull it off. Sir Barton was the first one back in 1919, apparently. And then there’s this mare, Zenyatta. Her story is nuts. She was a late bloomer, didn’t even start racing until she was almost four. Too big, too slow to develop, they said. So, no Triple Crown for her, since that’s just for three-year-olds.
- Looked up horses that nearly won the Triple Crown
- Found out about Funny Cide’s story and his Preakness win in 2003
- Discovered only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown
- Learned about Zenyatta, a late bloomer who never competed in the Triple Crown
Diving Deeper into the Almosts
After that, I wanted to know more about these “almost” winners. I mean, winning two out of three of those races is still a huge deal, right? So, I started making a list of horses that won two legs but missed the third. It’s actually a pretty long list. These horses, they’re like the unsung heroes of horse racing. They got so close to glory, but it just slipped away.
I spent hours just reading stories about these horses, watching old race footage if I could find it. It’s kind of addictive, to be honest. You start to root for these horses, even though their races were years or even decades ago.
And it got me thinking, what is it about the Triple Crown that’s so hard? It’s not just about being fast. It’s about endurance, consistency, and probably a bit of luck. Those three races – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes – they’re tough. And to win all three in just five weeks? That’s insane.
So, that’s where I’m at now. I’ve got this big list of almost Triple Crown winners, and I’m just fascinated by their stories. It’s not just about the wins and losses. It’s about the effort, the heart, and the sheer will to compete. These horses might not have made it into the history books as Triple Crown winners, but they’ve definitely earned a spot in my book as some of the most exciting and inspiring athletes in horse racing.
