Kentucky Derby: Will A Horse Win The Triple Crown in 2026?
The start of another enthralling edition of the Triple Crown is upon us, with the Kentucky Derby set for Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Every year, racing fans dream of seeing a superstar performer seize their chance and land victories in all races, but will a horse win the Triple Crown in 2026?
U.S. Triple Crown Schedule
| Race | Date |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | Saturday, May 2, 2026 |
| Preakness Stakes | Saturday, May 16, 2026 |
| Belmont Stakes | Saturday, June 6, 2026 |
Odds: Will A Horse Win The Triple Crown in 2026?
Horses That Have Won The Triple Crown
The prestigious Triple Crown is the series of races that has transcended the sport of horse racing in the United States since the 1900s.
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However, only 13 equines have ever won each of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Sir Barton became the first to achieve the feat in 1919, while Secretariat’s success in 1973 remains the most awe-inspiring.
Recent success stories include American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2019), both of which were trained by Bob Baffert. The full list of U.S. Triple Crown winners can be found below.
- Sir Barton (1919)
- Gallant Fox (1930)
- Omaha (1935)
- War Admiral (1937)
- Whirlaway (1941)
- Count Fleet (1943)
- Assault (1946)
- Citation (1948)
- Secretariat (1973)
- Seattle Slew (1977)
- Affirmed (1978)
- American Pharoah (2015)
- Justify (2019)
Will A Horse Win The Triple Crown in 2026?
As the odds suggest, winning the Triple Crown is no easy feat. However, it could be argued that we came the closest to seeing the achievement being made in 2025, but Sovereignty bypassed the Preakness Stakes after winning the Kentucky Derby. The colt later effortlessly landed the Belmont Stakes last June.
But, at this stage, it doesn’t appear as though there is a standout contender that boasts the class to complete the Triple Crown in 2026. Chief Wallabee could be the leading hope at this stage, but the William Mott runner will first need to show his ability in graded company after finishing second in the G2 Fountain of Youth.
Chad Brown-trained Paladin has shown solid performances on track to this point, achieving lofty speed figures in winning the G2 Remsen and G2 Risen Star. His credentials are likely to be tested further when lining up in the G1 Blue Grass in April.
For those looking at international contenders, Pyromancer could be of interest. Trained by Japanese star Keji Yoshimura, the three-year-old is unbeaten in three starts under rules and was the winner of the G1 Nisai Yushun (won by Forever Young in 2023) in December.
Ships to the UAE Derby in late March, where we will learn a lot more about his Derby credentials. But at this stage, the question of whether a horse will win the Triple Crown in 2026, unfortunately, looks like no.
