The five Classics of flat racing, sometimes referred to as the British Classics or the English Classics, are five of the most prestigious Group 1 races of the flat racing season. Open to three year old runners only, a horse gets only one attempt to win these highly prized races during their career. To win one is an achievement, two is outstanding, and anything more than that is truly history-making. But has any horse managed to win all five of the Classics? To modern fans it might seem a strange question but the idea isn’t perhaps as far-fetched as it might first appear.
Whilst the answer is no, there has never been a horse that has won all five Classics, there are a couple who have come relatively close. There is only one horse who has managed the still-astonishing achievement of winning four of the five Classics outright: Sceptre, back in 1902. A few years prior to that a runner named Formosa won three of the five Classics and had a dead heat in the 2,000 Guineas, so literally only a nose behind Sceptre. Both were fillies, which makes sense given that two of the five races are open to fillies only. We’ll go into more detail about the four-timers later, and we’ll look at the runners with three Classic wins to their names. But first, in case you were unaware, here’s the key information about the five races that are classified as the Classics of flat racing.
What Are the Five Classics of Flat Racing?
The Five Classics
Beginning with the 2,000 Guineas at the home of flat racing, Newmarket, in late April or early May, and concluding with the St Leger at Doncaster in September, the five Classics effectively bookend the flat season in the UK.
The designation of these races as the Classics dates back to 1815 (though the St Leger was first run way back in 1776), the five races have a great deal of history between them. Here’s the at-a-glance info about each of the races.
2,000 Guineas
Key Facts
- Course – Newmarket (Suffolk)
- Distance – 1 mile
- Inaugurated – 1809
- When It Runs – Late April or early Mar
- Who Runs? – Three year old colts and fillies
The first of the Classics to be run is the 2000 Guineas, which is the first leg of the Triple Crown (that also features the Derby and the St Leger, but more of that later). Run over a mile on Newmarket’s straight Rowley Mile Course, there is little to distract runners other than a slight dip before the final furlong. Open to both colts and fillies, the colts carry nine stone and any females entering get a three pound weight allowance.
First run in 1809, when it was won by a colt called Wizard, there have been some truly great winners over the years including the two fillies mentioned above, Sceptre and Formosa. More recent notable victors include Nijinsky (1970), Brigadier Gerard (1971), Dancing Brave (1986) and the great Frankel (2011).
This is the race that really gets the flat season going for many racing fans and clearly every jockey and trainer wants to win it. The leading jockey for the race is Jem Robinson who guided nine runners to victory between 1825 and 1848. A name that is more familiar to modern day racing fans sits atop the trainers list, with Aidan O’Brien having saddled 10 winners between 1998 and 2019.
1,000 Guineas
Key Facts
- Course – Newmarket (Suffolk)
- Distance – 1 mile
- Inaugurated – 1814
- When It Runs – Late April or early May
- Who Runs? – Three year old fillies
The youngest of the Classics, this fillies-only affair has none the less been around since 1814 so it still has plenty of history to delve into. Run over the same course and distance as the 2,000 Guineas, just the following day, the only difference is that this is open to fillies only. It is the second of the five Classics but the opening leg of the Fillies’ Triple Crown, with the Oaks and the St Leger completing the trio.
We have to delve back a long way to find the top jockey and trainer for this one. George Fordham rode seven winners of the 1,000 Guineas between 1859 and 1883, while Robert Robson trained nine horses to success between 1818 and 1827.
The Oaks
Key Facts
- Course – Epsom Downs (Surrey)
- Distance – 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards
- Inaugurated – 1779
- When It Runs – Late May or early June
- Who Runs? – Three year old fillies
At Epsom it is the fillies who take to the track first with the Oaks. Run over the longer distance of one mile, four furlongs and six yards, the extra distance compared to the 1,000 Guineas is one of the key reasons not many runners even attempt to go for both races these days. Having said that, we don’t have to go back too far to find the latest winner of both the Oaks and the 1,000 Guineas: in 2016 the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minding achieved just that, with the German-bred Kazzia doing likewise in 2002.
The Derby
Key Facts
- Course – Epsom Downs (Surrey)
- Distance – 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards
- Inaugurated – 1780
- When It Runs – Late May or early June
- Who Runs? – Three year old colts and fillies
The Derby is one of the most famous races in the world, and it is the race after which all other Derbies are named, from the Kentucky Derby to the Irish Derby to the Hungarian Derby! Run over the same course and distance as the Oaks, the Derby is open to both colts and fillies, with the fillies getting a three pound weight allowance.
