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The Elusive Triple Crown

Pharoah - Triple Crown Winner 2015
Pharoah - Triple Crown Winner 2015
Pharoah – Triple Crown Winner 2015
On an idyllic Saturday evening at Belmont Park, American Pharoah made it worth the 37-year wait. Under a perfectly calculated ride by Victor Espinoza, the son of Pioneer of the Nile led the field from start to finish in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, drawing away in the stretch to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 and end a drought that had seen the hopes of 13 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners end in disappointment.
The milestone victory in the 147th ‘Test of the Champion’ was sweet redemption for the colt’s connections, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and Espinoza, as the pair had accumulated five failed Triple Crown bids between them.

What are the odds?

Assuming 8 tables per session and all players of equal ability, then the odds of someone winning the ‘tripple’ are 1/8 to the power of two, or one in 64; so you can expect it about every 6 months or so, depending upon the number of players (obviously it’s much easier to win the tripple in the low season when there are only three or four tables).

The odds of two independent people (who only partnered each other on one occasion and obviously play in different directions on the other two occasions (as with Dave & Terry 21-25/5/05) both winning in the same week are 1/8 to the power of three, or one in 512; so once in 5 years or so.

Anyway, here’s a list of triple winners. I hope it’s complete, let me know if there are any omissions.

News-sheet   dates Winner

121 21/5 – 25/5/05 Dave Cutler
121 21/5 – 25/5/05 Terry Quested
139 27/6 – 1/7/05 Tobjorn + Gunn
141 11/7 – 15/7/06 John Gavens
141 11/7 – 15/7/06 Terry Quested
162 5/9 – 9/9/06 Bob Pelletier
169 23/1 – 27/1/06 Terry Quested
172 13/2 – 17/2/06 Terry Quested + Chuck Paparigian
214 4/12 – 8/12/06 Terry Quested
240 4/6 – 8/6/07 Jan v Koss
272 21/1 –  25/1/08 Olaf Ries
280 17/3 – 21/3/08 Hans Vikman
326 2/2 – 6/2/09 Janne Roos

History

Source for more info http://www.belmontstakes.com/history/triplecrownwinners.aspx

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