[dropcap]P[/dropcap]rior to June 9, only twelve horses in the history of American thoroughbred horse racing had captured the coveted Triple Crown. The award is given for winning America’s three major horse-racing events: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The latest horse to join the elite group is 3-year-old Justify.
The Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the three races, first held in 1860, predating the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes by eight and six years, respectively. The 2018 race at Belmont Park, New York attracted an audience of 90,327. Justify led the race from the onset and went on to win by a length and three quarters. The prize for first place was US$800,000, with second to eighth places also receiving monetary awards.
At the winner’s press conference Justify’s part-owner Mr. Teo Ah Khing said, “We are thankful for everybody here, especially our partners. They are on cloud nine, and so am I! Triple Crown is not easy to achieve.” Presumbly, by “partners” Khing referred to fellow members of his China Horse Club.
As for the winning thoroughbred’s immediate future, its owners have promised that the superhorse will race again but for now a good rest is a priority after the last few grueling months of competition. Recently, the owners signed a mega deal with Coolmore Stud—the world’s largest breeding company—giving them the breeding rights for Justify. The deal is worth a whopping US$75 million!
