Why its so hard to win Triple Crown

[porchy44]

Kentucky Derby =Late Bias

Preakness= Early Bias



Other than the obvious reasons (It takes a great horse to win all 3)

Do you think this is a valid point? Or Not?

[thaskalos]

IMO...the main reason is the order in which the Triple Crown races are run.

The Belmont Stakes - which is the most grueling of the 3 races - is the last TC race to be run...and, by that time, the horses' rigorous three-year-old TC campaigns have already taken their toll...

[sonnyp]

they're not even fully grown or mature physically. three 2 turn races in 5 weeks(the vast majority will never race at 1 1/2 miles again in their career). 3 different tracks, 3 different track surfaces. the shipping, three different backstretch populations with 3 different sets of germs and "bugs"
which may result in a bacterial or viral infection.

it goes on and on.

[riskman]

There was a period of time 1949 - 1972 where there was not a Triple Crown winner.[ 23 years] Secretariat broke the dry spell and won the TC in 1973.We are now in another dry spell since Affirmed won in 1978. There have been 11 horses since Secretariat that won the Derby and Preakness but failed to win the 3rd leg Belmont.
97,98 and 99 were great years as well as 2002,03 and 04 where the TC was on the line.When Charismatic faded to third as a result of injuries sustained during the race in 99 it was a real disappointment for me.
We can argue that drugs and breeding plays a part but something has changed for the worse since Affirmed or is just plain fate or circumstance.

[sonnyp]

the challenge, difficulty and rare horse that can pull it off are the elements that make it so special.

when that "special" horse wins it, generally, they deserve it and they are, indeed, special.