Jennifer Kelly

Jennifer Kelly is a horse racing historian, writer, and author of Sir Barton and the Making of the Triple Crown and The Foxes of Belair: Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown. When she's not writing about racing's past, she's watching and wagering on racing's present, eagerly awaiting our next Triple Crown winner.
 

Yes, She Can: Female Jockey Representation in America's Elite Races

Tue Mar 10 2026Jennifer Kelly

While Julie Krone remains the only woman to win a Triple Crown classic—her historic 1993 Belmont Stakes win aboard Colonial Affair—pioneers like Patti Cooksey and Rosie Napravnik have continued to prove that strength and strategy know no gender.
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Lawrin, 1938)

Mon Mar 09 2026Jennifer Kelly

While the majority of the 150 winners of the Kentucky Derby were born in the Bluegrass State, 14 other states boast Derby victors of their own, with seven producing one each. New York has Funny Cide, Maryland gave us Kauai King, and in 1938, Kansas got its lone victory with a colt named Lawrin.
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Affirmed

Mon Mar 09 2026Jennifer Kelly

But who was the lanky chestnut colt that came out on top, the one that followed Seattle Slew into history a scant 12 months after his own classic campaign? The combination of an easygoing disposition, a clever mind, and an iron will gave Affirmed everything he would need to turn away his challengers and become an immortal.
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Dust Commander, 1970)

Fri Mar 06 2026Jennifer Kelly

In 1970, Dust Commander made dreams come true for a journeyman jockey, a young trainer, and a family new to racing, a victory that rewarded the faith of the few who believed in this long shot from the Land of Lincoln.
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Secretariat

Mon Mar 02 2026Jennifer Kelly

Fifty years and 31 lengths ago, Secretariat sailed into the history books as the ninth horse to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, our American Triple Crown.
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Worth, 1912)

Mon Mar 02 2026Jennifer Kelly

In Louisville, the big show went on as racing fans once again celebrated another Kentucky Derby, its victor a champion colt whose brief time on the racetrack left the sport wondering “what if?”
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Sunny’s Halo, 1983)

Fri Feb 27 2026Jennifer Kelly

Sunny’s Halo bested injury and a full field on Derby Day to bring another victory in the Run for the Roses back to the Great White North.
The Heart That Wears the Crown: Sir Barton

Mon Feb 23 2026Jennifer Kelly

Thoroughbreds are fast and powerful athletes and the most elite are the ones whose names become a part of our collective consciousness, but, like familiar faces like Tom Brady and Michael Jordan, they were living, breathing beings who interacted with the world around them and left a distinct impression on those who cared for them. 
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Jet Pilot, 1947)

Mon Feb 23 2026Jennifer Kelly

In a year sandwiched between Triple Crown winners, Jet Pilot capitalized on his good fortune and brought home a rosy victory for his famous owner and Hall of Fame trainer.
Tall Tales of the Track – A Case of Mistaken Identity?

Wed Feb 18 2026Jennifer Kelly

With apologies to Mark Twain, the reports of the horse’s premature death, however, were greatly exaggerated. Instead, the colt’s journey to that fateful day involved a top sire, a famed owner, and a legendary jockey, all of whom played a role in the story of a horse named Riley.
Faded Glory: Forgotten Kentucky Derby Winners (Whiskery, 1927)

Mon Feb 16 2026Jennifer Kelly

The history of the Kentucky Derby is rich with names that have left their mark on this classic race: Bradley, Woodward, Chenery, and Whitney, owners who all celebrated more than one victory of their own. The Whitney family’s connection to the Run for the Roses spans more than a century with four wins from their long list of starters.
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Gallant Fox

Mon Feb 16 2026Jennifer Kelly

Gallant Fox’s victories in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes were the first to come with the name “Triple Crown,” as those intervening years saw the three races enter the sport’s consciousness with that sobriquet attached.
The Heart that Wears the Crown: Omaha

Mon Feb 02 2026Jennifer Kelly

When any Triple Crown winner goes to stud, the high expectations set by winning that coveted trophy come along, as fans eagerly anticipate the next generation. Can he copy himself and produce another just like him? Of the 13 to have worn the crown, only one has done what is nearly impossible, a feat unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon: siring another Triple Crown winner.