Triple Crown 2020

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 2.

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 - 2019 renewals of the Triple Crown (Derby, Preakness and Belmont), Triple Tiara (Oaks, Black Eyed Susan and Acorn), UAE Derby (Dubai) and British Triple Crown 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) – February 1

San Felipe (8.5 Furlongs) - February 15

Arkansas Derby (9 Furlongs) – February 29

Florida Derby (9 Furlongs) - March 14

Fountain of Youth (9 Furlongs) - March 28

Santa Anita Derby (9 Furlongs) - April 11

Wood Memorial (9 Furlongs) - April 25


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 2

Preakness Stakes (9.5 Furlongs) - May 16

Belmont Stakes (12 Furlongs) - June 6


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? Last year, history was made - Illicit was the first filly to ever win the Kentucky Derby, while Noble Hierarch was the filly female to win the Belmont Stakes. The girls stole the show last year and with a different winner of each race, there was no Triple Crown to be had. Can this year be different? Do you have a horse that can join only two other stallions in the coveted hall of jewels? Pit the best against the best and find out over this spring season!