There is quite a good number of famous thoroughbred race horses. Some of these horses have appeared in records as the greatest of all time in history. Fame for most horses roots mainly from performance, that is, the number of races won, but there are others that are well known not necessary because they were great racers. Following is a list of the most popular names.
What is the most famous race horse?
Secretariat is the most famous race horse of all time in history. Secretariat, also known as big red, was an American Thoroughbred race horse was foaled March 30, 1970 and died October 4, 1989).
In 1973, big red became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is widely regarded as one of the greatest races in history.
During his racing career, he won five Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year honors at ages two and three. He was nominated to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974.
Other famous race horse names include;
Seattle Slew
He was an underrated thoroughbred young male who later turned to be one of the most successful horses in the long history.
In 1977, seattle slew won the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness). He also won his six other starts, going a perfect 9-0 for the year.
Seabuscuit
Seabiscuit was an underrated American thoroughbred racehorse in the United States who became the top money-winning racehorse up to the 1940s.
Seabiscuit’s career highlight was a one-on-one race with 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral. Despite missing his regular jockey due to a broken leg, Seabiscuit beat his heavily favored opponent by 4 lengths in a 2-horse special at Pimlico. This has been recorded as one of the greatest upsets in horseracing history. Seabiscuit was voted American Horse of the Year for 1938.
Seabiscuit has been the subject of numerous books and films, including Seabiscuit: the Lost Documentary (1939); the Shirley Temple film The Story of Seabiscuit (1949); a book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend (2001) by Laura Hillenbrand; and a film adaptation of Hillenbrand’s book, Seabiscuit (2003), that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Man o’ War
Before Seabiscuit, there was Man o’ War, one of the most racehorse in the 1920s. In his prime he won he won 20 of 21 races. The racehorse’s only loss was at Saratoga, a track he usually dominated.
Man o’ War is believed to have the longest stride(28-foot) of all time.
Frankel
The Thoroughbred of the millennium, unbeaten in 14 races of all the horses trained by the charismatic Sir Henry Cecil, by then dying of cancer, the best was unquestionably saved for last. Mind-blowing performances rolled in one after the other, none more spectacular than his victory in the 2,000 Guineas in 2011
Citation
Eddie Arcaro is one of the greatest jockeys of all time. He’s also the only jockey to ever win two Triple Crowns. So, it easy accept that when it comes to racehorses, Arcaro is loaded with plenty of experience. According to the jockey, the greatest horse he ever rode was Citation. In 1948, Citation won 19 of 20 races while accomplishing the Triple Crown — the last until Secretariat’s win in 1973.
Zenyatta
Zenyatta (foaled April 1, 2004) is a retired American Thoroughbred race horse mare, winner of 19 starts in a 20-race career. Her sole defeat came in her final race, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic where she lost by a neck to Blame in an attempt to repeat her win in the 2009 event.
Despite the loss, she was named the 2010 American Horse of the Year. She was also the American Champion Older Female Horse in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2016.
Black Caviar
Black Caviar is an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse (foaled 18 August 2006). She is a retired champion undefeated in 25 races, including 15 Group One victories, eclipsing the previous mark set by Kingston Town. Black Caviar was named WTRR World Champion Sprinter in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Dr. Fagar
Dr. Fager (April 6, 1964 – August 5, 1976) was an American thoroughbred racehorse. One of the fastest horse in the world, he is best known for setting a world record for a mile that stood for 29 years, he remains the only horse to earn four official American championship titles in a single season: champion handicap male, champion sprinter, champion turf horse, and Horse of the Year
Painting the Sky
Painting the Sky is one of the most eye-catching thoroughbreds. She’s a “paint” horse, meaning she has patches of brown and white hair all over her body.
She’s one of a select few paint thoroughbreds in recent racing history, and she turned plenty of heads whenever she ran.
She won two of 12 starts from 2015 to 2017 while racing on the Louisiana circuit.
Pollard’s Vision
Pollard’s Vision won more than $1.4 million in career earnings.
In the early-2000’s, the book “Seabiscuit” inspired a movie and gave horse racing a boost in the public eye.
Seabiscuit’s longtime jockey, Red Pollard, was blind in one eye, as was this horse that came about when the book and feature film were prominent.
Pollard’s Vision earned six victories, including four graded stakes wins, and banked more than $1.4 million in career earnings.
Shergar
Spawned one of the great mysteries, up there with Lord Lucan. The colt won the 1981 Derby by a record 10 lengths, but, tragically, was kidnapped in 1983, never to be seen again.
Nijinsky
Galloped into the history books under the legendary Lester Piggott in 1970 by winning the British Triple Crown, a feat that no horse has achieved since.
Brigadier Gerard
Named after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s hero, he won 13 Group 1 races in the 1970s and was beaten once in 18 starts.
Dancing Brave
The boss of his generation, he won eight of his 10 starts between 1985 and 1986, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and was a prolific sire.
Sea The Stars
‘This is one of the greats,’ whispered jockey Mick Kinane to trainer John Oxx after winning the 2009 Epsom Derby. Although the colt never won by huge margins, he took six Group 1 races on the trot, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Other notable famous names include
- Rachel Alexandra
- American Pharoah
- War Admiral
- Affirmed
- Ruffian
- Preakness
- Native Dancer
- Bold Ruler
- Eclipse
- California Chrome
- Spectacular Bid
- Alydar
- Curlin
- Phar Lap
- Sunday Silence
- whirlaway
- Foolish Pleasure
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