Early nominations to the three races that make up the Triple Crown – the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1), $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) and $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) – close Saturday, January 20, at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
Owners can nominate their sophomores to take part in any of the 2018 Triple Crown events for an early nomination fee of $600. A late nomination period, scheduled for January 21 through March 19, carries a fee of $6,000.
The 2018 Triple Crown kicks off on May 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with the 144th edition of the Kentucky Derby. The 143rd Preakness takes place two weeks later on May 19 at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland. The Belmont concludes the series on June 9, celebrating its 150th running at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
The Derby is run at 1 1/4 miles, the Preakness takes place at 1 3/16 miles and the Belmont sends sophomores 1 1/2 miles.
In 2015, American Pharoah became the first horse to sweep the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, and only the 12th Triple Crown winner overall.
Nominations sent by traditional mail must be postmarked by the January 20 deadline. Other ways of nominating include online at www.TheTripleCrown.com, by telephone with a designated representative from one of the three Triple Crown host tracks or by fax. Online, phone and fax nominations must be completed by the 11:59 p.m. (ET) deadline on January 20.
Information on the Triple Crown nomination process – including a link to a print-and-mail nomination form – is available at www.theTripleCrown.com.
Last year, 419 sophomores were nominated early to the Triple Crown, with an additional six joining the list during the late nomination period for an overall 2017 total of 425 horses.
