Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing
Everyone is familiar with the prestigious Triple Crown horse racing series that consists of the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby. But not many horse racing enthusiasts are aware of the Triple Tiara that is exclusive to three-year-old fillies. Even though the races that make up the Triple Tiara of American Thoroughbred Racing have changed, the challenge has remained the same, as has the high quality of competitors that have participated over the years of its existence. It is a very important series for fillies, and a series that few have been able to conquer.
The Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing consisted of the Acorn Stakes, the Mother Goose Stakes and the Coaching Club American Stakes. In 2003, the Acorn Stakes fell away and was replaced by the Alabama Stakes. The series was also known as the Filly Triple Crown. The races were originally all run at Belmont Park (Acorn Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes), but some races have changed location to Saratoga Race Course (Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes). In 2007 the races were reverted back to the inaugural configuration. Today the Mother Goose Stakes has been replaced by the Alabama Stakes.
Only eight horses have been able to conquer the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, namely Dark Mirage (1968), Shuvee (1969), Chris Evert (1974), Ruffian (1975), Davona Dale (1979), Mom’s Command (1985), Open Mind (1989) and Sky Beauty (1993). Of these eight winners, only four have won under both configurations, as they won the Alabama Stakes within the same year, and consist of Shuvee, Mom’s Command, Open Mind and Blue Sky.
Due to the series being held in the New York area, many members of the horse racing community are not happy with the configuration and suggestions have been streaming in to allow fillies from various other states to compete, and to give the fillies more rest between races. Two of the most popular suggestions have been the Black Eyed Susan Stakes (Pimlico Race Course), the Acorn Stakes (Belmont Park) and the Kentucky Oaks (Churchill Downs), with the second suggestion being the Mother Goose Stakes, Kentucky Oaks and Black Eyed Susan Stakes. Only time will tell if the suggestions will be looked at seriously, and if the face of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing might be changed again.
