Charles Hatton didn't coin the term "Triple Crown."

The term existed in England for over one hundred years ... applied to the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger stakes ... when American sports writer Grantland Rice began applying it to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont stakes ... after Gallant Fox won all three races in 1930.

Charles Hatton was a most erudite and witty observer of thoroughbred racing. Here's a great anecdote about him ...

Because he had always maintained that Old Rosebud in 1915 was the greatest winner of the Kentucky Derby ... and that Man O' War 1919-20 was the greatest American race horse ... many people accused him of being an old fuddy-duddy. But Hatton always insisted that he was just being objective.

After Secretariat won an allowance race in his third start ... giving him two wins in three starts ... Hatton went to see him. On the following day ... in his Daily Racing Form column ... Hatton wrote, "Secretariat is the greatest race horse I have ever seen."

People were astounded when they read this. They said to him, "Charlie ... surely you meant to write that Secretariat ... a 2YO who has only a maiden win and an allowance win ... has the potential to become a great race horse."

"No," said Charlie, "I meant exactly what I wrote ... Secretariat is the greatest race horse I have ever seen."

How's that for brilliant prognostication?