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.   WHIRLAWAY - 1941 Ch. c., 1938, by Blenheim II—Dustwhirl, by Sweep Owner-breeder: Calumet Farm (Ky.) Trainer: Ben A. Jones Jockey: Eddie Arcaro Race record: 60 starts ages 2-5, 32 wins, 15 seconds, 9 thirds, $561,161. At 2: Won Hopeful, Saratoga Special, Breeders’ Futurity, Walden. At 3: Won Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, American Derby, Travers, Lawrence Realization, Dwyer, Saranac H. At 4: Won Jockey Club Gold Cup, Pimlico Special, Massachusetts H., Brooklyn H., Dixie H., Narragansett Special, Washington H., etc. :: View lifetime PPs Tough and willful Whirlaway spent the earliest portion of his lengthy career losing races he should have won. But Hall of Famer Ben Jones got the most out of him, as he proved to be high-class and durable. He started 42 times at ages 3 and 4 alone, winning 25 times. Whirlaway was the first of eight Kentucky Derby winners and two Triple Crown winners for owner-breeder Calumet Farm. In the Kentucky Derby, Jones fashioned him with new blinkers and a new rider, Eddie Arcaro, and after being far back early, he exploded in the stretch to win by eight lengths, setting a track record 2:01 2/5. It would stand as the fastest Derby until Decidedly won the race in 2:00 2/5 in 1962. His margin of victory is still tied for the largest in Derby history. Whirlaway was tardy getting out of the gate in the Preakness, trailing early, but rallied to win by 5 1/2 lengths. In the Belmont, he changed tactics and made a big move after a half-mile, rushing up to open up a seven-length advantage after six furlongs. He won easily by 2 1/2 lengths. At 4, he displaced Seabiscuit as the sport’s leading earner while winning the Massachusetts Handicap in track-record time. He started at stud at Calumet before being sold for stud duty in France. He died in France on April 6, 1953.   :: View a complete list of Triple Crown profiles