Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.

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WHAT HORSE IS THE ONLY HORSE TO WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN AND THE TRAVERS STAKES?
8/23/2019

 The Travers Stakes is the premier race of the Saratoga meet. It is often called the Mid-Summer Derby for its comparison to the Kentucky Derby. With nearly four months between these two races only one Triple Crown winner has been able to win the Kentucky Derby (Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes) and the Travers Stakes. A side note to this feat is the accomplishment of Runaway Groom who won the Travers Stakes in 1982 after winning two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown ---Princess of Wales Stakes and the Breeders Stakes. He finished second in the Queen’s Plate. Later that year he was named Canadian-Horse-of-the-Year. Forty-one years earlier in 1941, Whirlaway won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. In August of 1941 he won the Travers Stakes. The closest to that accomplishment was in 1978 when Affirmed ran first in the Travers after winning the Triple Crown, but was disqualified giving the winning to Alydar who defeated in all three Triple Crown races.