Horses have graced human history, and their significance is reflected in the famous horses who have left their mark on it. Thus, it influences various aspects of our development and culture. Who are these legendary horses, and what makes them stand out? The answers to these questions are highly subjective and debatable, but we will narrow down our list to those with unbeatable streaks and large purses. This article will uncover the 26 famous horses who made outstanding achievements and massive earnings, cementing their status as notable and legendary figures.
During my childhood, as a young girl, I was completely drawn to the magical world of horses and the incredible stories about some of the famous horses. Whether I heard about them at bedtime or saw them in equestrian competitions, these majestic animals sparked my imagination and deeply interested me in their amazing abilities. Whether I read about them, saw them in movies, or met them in real life, every encounter with these legendary horses left a lasting impression on me, sparking a lifelong love for these incredible creatures.
In compiling this list of the 26 famous horses, it’s essential to acknowledge the significant roles that various laws and organizations play in the lives of these remarkable animals. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has been crucial in advocating for the humane treatment of horses in the United States since its founding in 1866. This organization helps preserve the legacy and well-being of famous horses, allowing them to continue inspiring admiration and respect worldwide.
Let’s look at the list of the most famous horses who gained prominence through horse racing and Hollywood appearances.
1. Secretariat
Secretariat is an American thoroughbred born in 1970 and undeniably one of the most famous and most magnificent horses of all time. He was the first horse to win Triple Crown in 25 years. In 1973, he created a record-breaking victory by completing 31 lengths clear of the Belmont Stakes – one of the greatest races in history. Secretariat set a new course record by accelerating each quarter-mile and crossing the finish line at 1:59 2/5 in the Kentucky Derby. He was acknowledged as the “Horse of the Year” twice and the first two-year-old to receive the same award via a unanimous vote in the Eclipse Award. He was also a media superstar featured on Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated and named one of ESPN’s 100 Greatest Athletes of the Twentieth Century.
Foaled: March 30, 1970, Caroline County, Virginia, US
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Meadow Stable
Trainer: Lucien Laurin
Earnings: $1.3 million
Record: 21: 16-3-1
2. Kincsem
Kincsem is a Hungarian thoroughbred who won 54 races and set the record as the most successful horse ever. She is a national icon in Hungary who raced against male and female horses across Europe for four seasons. In 1877, she gained several significant wins, including the following:
- Hungarian Two Thousand Guineas
- Hungarian One Thousand Guineas
- Hungarian Oaks, Hungarian St Leger
- Austrian Derby
- Grosser Preis von Hanover
Foaled: March 17, 1874, Kisber, Hungary
Sex: Filly
Owner: Erno Blaskovich
Trainer: Robert Hesp
Earnings: 199,705 fl
Record: 54: 54-0-0
3. Citation
Citation is an American thoroughbred who won 19 out of 20 races while accomplishing the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes). He was also the first horse to win 1 million dollars. In four seasons from 1947-1948 and 1950-1951, he had 32 wins out of 45 races, finished second in ten, and placed third in two. Eddie Arcaro, a two-Triple Crown winner and one of the greatest jockeys ever, said that Citation was the greatest horse he ever rode.
Foaled: 1945
Owner: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Ben Jones and Jimmy Jones
Earnings: $1,085,760
4. Seattle Slew
Despite being a tiny colt when foaled, Seattle Slew became one of the greatest racehorses. In 1977, he set the record for winning the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness Stakes) and six other starts, garnering a perfect 9-0 for that year.
Foaled: February 15, 1974, Lexington, Kentucky, US
Sex: Stallion
Trainer: William H. Turner Jr. and Douglas R. Peterson
Earnings: $1.21 million
Record: 17: 14–2–0
5. Man O’ War
Man O’ War, also affectionately named Big Red, is a legendary American thoroughbred who earned success by winning three stake races in seven days and 20 out of 21 races he ran. His only defeat was in Sanford Memorial Stakes, where he was not allowed to reposition before the race started, but he still managed to finish second to a horse named Upset. In 1920, he was named “Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year” by the New York Times. He has produced over 64 stakes winners and 200 champions, which include legends such as War Admiral, Secretariat, Seabiscuit, Hard Tack, Battleship, and more successful progeny – making his bloodline one of the greatest.
Foaled: March 29, 1917, Nursery Stud, Lexington, Kentucky, US.
