In the United States, the Trotting Triple Crown is a series of three major harness races for three-year-old Standardbred trotters. It consists of the Hambletonian, the Yonkers Trot, and the Kentucky Futurity. It was inaugurated in 1955 with the creation of the Yonkers Trot (then called the Yonkers Futurity). A horse that wins all three races is designated as a Triple Crown winner and receives the Trotting Triple Crown trophy.[1]
The Kentucky Futurity, held at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, is the longest-running of the three events, having been inaugurated in 1893. The Hambletonian's inception came in 1926, and it has been held at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey since 1981. The Yonkers Trot has been held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York since its inception in 1955.[1]
The first horse to win the Trotting Triple Crown was Scott Frost, who won it in its inaugural year.[2][3] Nine horses have won the Trotting Triple Crown: Scott Frost (1955), Speedy Scot (1963), Ayres (1964), Nevele Pride (1968), Lindy's Pride (1969), Super Bowl (1972), Windsong's Legacy (2004), Glidemaster (2006), and Marion Marauder (2016). Glidemaster and Marion Marauder are the only living Trotting Triple Crown winners.
Stanley Dancer is the only trainer to win the Trotting Triple Crown more than once as a trainer or a driver.[4] Dancer trained and drove both Nevele Pride and Super Bowl to Triple Crown wins.
Winners
| Horse | Year | Driver | Trainer | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Frost | 1955 | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | S. A. Camp Farms (Sol Camp) |
| Speedy Scot | 1963 | Ralph N. Baldwin | Ralph N. Baldwin | Castleton Farm |
| Ayres | 1964 | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | Charlotte Sheppard |
| Nevele Pride | 1968 | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Nevele Acres, Louis Resnick |
| Lindy's Pride | 1969 | Howard Beissinger | Howard Beissinger | Lindy Farm, Inc. |
| Super Bowl | 1972 | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Rachel L. Dancer, Rose Hild Breeding Farm |
| Windsong's Legacy | 2004 | Trond Smedshammer | Trond Smedshammer | Ann Brannvoll, Ted Gewertz, Patricia Spinelli |
| Glidemaster | 2006 | George Brennan, John Campbell | Blair Burgess | Robert Burgess, Karin-Olsson Burgess, Marsha Cohen, Brittany Farms |
| Marion Marauder | 2016 | Scott Zeron | Paula Wellwood | Jean Wellwood, Devin Keeler |
References
- "The Crowns" (PDF). US Trotting. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- "First For Triple Crown". Lexington Herald-Leader. 1955-10-07. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- "Scott Frost Survives Mishap To Win Kentucky Futurity". The Lexington Herald. 1955-10-07. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- "Super Bowl Goes Flat, Still Wins". The Pittsburgh Press. 1972-10-07. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-01-10.