The Triple Crown of Hurdling is awarded to a horse that wins all three of the open, two-mile Grade 1 Hurdling races in any given English National Hunt season:
- The Fighting Fifth Hurdle, held at the Newcastle Racecourse
- The Christmas Hurdle, held at Kempton Park Racecourse
- The Champion Hurdle, held at Cheltenham Racecourse
From 2006 to 2010,[1] the World Bet Exchange (WBX) put up a £1,000,000 bonus[2][3] for any horse that wins the Triple Crown. WBX offered the prize, the richest in hurdling history.[4] The bonus was split among the winning horse's connections as follows:[5]
- Owner: £700,000
- Trainer: £150,000
- Stable Lad: £100,000
- Stable Staff: £50,000
Before 2023, the only horse to win all three races in one season was Kribensis, a grey Henbit gelding, trained by Sir Michael Stoute in 1989–90.[6] Since the WBX bonus was introduced, only Punjabi and Go Native came close to claiming the prize, each winning two of the three races. After the bonus was withdrawn, their achievements were matched by My Tent Or Yours and Faugheen. However, in the 2022/2023 season, the breath-taking Bay gelding Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville, swept all three races and claimed the Triple Crown for owner Michael Buckley.
- ^ Montgomery, Sue (23 November 2006). "Racing: Bear stakes claim with Fighting chance". London: The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
- ^ "Hurdling aces can secure €1.49m bonus". breakingnews.ie. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
- ^ "What is the Triple Crown?". wbxtriplecrown.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2009. [dead link]
- ^ Go Native closes in on £1m payout, mirror.co.uk, 16 February 2010, accessed 28 February 2010.
- ^ "WBX To Put Up £1m Hurdling Bonus Again". racingpost.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "Kribensis passes away at 23". rte.ie. Retrieved 11 March 2009.