Triple Crown 2016

It's that time of year again, racing fans! On the first Saturday of May, the roses will fall on the one horse that will be crowned the Kentucky Derby King (or Queen!) of SS and sets the stage for a Triple Crown battle for the following five weeks.

Just as we have done in the preceding years with the Kentucky Derby lead up, we'll be copying how the real horses do it and will be hosting a series of "preps" to allow your horses to accumulate enough points for a coveted spot in the Kentucky Derby gate.

Only 14 horses will be eligible to enter the gate on Derby Day, which will be decided by the amount of points a horse has on the day the race opens. No preference will be given regards to post positions - all posts will be decided via Random.org and the weather and track conditions of the day will mimic what is happening in the real Kentucky Derby on May 7.

NOTE - Any horse is allowed to participate! We will be going with a "weight by grade" system in the preps where higher graded horses will carry high imposts, with females given a 2 lb break if they choose to enter. All male horses will carry 126 lbs on Derby Day, while females will carry 124 lbs. If you feel that any of your horses are good enough, enter our preps (also limited to 14 starters per race) and take your chance at racing immortality.

Here's how we'll be running things:

Point System

1st - 10 pts
2nd - 4 pts
3rd - 2 pts
4th - ? - 1 pt

Similar to the new system implemented in previous years, points will be the deciding factor on who makes it to the starting gate. I don't know what the cut off will be at this point, as I have no idea how many horses will participate, so I'd suggest you enter every prep you can in order to get enough points to guarantee a spot!

NOTE - All preps and TC races are on DIRT. Please keep that in mind when entering your horses!

2ND NOTE Horses that participated in any of the 2011 - 2015 renewals of the Triple Crown (Derby, Preakness and Belmont) and Triple Tiara (Oaks, Black Eyed Susan and Acorn) are not allowed to be entered in this year's rendition. In real life, only 3 year olds are allowed to compete and you're only a 3yo horse once! This is to give all horses that are and will be on SS a chance to compete. If you don't remember which of your horses competed, I have a post below that lists every horse that has competed since 2011.


List of Preps and Dates

Rebel Stakes (8.5 Furlongs) - January 23

San Felipe (8.5 Furlongs) - February 6

Arkansas Derby (9 Furlongs) - February 20

Florida Derby (9 Furlongs) - March 5

Fountain of Youth (9 Furlongs) - March 19

Santa Anita Derby (9 Furlongs) - April 2

Wood Memorial (9 Furlongs) - April 16


These preps count ONLY for the Kentucky Derby - because the Derby is a select gate of the best of the best, the point system was developed to give the horses that won the biggest preps and the most races a guaranteed spot in the starting gate. Though no horse is less deserving than another, only the top 14 equine athletes on the circuit will earn a berth into the gate on Derby Day.

For the Preakness and Belmont, it is an open call for any horse. If it's your dream to become own a Classic winner or to steal the Crown for another year, any horse you own, regardless of prep points or wins, may enter either or both of these races.


Triple Crown Races and Dates

Kentucky Derby (10 Furlongs) - May 7

Preakness Stakes (9.5 Furlongs) - May 21

Belmont Stakes (12 Furlongs) - June 11


All races will be open for ONE WEEK and then run if the minimum of 6 horses are in the gate. There are seven preps but points are limited. If you feel like you won't be able to enter certain races but want to, please PM me and I'll be happy to handle any horses you'd like.

Does your horse have what it takes to become a Derby winner and perhaps even a coveted Triple Crown immortal? We had a history-setting run last year, with Prince of Thorns a record fourth winner for Hard Tack and Athena Watchover being the first filly to ever take a Triple Crown race, upsetting Prince's TC chances. Will history repeat itself or will we once again have a Triple Crown to celebrate on SS?