Most Famous Horse Races

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).

Most likely Australia’s most famous horse race, as well as being one of the oldest and richest. Every year the entire country comes to a standstill on the first Tuesday of November to watch some of the best horses in the world battle it out over 3200m, all vying to stake a claim in Australian horse racing history. Secretariat: U.S. Triple Crown winner (1973); one of the most famous horses in Thoroughbred racing Shergar: winner of the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths, the longest winning margin in a race run annually since 1781; kidnapped by the IRA in 1983, and was held for ransom, but the owner syndicate refused to pay, fearing that valuable.

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.

1. The five year old horse was trailing for most of the race before sprinting past the leaders to win in the last strides. To this day, he’s famous for managing to beat out the favorite Bertrando in what is one of the greatest upsets in horseracing history. 2009 Kentucky Derby.
2. One of the most famous flat horse races in the world, The Derby is run at one of the most unique and challenging courses the UK has to offer. The undulations and turns of Epsom provide a thorough test of the best middle distance three-year-olds. Six fillies have won the race but none since 1914 and they are rarely entered these days.

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.

Most Famous Horse Races In Usa

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

Most Famous Horse Racing Tracks

More Horse Names & Naming Ideas

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Horse Names Coat Color & Patterns

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Horse Naming Ideas

By Laura Graham, Sydney
24 April 2019

Australia is world renowned for having some of the best and richest horse races on the global racing calendar. There wouldn’t be too many people in racing circles who haven’t heard of the Melbourne Cup, for example.

Along with the race that stops a nation, what are some of the best known Australian horse races in no particular order of notoriety?

W.S. Cox Plate

This is a trophy every trainer, jockey and horse owner wants to win.

The Cox Plate is a weight for age race for horses 3 years old and above. It’s run annually in late October at Melbourne’s Moonee Valley Racecourse, known for its tight bends and ability to sort the best horses from the rest.

The race is a precursor to the upcoming Melbourne Cup, with some Cup starters appearing in the Cox Plate

The field for this 2040m race is restricted to just 14 entrants; the best of the best of Australian and New Zealand racing.

The W.S. Cox Plate is the richest weight for age race in Australia, and one of the richest races overall.

Famous Horse Races In America

Caulfield Cup

The Caulfield Cup is one of the country’s richest and most prestigious horse races, and once again the race is run on a Melbourne track, this time at Caulfield Racecourse. The race has been going strong since way back in 1879.

Top Ten Most Famous Horses

The 2400m event is limited to 18 starters and is a great lead up race to the Melbourne Cup, which is run just a few weeks later. The Caulfield Cup is considered to be the world’s richest handicap horse race run over that distance.

Up until 1998 the race was only open to entrants from Australia and New Zealand, but now it’s become a truly international affair.

Horses must be aged 3 years and over to be eligible, and if a horse wins both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup, they have achieved what’s termed the “Cups Double”, a feat that hasn’t been seen since Ethereal did it in 2001.

Famous Race Horses Names List

The Melbourne Cup

The great race. The Melbourne Cup. Most likely Australia’s most famous horse race, as well as being one of the oldest and richest.

Every year the entire country comes to a standstill on the first Tuesday of November to watch some of the best horses in the world battle it out over 3200m, all vying to stake a claim in Australian horse racing history.

Melbourne Cup 2019 is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever

It’s a classic weight for age handicap race where up to 24 horses are allowed to compete. These days much of the field is comprised of international horses, spreading the fame of this great race all around the globe.

Who do you think will win it this year?

Golden Slipper Stakes

The Golden Slipper Stakes is a race for juvenile horses aged 2 years and has been run on turf annually at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney since 1957. The race takes place in April and is a part of the Golden Slipper Carnival.

This thoroughbred race is a true sprint affair at the short distance of just 1200m. It’s Australia’s 4th richest race on the calendar, and the world’s richest race for 2 year old thoroughbreds.

Most Famous Horse Racing Events

Many a champion racehorse has risen to stardom after winning the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Shane Dye is the jockey with the most Golden Slipper victories, having ridden a winner 4 times. For trainers, both Gai Waterhouse and T.J. Smith have 6 wins to their credit.

The Everest

The Everest is the world’s richest horse race, with a prize purse in 2019 of $13 million!

The race was only first run in October of 2017, and while it might not be one of the most famous horse races at this stage, I guarantee it soon will be.

The Everest is a race with a difference. Horses can’t just be automatically entered, and there is no ballot system. The only way to enter a horse into The Everest is by parting with a cool $600,000 entry fee.

Now that’s a lot of cash, but for many it’s worth the gamble because of all the prize money at stake and the notoriety.

10 Greatest Racehorses All Time

Keep your eyes on this race.