Triple Crown winner: Sir Barton
Twelve horses have won the American Triple Crown – composed of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes – which was patterned after the English Triple Crown that dates to 1809. When Sir Barton won the three races in 1919, it was not considered a Triple Crown feat. The three races were not acknowledged as being tied together as the Triple Crown until the 1930s. The Thoroughbred Racing Associations commissioned Cartier to craft a Triple Crown trophy – with three sides representing the three jewels – in 1950, and the trophy retroactively was awarded to the eight previous winners of the three races. In 1973, Secretariat was the first horse to be awarded the trophy after he accomplished the sweep.
SIR BARTON - 1919
Ch. c., 1916, by Star Shoot—Lady Sterling, by Hanover
Owner: J.K.L. Ross
Breeder: Madden and Gooch (Ky.)
Trainer: H.G. Bedwell
Jockey: Johnny Loftus
Race record: 31 starts ages 2-4, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, $116,857.
At 2: 2nd, Belmont Futurity.
At 3: Won Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, Withers, Potomac H., Maryland H., etc.
At 4: Won Saratoga H., Dominion H., Merchants and Citizens H., Climax H., Rennert H.
In 1919, Sir Barton, son of the blind Star Shoot, entered the Kentucky Derby as one of the lesser lights in trainer Guy Bedwell’s barn, his role in the race to serve as a pacemaker for more highly regarded stablemate Billy Kelly. But Sir Barton went to the lead and never looked back, winning by five lengths.
Owned by Canadian sportsman Cmdr. J.K.L. Ross, Sir Barton raced to lengthy victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes en route to winning 8 of 13 starts at 3.
At 4, he was unfit when defeated by Man o’ War in a match race in the Kenilworth Gold Cup, though Man o’ War undoubtedly was the superior horse, no matter the circumstances. Sir Barton retired to stud after that race but turned out to be a poor sire, ultimately sold to the U.S. Cavalry Remount Service.
He died in Wyoming in 1937.