Does Justify’s win mean a 21st century Triple Crown streak?

Justify has won the Triple Crown, and that means we should expect another one soon, because they have typically happened together.

The first Kentucky Derby ran in 1875 and, with the exception of off years when one or multiple races weren’t run, race horses have competed for the Triple Crown ever since. It wasn’t until 44 years after that first Derby that a horse won all three major races in the same year. Sir Barton was the first and there have only been 13 — counting 2018 winner Justify — total.

After Sir Barton, it took another 11 years for the horse racing community to see another horse pull off the feat. That, though, started a string of seven Triple Crown winners in the 30s and 40s. Then from 1948-72, no Triple Crowns.

Then, in 1973, the thoroughbred racing community saw what many people deem to be the best horse in history. Secretariat became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby in under two minutes before he set the record for largest Belmont win in history 31 lengths. That would begin a string of three Triple Crowns in six years including the first time in history (1977-78) there were consecutive Triple Crowns.

Then, more waiting.

Year after year went by. In fact, 36 years went by in between. Then, in 2015, it happened.

And it happened again this year.

With Justify’s victory and based on Triple Crown history, we should expect to see more soon, even as soon as next year. Back-to-back Triple Crowns has only happened once, but they tend to happen close to each other. So, even if consecutive Triple Crowns is ambitious, American Pharoah and Justify may have started another streak so it wouldn’t be too lofty to expect a third 21st century Triple Crown winner soon.

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