A very familiar name to most racing fans, Lester Piggott is the leading jockey in the history of this great contest, having ridden a hugely impressive nine winners between 1954 and 1832. At the time of writing (prior to the 2020 renewal) there are four trainers tied on seven wins each: Robert Robson (1793 to 1823), John Porter (1868 to 1899), Fred Darling (1922 to 1941), and Aidan O’Brien (2001 to 2019). It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see O’Brien stride forwards on his own with another win or two in the coming years.
St Leger Stakes
Key Facts
- Course – Doncaster (South Yorkshire)
- Distance – 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards
- Inaugurated – 1776
- When It Runs – September
- Who Runs? – Three year old colts and fillies
The oldest of the Classics, the St Leger Stakes (which is open to fillies and colts) is also the longest of the five at a relatively lung-busting trip of one mile, six furlongs and 115 yards. The disparity between this trip and that of the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas is one of the main reasons the Triple Crown and the Fillies’ Triple Crown are not even attempted very often these days, let alone won, as we shall discuss below.
As the final Classic of the season, this is the race it all comes down to for those chasing multiple Classic glory, and it has proved a bridge too far for many over the years. There have been 10 runners who have come into the St Leger with victories in the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby already in the bag, only to fall short in this race.
The most recent runner to suffer such a near miss was the Aidan O’Brien-trained Camelot. After winning the 2,000 Guineas by a neck and cruising to victory in the Derby by five lengths, he was the 2/5 favourite to win the St Leger and with it the Triple Crown. It didn’t quite go to plan though as he was beaten by three quarters of a length by the American 25/1 shot, Encke.
Reasons No Horse Has Won All Five Classics
There are various reasons that no horse has managed to win all five Classics of racing, and indeed why no horse is ever likely to. Here are the main factors that have made the possibility so remote:
Females Only
Given that two of the five races – the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks – are open to fillies only (though the other three are open to colts and fillies), the number of possible winners of all the Classics is already massively reduced.
Proximity of Races
With the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas taking place on consecutive days, and the Oaks and the Derby likewise, there are very few trainers who would risk even attempting to run in all five Classics, and certainly this would not be considered by most trainers these days who are a lot more concerned about (or at least knowledgeable about) the welfare of the horses than perhaps was once the case.
The risk of injury to horses running on consecutive days, especially in races that require such intense effort, is simply too great for many owners and trainers to consider, especially given the high value of many runners in the Classics. The two Guineas races, and the Oaks and Derby were not always on consecutive days. For instance, when Sceptre competed there was a whole day’s rest between them!
Distance Differences
In theory, there is not too much difference between the mile trip of the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and the mile and six furlongs of the St Leger. But in horse racing terms that difference is highly significant and in percentage terms it is too, with the Leger 75% longer than the shortest Classics.
Think about the top human athletes in the world and it is rare to find someone at the very top who is able to find success over multiple distances. Of course there are plenty who double up in the 100m and 200m, 200m and 400m, or 5,000m and 10,000m but those are broadly the same types of race.
In contrast a horse running distances of a mile, and a mile and six furlongs is perhaps more akin to a human attempting to compete at both 400m and 1,500m, which just doesn’t happen. (In case you’re interested, the nearest to that feat is probably the achievement of Cuban runner Alberto Juantoena who won both the 400m and 800m at the 1976 Olympics.)
There is clearly not so great a difference between the Oaks and Derby (both 1 mile and four furlongs), and the St Leger; or indeed between the Guineas races (each of a mile) and the Epsom Classics, but the difference between the Guineas events and the St Leger is just too great. Horses have become more and more specialist over the years in terms of distance and it is just no longer possible for a horse to remain competitive over such different outings.
Has Any Horse Won Four of the Five Classics?
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As mentioned, no horse has ever managed the unbelievably tough ask of winning all five Classics. But, as mentioned earlier, there are two who have landed four of the five (albeit with one of them having a dead heat in one of the races).
Sceptre – Four Classic Wins
Sceptre achieved the almost unimaginable in 1902 when the filly won the 1,000 Guineas, the 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. She also managed fourth place in the Derby, and had she not suffered a bruised foot 10 days prior to the big race at Epsom, she might well have won that too!
As mentioned above there was a day of rest between both the 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 Guineas, and the Derby and the Oaks, which at least gave runners a fighting chance of being able to double up at Newmarket and Epsom.
Formosa – Four Classic Wins (Including One Dead Heat)
Hot on the heels of Sceptre in the Classic achievement stakes comes Formosa, who won the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger, and was awarded a dead heat (with a horse called Moslem) in the 2,000 Guineas in 1868. In the process she became the first winner of the Fillies’ Triple Crown.
Back in those days, if a race was declared a dead heat the owners were given the chance of a straight head to head race-off between the winners on the same course. Indeed the decider was scheduled to take place at the end of the day’s racing, but it was cancelled when the owners instead decided to split the winnings and leave the result as a dead heat.
