50 years and waiting: will we ever see the Triple Crown won again?
Peter Scargill examines the factors affecting pursuit of racing's holy grail
Joseph O’Brien stood tall in the saddle atop Camelot as the 2012 St Leger field thundered down the long home straight at Doncaster.
Camelot had already transported O’Brien to victory in the 2,000 Guineas and Derby and was less than half a mile away from becoming the first horse to add the St Leger, the season’s final Classic, to his tally since the immortal Nijinsky, the last horse to capture the Triple Crown way back in 1970.
However, a decisive move by Encke with two furlongs to go had put Camelot on the back foot and despite closing with every stride he came up short. O’Brien’s body sank into the withers of his mount, the Triple Crown had slipped through his grasp.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inFeatures
Last updated
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Kauto Star: the extraordinary talent who became the benchmark for sheer undiluted quality
- It’s the number-one complaint from punters – so just why are some struggling to get paid out by bookmakers?
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Kauto Star: the extraordinary talent who became the benchmark for sheer undiluted quality
- It’s the number-one complaint from punters – so just why are some struggling to get paid out by bookmakers?