Who Had the Best Triple Crown Run?

In the annual run for the American Triple Crown championship, Count Fleet romped, Secretariat's speed outclassed, and Affirmed's heart won out, but Sir Barton amazed.

Before the American Triple Crown became known by that title, Sir Barton, loser of six straight races at the age of two, became a monumental three-year-old who won Horse of the Year honors.

What did he do in 1919 to receive such adulation? He won the Kentucky Derby. He won the Preakness Stakes. He won the Belmont Stakes. He won the Triple Crown for the first time in history.

Well, you say, ten others have won those races and that title.

Yup. But the Sir won those races in days, not weeks. Four days after his Derby win, Sir Barton took the Preakness in Maryland. Ten days after his Preakness win, the Sir won the Withers Stakes, which is not part of the triple deal. Then came the Belmont, and the Sir won again. In one month, the sophomore, winless as a two-year-old, became racing's star.

In 1936, the three races that make up today's Triple Crown were first given that tag. Sir Barton's triple win came around one other race, the Withers. And he was not without track record achievement, either. In the Belmont, he set a record time for 11 furlongs at 2:17-2/5. The race is 12 furlongs, or 1-1/2 miles long, each furlong being 1/8 of a mile.

And don't forget, the Sir had to ship to the several different locations to run, in only days. He flew wire to wire in his Derby and in his Preakness wins.

So, while Count Fleet blasted through the Belmont, a 25-length victor, and Secretariat had speed to burn in his triumphs, winning the 1-1/2 mile Belmont by a whopping 31 lengths, and Affirmed heartfully fought off his chief rival, Alydar, three times to take the TC title, the Sir was iron.

Sir Barton was chronically sore-footed. But no matter, because he was frequently off the ground in 1919. Best Triple Crown champion? Well, it was quite a feat. Arguably, the greatest in thoroughbred racing.