First Saturday of May every year
There’s the Kentucky Derby
A mile and a quarter it is, you hear
The Run for the Roses is the first jewel

Then the focus moves to Maryland
For the second jewel of the Triple Crown
Maryland, My Maryland, plays the band
As throughbred’s finest line up for the Preakness

Then the mile and half Belmont Stakes
Three weeks later in New York
And the final test of what it takes
To win third and final jewel of the crown

Only eleven have claimed this crown
In over a hundred years of racing history
The last three I have seen achieve this glorious renown
Each a champion in his own unique way

Who could forget the thunder of the crowd
As Secretariat came down the homestretch
Blurring big red strides eating up Belmont ground
His 2:24 the fastest time and still stands to this day

Then along came Seattle Slew
Baby Huey transformed to Black Beauty
Pure poetry in motion as he flew
Undefeated in all his races to win the crown

Affirmed and Alydar met eye to eye at all three tracks
Matching stride for stride, their shadows inseparable
Each time it was Affirmed that found the cracks
Of just enough daylight to seal a storybook rivalry

Its not just sinew and muscle and bone
Its the look in the eye and the size of the heart
A bit of arrogance and a spirit of fire merged as one
A true champion that answers the call of destiny

Many have tried and come oh, so close
Just one race away from immortality
Only in the Belmont to lose
Oh, the heartbreak of fame and glory denied

In 2002, Bob Baffert saddled War Emblem
Third time’s the charm, the silver haired trainer said
Alas, but his horse had a gate problem
One unexpected stumble, and it was over

In 2003, a horse named Funny Cide
Was the toast of New York and elsewhere
Alas, his fate was for Mother Nature to decide
Funny couldn’t handle the rain and the sloppy track that day

The next year, 2004 saw Smarty Jones
Undefeated and unbeaten, just like Seattle Slew
Alas, Secretariat’s genes in his blood and bones
Was only good enough for second to longshot Birdstone

In 2008, Big Brown roared onto the scene
Overwhelming favorite, victory seemed a foregone conclusion
Alas, a quarter crack in his hoof might have sapped his confidence
His last place finish crushed all hopes and dreams

Oh, how I share the heartache and the sorrow
With those millions who had hoped to see history made
Resolutely we turn our eyes towards a new tomorrow
And we wonder if there ever be another Triple Crown Champion?

© L. Kupfer
updated March 2009

Author’s note:

I first wrote The Triple Crown in 2003, then added the Smarty Jones verse in 2004. There had not been another possible contender until Big Brown in 2008. I learned of the passing today (3/29/09) of the great Alysheba, from Alydar’s bloodline, so I decided it was a fitting tribute to post this poem here today. Mind you… there have been quite a few near misses in my lifetime prior to War Emblem in 2002: Majestic Prince (1969), Canonero II (1971), Spectacular Bid (1979), Pleasant Colony (1981), Alysheba (1987), Sunday Silence (1989), Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Charismatic (1999). (Source: www.horseraceinsider.com)