Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown

Horses in History

by Jennifer S. Kelly

He was always destined to be a champion. Royally bred, with English and American classic winners in his pedigree, Sir Barton shone from birth, dubbed the "king of them all." But after a winless two-year-old season and a near-fatal illness, uncertainty clouded the start of Sir Barton's three-year-old season. Then his surprise victory in America's signature race, the Kentucky Derby, started him on the road to history, where he would go on to dominate the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, completing America's first Triple Crown.

His wins inspired the ultimate chase for greatness in American horse racing and established an elite group that would grow to include legends like Citation, Secretariat, and American Pharoah. After a series of dynamic wins in 1920, popular opinion tapped Sir Barton as the best challenger for the wonder horse Man o' War, and demanded a match race to settle once and for all which horse was the greatest. That duel would cement the reputation of one horse for all time and diminish the reputation of the other for the next century―until now.

Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown is the first book to focus on Sir Barton, his career, and his historic impact on horse racing. Author Jennifer S. Kelly uses extensive research and historical sources to examine this champion's life and achievements. Kelly charts how Sir Barton broke track records, scored victories over other champions, and sparked the yearly pursuit of Triple Crown glory. This book reveals the legacy of Sir Barton and his seminal contributions to Thoroughbred racing one hundred years after his pioneering achievement.

Genres: Horses, Horse Racing, Sports, History

328 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the immortal words of Thumper, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

DNFed at page 95, which is just shy of halfway through the book proper (not including notes, index, etc.).

[Stacey Blanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book at a local bookstore in Lexington last year. But I decided to listen to it while I quilted. I’ve always been a fan of horse racing, especially the early days. My favorite story is that of Man O’ War, like most other horse racing enthusiasts. But I wanted to learn more about this first winner of the Triple Crown.

I live close to the farm where Sit Barton was bred, and every time I see his name on the sign post at Hamburg Pavilion, it makes me a little nostalgic about what went on in this beautiful property before it became a hub for shopping and entertainment.

There are a lot of facts and statistics in this book. I think the audio version makes it a little easier to keep up with. Those who enjoy those types of stories will enjoy this one. It sets the stage for a very glamorous racing century to follow after World War I and up to the current date.

I also learned a lot about a little horse that I once owned. Back in his Pedigree he had a Kentucky Derby winner mentioned and I couldn’t figure out how this little Appaloosa from Texas had a Pedigree from the Kentucky Derby. After discovering where Sir Barton went after his racing career, this makes me want to investigate other famous race horses that followed in his footsteps as a breeding stallion in other ventures in other than racing.

For the horse racing enthusiast it is a must read. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and it has inspired me to read more on the subject.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Barton is a forgotten horse, his image tainted by a resounding defeat in a match race with the great Man o' War. And his record was spotty, his performance inconsistent. But he did what only 12 horses after him have been able to do: win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to take the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing - even though it wasn't called that at the time. Heck, he even threw in a win in the Withers Stakes between races.

Jennifer Kelly brings Sir Barton to life - a tender-footed champion who won in spite of a carousel of jockeys and not enough rest in between races. She paints the picture beautifully and brings Man o' War into the picture early so you know what is bound to happen.

This deserves a spot on my shelf of horse racing books - a magnificent story that needed to be told.

[Sharon Healy-Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Barton raced to fame just a little over 100 years ago. Could it be that long ago? The chestnut stallion has disappeared from the minds of most but the most ardent of horse racing aficionados. What a pity, since his story is so exciting. Sir Barton was the very first Triple Crown winner, and Jennifer Kelly does a wonderful job of telling us his story. We learn the horse's history and breeding, his striking personality, and the physical adversity he had to overcome. The author effectively recreates all the excitement of racing in the early twentieth century, evocatively depicting all the colorful personalities (human and equine) involved in Sir Barton's career. Kelly's descriptions of Sir Baron's races are thrilling and suspenseful. We pull for him almost every time (I have my predilections for Man O' War and Exterminator). Her detailing of the set up of the great match race between Sir Baron and Man O' War is thorough and suspenseful, with her recounting of the actual contest almost as exciting as being there. One caveat I do have is the book's need for a better editor, to catch the at times repetitive and awkward wording. It's still a fine read in the opinion of this improver of the breed.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good up-close look at the first Triple Crown winner. Carrying high weights for most of his career, he did best when under even weights and not coming off a layoff.
I am less than satisfied with the author's handling of the allegations that Sir Barton was drugged to get him to run his best. Certainly if he had been drugged, he might have had a more consistent winning record.
Also includes a look at Man O'War's career, since the match race between Sir B and MOW defined their careers. MOW was the wonder of the age, a superhorse, a horse that would have been on the cover of TIME and Newsweek like Secretariat if those magazines had existed back then.
Unfortunately, Sir Barton ran disappointingly in races after the match race, unable to rehabilitate his former brilliance and reputation for class.
Still he was the first winner of what was later known as the Triple Crown, and for that he remains immortal among the champions of the Sport of Kings.

[Ed Dorsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to force my way through this book. May have been more my mood than any fault of the author. The book is stuffed full of tidbits of information about what was probably the golden age of racing. Sir Barton won "the Triple Crown" before there was a triple crown. He won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness four days later, and then the Belmont. And between the Preakness and the Belmont Sir Barton won the Withers! Plenty about how important racing in Maryland was in those days. Kentucky looked down on as Western racing and New York dealing with the Hart-Agnew act of 1908, which was a political attempt to end gambling on horse racing. Good research by Kelly and worth the read.

[Avalyn Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Barton lived and died in the shadow of Man o' War, possibly the greatest American racehorse of the 20th century. Now, thanks to Jennifer Kelly, his story has at last found a place in the sun. The first horse to win the races now linked as the American Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes), Sir Barton emerges as a remarkable champion in his own right, and one with a distinct personality. Kelly's careful research and tightly packed writing bring him to life in the era that he inhabited, making this a pleasurable read for historians and racing fans alike.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough biography of a horse who deserves more respect than he gets. Likely a smidge confusing at times to the more casual reader - refers to Sir Barton as "the Triple Crown winner" when writing more from the perspective of the owner or trainer when of course they wouldn't have referred to him as such at the time, and there's a couple things presented as fact that are a bit more subjective than they may appear in the book, but the author's love for Sir Barton shines through and no stone is left unturned in telling his story. Will be recommending to others.

[April]

This is a story that was waiting to be told. Sir Barton was an exceptional horse who had the misfortune to be born the year before Man o' War. Great glimpse into the times too.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to give it four stars for extensive research, but landed on three stars instead because too much content is repeated.

Glad to learn about strong racing industry history in Maryland!

[Demetra Smith]

Excellent recounting of the first triple crown winner

[Patrick Macke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just average, the characters aren't very compelling and, based what we've seen of thoroughbred racing over the last century, neither is the horse ... it's really just a reset of the races Sir Barton ran with a slight amount seasoning ... if you like horse books, there are a ton that are better

[Donna Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

For horse racing fans

[Tracy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Barton and the Tribute He Deserves

Sir Barton, the first of 13 Triple Crown winners, was eclipsed in his day by the mighty Man O War, his accomplishments almost an afterthought in the wake of Big Red. This wonderful book by Jennifer Kelly, published 100 years after Sir Barton first set the bar of the prestigious Triple Crown, is a fantastic memorial to one of horse racing's greats.