Five American Triple Crown Winners: Will Name of Todays Winner be Inscribed on Famous List?; Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral and Whirlaway Hold Honors, Daily Racing Form, 1942-05-02

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Five American Triple Crown7 Winners Will Name of Todays Winner Be Inscribed on Famous List? Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, * Omaha, War Admiral and Whirlaway Hold Honors LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1.— In the 67 years the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes have been run concurrently only five horses have been able to win the "Triple Crown," symbol of the championship of the three-year-old division. Commander J. K. L. Ross Sir Barton, in 1919, was the first and then in order followed William Woodwards Gallant Fox in 1930, the same sportsmans Omaha in 1935, Samuel D. Riddles War Admiral in 1937 and, finally Warren Wrights Whirlaway last year. Which of these remarkable horses was the best will never be known, but each achieved true greatness and the last of them, Whirlaway, who is still racing, can yet add to the glorious record he made last year. Gallant Fbx and War Admiral, however, have especial claims to fame, for the Woodward colt earned more money, 08,275, as a three-year-old than any other thoroughbred in the history of the turf and the Riddle horse went through his three-year-old season without a defeat. Only Upset in Trovers Gallant Fox, who won the Flash and Junior Champion Stakes as a two-year-old, won the Wood Memorial and the Preakness before coming to Louisville for the Derby ; in 1930 and in the Churchill Downs classic he won easily. Gallant Knight moved into second place behind him in the home stretch, but the Woodward colt was not to * ; ♦— — . . be beaten and he won with two lengths to spare. After leaving here with two legs on the years three-year-old title in his possession, Gallant Fox won the Belmont Stakes in even easier fashion to complete the "triple." Later he added to his collection of stakes triumphs by capturing the Dwyer, the Classic, the Saratoga Cup, the Lawrence Realization and The Jockey Club Gold Cup. Only one defeat marred his escutcheon in 1930 and that setback came in the Travers Stakes in which he finished second to Jim Dandy. Gallant Fox did not race after his three-year-old campaign, but he was to add further lustre to his name by siring the splendid Omaha. In his unimpeded march through the three-year-old division in 1937 War Admiral won, in order, a purse event at Havre de Grace, the Chesapeake, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, another purse race at Laurel, the Washington Handicap and the Pimlico Special. Top Horse of 1937 War Admiral, it was only natural, was acclaimed the outstanding horse of 1937 and he achieved that same honor the following year when he won nine of eleven encounters. Among the features to fall his way as a four-year-old were The Widener, the Saratoga Handicap, the Whitney Stakes, the Saratoga Cup, The Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Rhode Island Handicap. One of his two defeats that year came in his memorable duel in the Pimlico Special with Seabiscuit who later retired as the greatest money-winning thoroughbred of all time. Omaha established his reputation as a great horse on both sides of the Atlantic for after his brilliant three-year-old seasohtk in America he sailed to England to win two stakes and to finish second in two others. As a three-year-old he captured the Dwyer and the Classic in addition to taking the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In his lifetime, Sir Barton made 31 starts and won 13 of them to compile earnings of 16,857 before the advent of stakes of the present value. The Derby, for instance netted him only 0,825 as compared to a value almost three times that amount for the winners the last two years. Although he lost seven of his 20 engagements last year, Whirlaway still was a great three-year-old champion. He not only set the Derby record of 2:01% for a mile and a quarter in running away with the Churchill Downs classic and captured the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, but took honors in such other important events as the Dwyer, Travers, American Derby and Lawrence Realization. __


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1942050201/drf1942050201_5_6
Local Identifier: drf1942050201_5_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800