Mermosa was allowed a walk-over and treated as the winner so bookies didn’t have to pay out twice, but the history books still have Formosa as a dead heat winner and hence she is up there as one of only two runners to have landed four of the five Classics.
Triple Crown Winners
The Triple Crown (also known as the English Triple Crown) is achieved when a horse wins all three of the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger. The Triple Crown has been achieved by just 15 horses over the years, with West Australian being the first way back in 1853 and Nijinsky being the most recent in 1970.
Some people argue that there have actually only been 12 true Triple Crown winners as the three runners who achieved the feat during the First World War ran all three races at Newmarket (Pommem in 1915, Gay Crusader in 1917 and Gainsborough in 1918). Here are the other 12 undisputed Triple Crown winners, starting with the most recent:
- 1970 – Nijinsky
- 1935 – Bahram
- 1903 – Rock Sand
- 1900 – Diamond Jubilee
- 1899 – Flying Fox
- 1897 – Galtee More
- 1893 – Isinglass
- 1891 – Common
- 1886 – Ormonde
- 1866 – Lord Lyon
- 1865 – Gladiateur
- 1853 – West Australian
This list shows how racing has changed over the years and become increasingly specialised. In the earlier days of the sport it was relatively easy for a great horse to dominate over a range of distances and types of race. However, as training and preparation have got better and better and more and more specialised a one-mile sprinter just cannot match a horse that has been trained and even bred for the longer distances.
Whilst eight horses managed to land the Triple Crown between 1853 and the turn of the century, only eight managed it in the entire 20th century. That includes the four who raced solely at Newmarket. More tellingly no horse has done the treble for 50 years, with the legendary Nijinsky the only one to have managed this feat in not far off 100 as trainers have come better adept at creating equine specialists.
Winners of the Fillies’ Triple Crown
The Fillies’ Triple Crown is made up of the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. The achievement was once not regarded as highly as it is these days as the best fillies would usually compete in the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby rather than the fillies-only races. But in more recent times this hasn’t been the case, so the Fillies’ Triple Crown is rightly seen as an exceptional achievement in its own right.
As mentioned earlier, Formosa was the first filly to achieve victories in the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger, and there have been eight others to do likewise. Here they all are, starting with the most recent:
- 1985 – Oh So Sharp
- 1955 – Meld
- 1942 – Sun Chariot
- 1904 – Pretty Polly
- 1902 – Sceptre
- 1892 – La Fleche
- 1874 – Apology
- 1871 – Hannah
- 1868 – Formosa
Horses with Three Classic Wins (Aside from Triple Crown & Fillies’ Triple Crown)
We’ve listed the runners who’ve won the Triple Crown or the Fillies’ Triple Crown, but are there any horses who have won three of the Classics that don’t fulfil the requirement for either of the Crowns? As it happens, there is just one. Way back in 1840 a filly called Crucifix won the 2,000 Guineas, the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks. Sadly, she never got the chance to go for the Fillies’ Triple Crown as after winning the Oaks she was pulled up having sustained an injury and was subsequently retired.
Which Horses Have Won Two Classics?
Not including those already mentioned who have won three or more Classics, there are lots of horses who have manged the task of winning two of the five Classics over the years. We have listed them all in the table below with the races each of them won. As you can see, doubling up on the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks has been a relatively frequent achievement (with 38 managing that double), as has the 2,000 Guineas–Derby double (with 22).
There have been a decent number of Derby-St Leger doubles (20), with eight winning the Oaks and the St Leger, four doing the 1,000 Guineas-St Leger double, four achieving the 2,000 Guineas-St Leger double, four who’ve won the Derby and the Oaks, one who has won just the two Guineas races and one who has won just the 1,000 Guineas and the Derby.
Has Any Horse Won the 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas?
Four horses have won both the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas. As already mentioned, Sceptre won both on the way to her four Classic wins in 1902, whilst Formosa won the 1,000 Guineas and scored a dead heat in the 2,000 Guineas on the way to her four Classics in 1868. Crucifix won both Guineas (and the Oaks) in 1840, while Pilgrimage won both Guineas races in 1878 (before placing second in the Oaks).
Has Any Horse Won the Oaks & The Derby?
Four horses have won the Oaks and the Derby: Eleanor (1801), Blink Bonny (1857), Signorinetta (1908), and Fifinella (1916). This is something not even the mighty Sceptre was quite able to achieve. Note that Fifinella’s double took place at Newmarket (due to WWI) rather than Epsom.