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Samuel D. Riddle
Trainer: Louis Feustel
Earnings: $249,465
Record: 21: 20-1-0
6. Arkle
Arkle is an Irish thoroughbred who had significant successes in steeplechasing. He was a three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in 1964, 1965, and 1966, and he proved victorious in the King George VI Chase in 1965 and the Irish Grand National in 1964.
Foaled: April 19, 1957, Ballymacoll Stud, Naul, Dublin, Ireland
Sex: Gelding
Owner: Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster
Trainer: Tom Dreaper
Earnings: £95,198
Record: 35: 27-2-3
7. Frankel
Frankel, the “Unbeatable Wonder Horse,” had a perfect racetrack record. He competed in 14 races from 2010 to 2012 and won every race. His wins at the St. James’s Palace Stakes in 2011 and Queen Anne Stakes the following year made him synonymous with a Royal Ascot and an undefeated European champion. He was dubbed as Usain Bolt’s equine version and an iconic British racehorse.
Foaled: February 11, 2008, Banstead Manor Stud, Cheveley, Suffolk, UK.
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Trainer: Sir Henry Cecil
Earnings: £3 million
Record: 14: 14-0-0
8. Best Mate
Best Mate is an Irish-bred steeplechaser with handsome looks and a three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003, and 2004. In 2002, he won King George VI Chase. This gelding is associated with National Hunt’s great double act, which includes Henrietta Knight and her late husband, Terry Biddlecombe. Best Mate is a revered steeplechaser whose ashes were buried near the finishing post after his tragic death.
Foaled: January 28, 1995, Freffans Little, Moyfern, County Meath, Leinster, Ireland
Sex: Gelding
Owner: Jim Lewis
Trainer: Henrietta Knight
Earnings: £1.02 million
Record: 22: 14-7-0
9. Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was the epitome of hope and aspiration during the Great Depression. Despite being the grandson of Man O’ War, he was criticized in his early years for being lazy by his trainer, Sunny Jim, and he never won any of his first 17 races. But it all changed in 1936 when he had a new trainer, Tom Smith, and a new jockey, Red Pollard. His form skyrocketed between 1937 and 1938. And he won 11 out of 15 races even if Pollard had lost an eye in a training accident. He became more popular when he and War Admiral faced off in the “Match of the Century” in 1939, where he became victorious. His incredible story inspired several books and films, including the Academy Award-nominated movie “Seabiscuit” in 2003, which narrates his life.
Foaled: May 23, 1933, Lexington, Kentucky, US.
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Charles Howard
Trainer: “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons and Tom Smith
Earnings: $437,730
Record: 89: 33-15-1
10. Black Caviar
Regarded as the best sprinter racer, Black Caviar managed to gain victory in 25 races without any defeat. Her significant wins include the Newmarket Handicap in 2011, Diamond Jubilee Stake in 2012, and the Lightning Stakes in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Foaled: August 18, 2006, Gilgai Farm, Nagambie, Victoria, Australia
Sex: Mare
Owner: G.J. Wilkie, K.J. Wilkie, C.H. Madden, J. Madden, et al.
Trainer: Peter Moody
Earnings: $8 million
Record: 25: 25-0-0
11. Red Rum
‘Rummy’ is a three-time Grand National winner, first in 1973, 1974, and 1977 as runner-up in 1975 and 1976. Another major victory was in the Scottish National in 1974. He appeared on the broadcast for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, a public survey that acknowledged him as the best-known horse in 2007 for garnering an average of 45%. Thus, he was ahead and way more popular than Black Beauty(33%) and Shelgar(23%).
Foaled: May 3, 1965, Kells, County Kilkenny, Ireland
Sex: Gelding
Owner: Noel le Mare
Trainer: Ginger McCain
Earnings: £146,409
Record: 100: 24-15-23
12. Phar Lap
Phar Lap is a New Zealand-bred and Australian-trained racehorse whose name means “lightning” in Thai. He’s a big horse, measuring 17.1 hands high, while his heart weighs 13.7 pounds, a significant difference from an average horse’s heart weight, which is 9 pounds. During Phar Lap’s four-year career, he primarily raced in Australia, where he became a National Icon and garnered victories in the 1929 AJC Derby Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup 1930. He won 37 out of 51 races and set eight track records before suddenly becoming ill and dying in 1932. His death at only six years old has been mysterious. Some speculated that someone poisoned him, and 70 years later, a forensic investigation was conducted to prove that Phar Lap did ingest a large arsenic dose before his death. However, they never found proof to support the claim.
