Credit Stephanie Wolf / WFPL
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is considered one of the most elusive sporting accomplishments: a back-to-back sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
To even be eligible, competitors have to go through a process that dates back to 1986, but you have to go back even further, to May 1985, to understand why.
At the 1985 Kentucky Derby, Spend A Buck wowed those in the grandstand at Churchill Downs with his exciting, and speedy, win. His 2:00.20 time remains one of the fastest in Derby history.
“Rather than run in the Preakness Stakes, the old Garden State Park in New Jersey threw out a multi-million dollar race and enticed Spend A Buck to run there instead,” Darren Rogers, senior director of communications and media services for Churchill Downs Racetrack, said.