Only Arcaro Won Two Triple Crowns
Citation, Whirlaway Took Jockey to TC History With 1948, 1941 Wins
Eddie Arcaro is the only jockey in history to ride two Triple Crown champions, winning in 1941 and 1948. He was the first of two jockeys to win five Kentucky Derbies.
Citation and Whirlaway were Triple Crown champions in 1948 and in 1941, respectively. Their common denominator was jockey Eddie Arcaro. The 1940s duo were two of five Thoroughbreds that carried Arcaro to the Kentucky Derby winner's circle and to immortality as the only jockey in history to ride two Triple Crown victors. Both champions hailed from Calumet Farm.
Only eleven Thoroughbreds have captured the triple event comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in one season. One of sports' most difficult feats, it was last accomplished by Affirmed in 1978.
Lawrin took Arcaro first to the Derby finish line in 1938. Then came Whirlaway (1941), Hoop Jr. (1945), Citation (1948), and Hill Gail (1952).
In 1938 Lawrin and Arcaro Teamed
Lawrin's grandfather was Sir Gallahad III. He was a brown colt from Insco and Margaret Lawrence by Vulcain. At age two he won three of 15 starts and finished second six times. His earnings were $3,060. In 1938, he had 11 starts, winning six, including the Kentucky Derby. That year he also posted two seconds and two third place showings, earning $123,215.
Whirlaway, 1941
Whirlaway was the first Calumet Farm triple star. Voted Horse of the Year in 1941 and in 1942, he went to post 60 times in his career, winning 32 races. He was the chestnut son of Blenheim II and Dustwhirl by Sweep. His grandsire was Blandford. His two-year-old stats were: 16 starts, seven wins, two seconds, four thirds, with earnings of $77,275.
In his Triple Crown championship season, Whirlaway posted 20 times, winning 13 and capturing five seconds and two thirds, with earnings of $272,386. In 1942, he started 22 races, won 12 and scored eight seconds and two third place runs, earning $211,250. At the age of five, Whirlaway finally lost his racing edge, posting just twice and gaining only a third place finish in the Equipoise Mile.
Hoop Jr., a Sir Gallahad III Colt, 1945
Hoop Jr. was a less heralded bay son of Sir Gallahad III, out of the mare One Hour by Snob II. He won the Kentucky Derby in 1945 after a two-year-old season that saw him earn $5,300 from five starts, two wins, three seconds. Winning the Derby the next year garnered him $93,990, and he finished the season with two firsts from four starts, and one second place finish.
Arcaro Called Citation the Best He Ever Rode, 1948
Citation was, some believe, the best Thoroughbred ever to grace a track. He was fast. He was good. His career wins, 32, from 45 starts still stands as a sensational record. The bay colt from Bull Lea and Hydroplane II by Hyperion won eight of nine starts in 1947, finishing second once. He earned $155,680 that season. In 1948, when he won the Triple Crown, his earnings jumped to $709,470. His season record was 19 wins from 20 starts and one second.
Because of an injury, Citation did not race in 1949. He returned in 1950 to win two of nine starts, taking seven second place scores and earning $73,480. At age six, he improved to three wins from seven starts, grabbing one second and two thirds and earning $147,130. He was the first $1 million earner.
Hill Gail, Another Bull Lea Son, 1952
Another Bull Lea colt emerged in 1952 to win the Kentucky Derby. He was Hill Gail, a dark bay out of the mare Jane Gail by Blenheim II. Hill Gail's career earnings totaled $335,625 in four seasons. In 1952, he won five of eight races, placing second once and third once and earning $226,725. As a two-year-old the previous year he posted seven times, won four and took one second place finish, earning $79,790.
At the age of four, Hill Gail went to the winner's circle twice from eight posts, and scored one second and one third, earning $21,710. In 1954, at five, the dark bay posted nine times without winning. He scored two seconds and one third and earned $7,400.
