Was It Your First Triple Crown?

[Merlinsky]

I know there are a range of ages on this board, and some of us just saw the first Triple Crown winner in our lifetimes. I just wanted to know who else experienced that and what it was like for you.

There's something surreal about having watched history as many times as we have with the archived footage of Triple Crowns past, then an addition being made right in front of our eyes. It hadn't been changed for us and we'd run through this many times, for decades at this point. It was in permanent ink almost even though you tell yourself someone can do it and you hope that they might. That was hypothetical, this is real. Your brain has to rewrite what it knows about something pretty significant. Everything felt like it was inevitable for some reason. His stride was perfect, every gallop was right, everything he was doing was the way I'd felt it would go when it finally happened. A 2yo champ just like I thought it might be. The way the race set up and how he swung into the stretch felt like it was all coming together as it was meant to do. It was pretty extraordinary for everyone, I'm sure, but it knocks you back to see it unfold in real time when you never have before.

One thought I had in the wake of the victory as Baffert went to speak to her: I'm glad Penny Chenery and John Nerud got to see another one.

[bare it all]

This was my first - only 33 here. Been following the ponies since I was just a little girl and I'm finally glad I can say I saw "it" happen.

[Thunder Gulch]

I remember Slew and Affirmed when I was a youngster. Wasn't old enough to appreciate how great they werel

[MLC]

I have been following since 1961, Carry Back's attempt, and have seen most of the attempts and all the successes on television. I live in NJ and have only myself to blame for not planning to get to Belmont this year.
But in answer to the original question, this is my 4th.

[DonGuido]

As for me it is and it is an awesome feeling. I can only imagine how Baffert and crew, Et. al are feeling and if it's really hit them yet or they think in might be a dream. My wife, the real thoroughbred aficionado remembers Secretariat but was not really into him like American Pharoah. She has been a horse racing lover since she was a child and that's some time ago.

We sat through our grand daughters graduation ceremony and I was watching the time through most of the boring yet important proceedings. When our grand daughter walked, and her last name is Worthy of course we zipped out of there, drove down the highway to the restaurant where were having the celebratory dinner and got a seat at the bar 15 minutes before the race. Of course soccer was on TV but we asked to change that quickly.

We made some real noise as he was coming down the stretch and it amped up as he crossed the wire as many sitting down behind us gathered round. As we erupted mildly at the end, not to look to childish, we proceeded to explain to all interested parties what just happened. My wife is brilliant and provided them a short education about the significance and put it all into historic perspective. I learn more about this wonderful sport every time she opens her mouth and I've known her almost 50 years.

A superb day for us on two accounts and a magnificent day for the racing world and more. I have received many emails and calls and texts, some we need to return today, from friends and family who know how much we love horse racing and that too is very special.

All I can say is . . . HOLY MACKAROLLEY!!!

[TheSpyder]

37 years ago is a long time so even for us that have seen this before, I think the level of satisfaction, excitement, and overall exhilaration is well beyond anything I can recall.

And that makes me think back to when horse racing was the national past time, when the entire nation would get behind one horse or two if it was East versus West, male vs. female.

Imagine going to work and everyone would be talking about the big race.

Well, for a brief moment we have this, this feeling of community and joining together witnessing greatness, witnessing history.

It feels good.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

I remember Slew and Affirmed when I was a youngster. Wasn't old enough to appreciate how great they werel

Ditto that.

[OldDog]

I was in my teens for the previous three, so I remember them but I was too young and hadn't yet got close enough to the sport to appreciate them for what they were. There's nothing like a 37 year drought to bring the Triple Crown into perspective. I've watched "my" teams win the World Series, NCAA basketball championships, and Super Bowls. None of those brought me the emotional surge that this Belmont did . . . watching VE sit motionless as the fractions emerged telling us that this could be the one, still not moving even as Frosted valiantly challenged, and realizing in the stretch that yes! Not only was AP not faltering, but he was drawing away easily! This wasn't my first Triple Crown, but it's the one most special for me.

[keithting]

Seattle Slew remains my favorite TCW

Spectacular Bid "should have" (if not for that darn pin)!!!