1950 was the first time the Triple Crown title was formally proclaimed at the Thoroughbred Racing Associations annual awards dinner in New York. The title was retroactively awarded to Sir Barton, the first horse to win all three races in 1919. All pre-1950 winners were also awarded the titles in the following annual dinners held by the organization. The Triple Crown championship is awarded to three-year-old Thoroughbred that wins the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Kentucky Derby in a single season. It is a coveted and celebrated achievement in not only horse racing but also all of sports.