California Chrome won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness stakes and hopes were high he might win the Belmont, the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. He finished fourth behind Tonalist, Commissioner and Medal Count.
California Chrome is one of those wonderful stories that racing allows. His owners are Steve Coburn, a factory worker, and Perry Martin, a science guy who owns a testing lab in California. He is trained by 77 year old Art Sherman. They bought the mother for $8,500, bred her for $2,000 and the foal, California Chrome, has raced for millions. The story is that they fell into this but Martin is an analytical man who has studied the breeding techniques devised by Edward Stanley, the 17th Earl of Derby, a prominent breeder in the first half of the 20th Century. He picked his horses carefully. And while Coburn loves the spotlight, Martin did not attend the Preakness because it was his wedding anniversary.
After the loss, California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn, the seemingly affable Good Old Boy, lost his Good Old Mind. He spouted off bitterly to any microphone that would approach. His complaint is legitimate: horses in the Triple Crown races do not have to run in all of them. This allows a horse to wait in the weeds and come into the 1 1/2 mile Belmont fresh, certainly fresher than the hopeful Triple Crown pretender. Tonalist did not run the opening two races, nor did Commissioner. Medal Count skipped the Preakness. Indeed, only three horses in the 11-horse field ran the entire Triple Crown series.
It is a tough series. Not many horses can do it. But the rules are known and most accept it for what it is. It is regrettable that such good fortune can not be accepted for what it is.
| TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS | ||||
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | John Loftus | H.G. Bedwell | J.K.L. Ross |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | James Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud |
| 1935 | Omaha | William Saunders | James Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud |
| 1937 | War Admiral | Charley Kurtsinger | George Conway | Samuel D. Riddle |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | John Longden | Don Cameron | Mrs. J.D. Hertz |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm |
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | John Cruguet | William Turner Jr. | Karen L. Taylor |
| 1978 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Lazaro S. Barrera | Harbor View Farm |
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