Foaled: October 4, 1926, Seadown, Timaru, New Zealand
Sex: Gelding
Owner: David Davis and Harry Telford
Trainer: Harry Telford
Earnings: £A66,738
Record: 51: 37-3-2
13. Affirmed
Affirmed is the first thoroughbred from North America who amassed over 2 million dollars during his career. 1978, he shone the most when he earned the Triple Crown and won against Seattle Slew at the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap. It was the first time in racehorse history that two Triple Crown champions competed against each other, and Affirmed proved triumphant against Seattle Slew.
Foaled: 1975, United States
Owner: Harbor View Farm
Trainer: Laz Barrera
Earnings: $2,394,000
Record: 29: 22-5-1
14. Barbaro
Barbaro had an impressive record for garnering top honors at the Florida Derby, Tropical Park Derby, and Holy Bull Stakes and being undefeated at the Kentucky Derby in 2006. His fantastic 6-1/2-length margin of victory at the said event has been the largest in the record for about 50 years. Many fans believed that he could win a Triple Crown. Sadly, he was forced to stop his racing career when he fractured his right hind leg during the Preakness Stakes. He underwent multiple surgeries to heal the injury, yet he later developed laminitis in his front legs. He died in 2007, leaving his fans in grief. But his owners established an equine health fund to honor him.
Foaled: April 29, 2003, West Grove, Pennsylvania, US.
Sex: Colt
Owner: Roy and Gretchen Jackson
Trainer: Michael R. Matz
Earnings: $2,302,221
Record: 7:6-0-0 (1 DNF)
15. Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones, born in 2001, came from an impressive bloodline. His roots trace back to the legendary Secretariat and Man O’ War. He is a third-generation descendant of Mr. Propsector and many other Triple Crown hopefuls like Funny Cide, Fusaichi Pegasus, and Afleet Alex. No wonder he won the top honors at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004. It runs in his blood. His wins and Sports Illustrated cover had made the nation anticipate and go into a frenzy for him, thinking he could undoubtedly attain a Triple Crown. However, he failed to win against the 36-1 long shot Birdstone and placed second. Nevertheless, he’s still a fantastic horse worth remembering.
Foaled: 2001
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Roy and Patricia Chapman
Trainer: John Servis
Earnings: $7,613,155
Record: 9: 8-1-0
16. War Admiral
Like his legendary sire Man O’ War, he is a successful racehorse who became the fourth winner of the American Triple Crown, which includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. His dramatic race against Seabiscuit in 1938 captured the attention of Americans during the Great Depression. Although he failed to claim the victory against Seabiscuit, his records prove he is worthy of being inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Foaled: May 2, 1934, in Lexington, Kentucky
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Glen Riddle Farm
Trainer: George Conway
Earnings: $273,240
Record: 26: 21-3-1
17. Cigar
Cigar is an American thoroughbred who had no unique form. Still, Cigar rose to prominence when he became the first racehorse to compete against other top-class horses and win 16 consecutive races. He retired as the leading money-maker in Thoroughbred history and was later inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Foaled: April 18, 1990, Bel Air, Maryland, USA
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Madeleine A. Paulson, Allen E. Paulson
Trainer: Alex Hassinger Jr. & William I. Mott
Earnings: $9,999,815
Record: 33: 19-4-5
18. American Pharoah
American Pharoah is the great-great-great-grandson of Secretariat, who became the 12th Triple Crown winner and won the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing with four victories. He also netted the Eclipse Award for the “Horse of the Year” in 2015 and proved triumphant in his two other races: the FrontRunner Stakes and Grade I Del Mar Futurity.
Foaled: February 2, 2012
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Ahmed Zayat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Earnings: $8,650,300
Record: 11: 9-1-0
19. Arrogate
Arrogate won the 2016 Travers Stakes and was tagged as the World’s Best Racehorse in 2016. He also won the Pegasus World Cup in 2017 and the Dubai World Cup but failed to keep the momentum and suffered three defeats when he returned to the US. Despite having only four stake victories, he became the most lucrative horse in North America due to large purses for his wins.
Foaled: April 11, 2013
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Earnings: $17,422,600
Record: 11: 7-1-1
20. California Chrome
This chestnut-colored horse gained its name for its dazzling white markings and captured the hearts of many aficionados. He’s been among the top-earning Thoroughbreds known for winning the 2014 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Dubai World Cup in 2016. He also held two “Horse of the Year” titles from Eclipse awards and 16 lifetime wins.
