who was the triple crown winner
American Pharoah finally got the job done in 2015 to become the 12th Triple Crown Champion, with spectacular victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. 1  Affirmed in 1978 was the last Triple Crown winner prior to him, so it was a 37 year gap. How long will it take next time? There have been 47 horses who won two out of the three Triple Crown races but only 23 who won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to fail in the Belmont Stakes.
Only eleven horses have won the elusive Triple Crown. The grueling schedule of three races in 5 weeks at longer distances than most have run previously in their careers is probably the most difficult task any horse will face in his racing career. Affirmed in 1978 still remains the last Triple Crown winner. Sadly, the last Triple Crown winner left alive, Seattle Slew, passed away on May 7, 2002. Several horses have come close in recent years, winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to fail in the Belmont Stakes.