Triple Crown Near Misses

American Pharoah and Justify broke the mold of late by winning the Triple Crown, but since Affirmed did it in 1978, many horses got close but failed in their Triple Crown bid. 

13 horses won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes while failing to run in or win the Belmont Stakes. Seven more either won the first and third legs or the second and third legs.

In order, they are:

Year                 Horse                           Derby              Preakness        Belmont

• 2014                California Chrome      1^st                    1^st                    4^th
• 2012                I’ll Have Another         1^st                    1^st                    DNR
• 2008                Big Brown                   1^st                    1^st                    9^th
• 2005                Afleet Alex                  3^rd                    1^st                    1^st
• 2004                Smarty Jones                1^st                    1^st                    2^nd
• 2003                Funny Cide                  1^st                    1^st                    3^rd
• 2002                War Emblem                1^st                    1^st                    8^th
• 2001                Point Given                  5^th                    1^st                    1^st
• 1999                Charismatic                  1^st                    1^st                    3^rd
• 1998                Real Quiet                    1^st                    1^st                    2^nd
• 1997                Silver Charm                1^st                    1^st                    2^nd
• 1995                Thunder Gulch             1^st                    3^rd                    1^st
• 1994                Tabasco Cat                 6^th                    1^st                    1^st
• 1991                Hansel                          10^th                  1^st                    1^st
• 1989                Sunday Silence           1^st                    1^st                    2^nd
• 1988                Risen Star                    3^rd                    1^st                    1^st
• 1987                Alysheba                      1^st                    1^st                    4^th
• 1984                Swale                           1^st                    1^st                    4^th
• 1981                Pleasant Colony          1^st                    1^st                    3^rd
• 1979                Spectacular Bid          1^st                    1^st                    3^rd

In the 39 years since Affirmed’s Triple Crown bid, there have been two Triple Crown winners and 20 horses that won two jewels of the Crown. It’s slightly more likely that a horse will win at least two legs than having three different winners, which last happened in 2017 with Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing, and Tapwrit.

There have been 47 “near misses” since 1919, the year Sir Barton won what would later be recognized as the Triple Crown. In the 99 years since, just about 47% of years have had a horse nearly win the Triple Crown. But the fact that in 100 years only 13 horses have done it makes it a much more memorable feat. 

With Justify winning the Triple last year, it’s more likely that this is going to be a year seeing three different winners. But it’s almost as likely that a horse will win two legs and falter in the third.