Horses with Two Classics Wins
| Horse (Year of Wins) | Classics Won |
|---|---|
| Tagalie (1912) | 1,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Neva (1817) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Corinne (1818) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Zinc (1823) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Cobweb (1824) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Galata (1832) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Mendicant (1846) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Governess (1858) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Reine (1872) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Spinaway (1875) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Camelia (1876) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Wheel of Fortune (1879) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Thebais (1881) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Busybody (1884) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Miss Jummy (1886) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Reve d’Or (1887) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Mimi (1891) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Amiable (1894) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Cherry Lass (1905) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Jest (1913) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Princess Dorrie (1914) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Saucy Sue (1925) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Exhibitionnist (1937) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Rockfel (1938) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Galatea (1939) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Godiva (1940) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks (at Newmarket) |
| Sun Stream (1945) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks (at Newmarket) |
| Imprudence (1947) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Musidora (1949) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Bella Paola (1958) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Petite Etoile (1959) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Never Too Late (1960) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Sweet Solera (1961) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Altesse Royale (1971) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Mysterious (1973) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Midway Lady (1986) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Salsabil (1990) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Kazzia (2002) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Minding (2016) | 1,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Imperieuse (1857) | 1,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| Achievement (1867) | 1,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| Tranquil (1923) | 1,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| Herringbone (1943) | 1,000 Guineas, St Leger (at Newmarket) |
| Pilgrimage (1878) | 1000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas |
| Smolensko (1813) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Cadland (1828) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Bay Middleton (1836) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Cotherstone (1843) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Macaroni (1863) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Pretender (1869) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Shotover (1882) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Ayrshire (1888) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Ladas (1894) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| St Amant (1904) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Minoru (1909) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Sunstar (1911) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Manna (1925) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Cameronian (1931) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Blue Peter (1939) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Nimbus (1949) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Crepello (1957) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Royal Palace (1967) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Sir Ivor (1969) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Nashwan (1989) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Sea The Stars (2009) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Camelot (2012) | 2,000 Guineas, Derby |
| Pastille (1822) | 2,000 Guineas, Oaks |
| Sir Tatton Sykes (1846) | 2,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| Stockwell (1852) | 2,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| The Marquis (1862) | 2,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| Petrarch (1876) | 2,000 Guineas, St Leger |
| Champion (1800) | Derby, St Leger |
| Surplice (1848) | Derby, St Leger |
| The Flying Dutchman (1849) | Derby, St Leger |
| Voltigeur (1850) | Derby, St Leger |
| Blair Athol (1864) | Derby, St Leger |
| Silvio (1877) | Derby, St Leger |
| Iroquois (1881) | Derby, St Leger |
| Melton (1885) | Derby, St Leger |
| Donovan (1889) | Derby, St Leger |
| Sir Visto (1895) | Derby, St Leger |
| Persimmon (1896) | Derby, St Leger |
| Coronach (1926) | Derby, St Leger |
| Trigo (1929) | Derby, St Leger |
| Hyperion (1933) | Derby, St Leger |
| Windsor Lad (1934) | Derby, St Leger |
| Airborne (1946) | Derby, St Leger |
| Tulyar (1952) | Derby, St Leger |
| Never Say Die (1954) | Derby, St Leger |
| St Paddy (1960) | Derby, St Leger |
| Reference Point (1987) | Derby, St Leger |
| Eleanor (1801) | Oaks, Derby |
| Blink Bonny (1857) | Oaks, Derby |
| Signorinetta (1908) | Oaks, Derby |
| Fifinella (1916) | Oaks, Derby (at Newmarket) |
| Queen of Trumps (1835) | Oaks, St Leger |
| Marie Stuart (1873) | Oaks, St Leger |
| Jannette (1878) | Oaks, St Leger |
| Seabreeze (1888) | Oaks, St Leger |
| Memoir (1890) | Oaks, St Leger |
| Dunfermline (1977) | Oaks, St Leger |
| Sun Princess (1983) | Oaks, St Leger |
| User Friendly (1992) | Oaks, St Leger |
Will Any Horse Ever Win All Five Classics?
Never say never so the old saying goes but to use a different word … no, a horse won’t ever win all five Classics. With the Guineas races and the Oaks and Derby being on consecutive days, it would take a real freak of nature of a horse, and an owner and trainer who are perfectly fine with taking big risks with their steads, for runners to be even given the chance to race in all five Classics.
Add to that the unlikelihood of a runner being able to compete effectively over the range of distances the Classics present, and we simply can’t envisage a situation in which a horse would ever be able to win all five Classics.
Having said that, as we saw with Camelot in 2012, there might still be some runners who put themselves in the frame to win the Triple Crown or the Fillies’ Triple Crown. Even that seems relatively unlikely though, as more and more the St Leger is viewed as a specialist race for horses with greater stamina than a typical Guineas, Derby or Oaks horse.
If any colt or filly was able to land the Triple Crown it would truly represent a supreme achievement in the modern racing game. But overall we think it is more than safe to say that the Holy Grail of five Classic victories will remain an unachieved dream for ever more.