Top 5 Famous Race Horses

Firstly, born in 2001 Smarty Jones was a descendant of the legendary Mr. Propsector. He also had links to Triple Crown hopefuls such as Funny Cide, Afleet Alex, and Fusaichi Peagasus. Even more outstand than this Smarty Jones can even be traces to greats such as Secretariat and the mighty Man O’War. With this amount of great horses being linked it is no wonder that Smarty Jones captured both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004. This combined with his Sport Illustrated cover, meant that the nation went crazy over him and he was clear favourite for the Triple Crown. He fell short however, as he came 2econd to Birdstone, a 36-1 outsider.

Secondly, born in 1970 is Secretariat, the horse once dubbed “too pretty” for horseracing. At the age of 2 years old he won eight consecutive victories proving the doubters wrong, and from this became the first 2 year old to be crowned Horse of the year. The year after this he went on to win the Triple Crown and took the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, a record that still stands today. For his achievements he was given the honour of being buried whole and was also ranked in ESPN’s “100 Greatest Athletes of the Twentieth Century.

Next, Citation born in 1945 is held in as high regards as Man O’ War. He entered the track two years later winning his very first race in Havre de Grace, Maryland. The 1948 Triple Crown winner also became the first U.S. horse to win one million dollars.

Seabiscuit comes second in this compliment. The grandson of Man O’ War, who did not initially have any promise, won 11 of the 15 races he entered in 1937. This was put down to the new trainer Tom Smith and jockey Red Pollard. With this success Seabiscuit’s popularity soared and he won a classic race against the legend War Admiral in 1939 which was billed as “Match of the Century”. He retired in 1940, but his story later inspired several books and films.

And finally born in 1917 is the legend that is Man O’ War. He made his debut in 1919 winning three stakes in just 17 days. During the 1920’s Man O’ War had a reputation as being a “sure thing” which meant other horse owners wouldn’t race their horses against him. This led to Man O’ War losing only one race it his illustrious career, and that was because he was distracted at the starting line, and still came second. When he died in 1947, he lay in state for several days in a special casket lined with racing colours before being buried at the Kentucky Horse Park.