Foaled: Feb. 18, 2011, Coalinga, California, USA
Sex: Stallion
Owner: California Chrome LLC
Trainer: Art Sherman, Allan Sherman
Earnings: $14,752,650
Record: 27: 16-4-1
21. Winx
This wonder-mare won in the highest-level races with a world record of 25 Grade/Group 1 successes. Her four consecutive triumphs in the Cox Plate at Moon Valley earned him the title “Australian Horse of the Year” from 2015-2016 and 2018-2019. Winx was also a Hall of Famer and a Champion Middle Distance Racehorse.
Foaled: 2011
Sex: Mare
Trainer:
Earnings: A$26,241,176
Record: 43: 37-3-0
So those are the best horse royalties ever recorded in horse racing history. Who are your top favorites? Share it with us in the comment section below.
22. Trigger
Trigger was a superstar in the late 1930s to 1950s and was recognized as the smartest horse in the movies. Trigger, who can perform at least 150 trick cues and walk on his back legs, had a unique and brilliant career with his owner, Roy Rogers, the King of Cowboys. He gained popularity by appearing in Hollywood movies. His first appearance was in the film “The Adventures of Robin Hood” in 1938, and in the same year, he starred in the movie “Under Western Stars” with Rogers. It was Roy Roger’s first leading role in a film. Rogers and Trigger’s movie became successful despite critics, and their popularity soared to superstardom. He appeared in all 88 Roy Roger movies and 100 episodes of The Roy Rogers Show on NBC from 1951 to 1957. Trigger captured the hearts of audiences with his beauty and brains in action and thrilling movies. He retired from show business in 1957 and died peacefully in 1965.
Foaled: Either 1932 or 1934, San Diego, California
Sex: Stallion
Owner: Roy Rogers
23. Black Beauty
Unlike the other horses on the list, Black Beauty is an iconic story about a horse published in 1877. This book, written by Anna Sewell when she was 51, became one of the best-selling books of all time, with over 50 million copies sold in over 50 languages. Many people believed Black Beauty was based on a real horse named Bess, which Sewell had when she was growing up. It narrates the cruelty Black Beauty has suffered from a horse’s point of view, and it significantly impacts how people treat horses and other animals. This classic children’s story also inspired many films of the same name.
24. Sergeant Reckless
As her name suggests, Reckless achieved the military rank of sergeant due to her brave acts and service. She used to be a packhorse during the Korean War and was later recognized and honored for her faithful service. During battles, she delivered supplies and evacuated wounded soldiers from battlefields, and she also became wounded twice while doing her duty. That helped her earn a Good Conduct Medal and two Purple Hearts.
25. Beautiful Jim Key
Jim Key was a famous performing horse trained by the self-taught veterinarian William Key. Jim Key was born weak and sickly and never stepped on a racetrack. However, he noticed that Jim was intelligent and had potential, so he taught him different tricks and trained him to learn the alphabet, spell words, and count. Jim was also schooled in politics, fundamental math problems, comedy, and Bible passages, and learned how to dial a telephone and tell time. They performed comedy acts in local fairs, received big-time attention, and later amazed the crowd, including President Bill McKinley, at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Since then, Beautiful Jim and William Key enjoyed immense popularity and became headlines in numerous newspapers. William Key, who was once a slave, became an advocate of animal rights and proved that animals don’t need to be beaten or whipped just to be taught.
Foaled: 1889
Sex: Colt
Owner/Trainer: William Key
26. Bucephalus
Bucephalus was the mighty companion of Alexander the Great, who had courage and stamina. This stallion, described as a horse with a black coat and a star in his brows, fought with Alexander in many battles and carried him across rough terrains. Ancient accounts tell that Bucephalus died after the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC due to injuries and wounds he sustained from battles. And since Bucephalus is Alexander’s favorite steed, he founded a Bucephala city in the Hydaspes River in the horse’s honor.
These famous horses are more than just iconic figures; they reflect the human history and cultural narratives. Their stories have resonated through the ages, inspiring countless works of art, literature, and scholarly research. From their achievements in sports and bravery in battle to their roles in folklore and mythology, these celebrated famous horses highlight the profound bond between humans and horses, influencing global culture and reminding us of the deep, enduring connection we share with these remarkable animals.
