Top 10 Legendary Racehorses

Over the years, horse racing has seen countless champions rise to fame. Some are celebrated for their numerous victories and massive earnings, others for their prestigious bloodlines, and many for their ability to inspire entire nations—or even a combination of all these remarkable traits!

Explore ten of the most celebrated racehorses of all time. From wartime legends to modern-day superstars, each of these horses has left an indelible mark on the sport.

10: Phar Lap

Phar Lap, a racehorse bred in New Zealand (whose name translates to "lightning" in Thai), became a beloved symbol of pride in Australia, where he spent most of his four-year racing career. This towering horse stood an impressive 17.1 hands tall, and his heart weighed an extraordinary 13.7 pounds—far heavier than the average horse heart, which weighs around 9 pounds.

During his career, Phar Lap secured 37 victories out of 51 races and set eight track records. His life came to a tragic and mysterious end in 1932 when he fell ill unexpectedly. Many believed that U.S. gangsters, worried about the financial impact of his success on their illegal betting operations, had poisoned him. Decades later, forensic studies confirmed that Phar Lap had consumed a significant amount of arsenic before his death, though the exact source of the poison remains unknown.

9: John Henry

The 1980s were dominated by John Henry, who was crowned the racehorse of the decade and made history in 1983 by becoming the first to earn over $4 million in career winnings. Named after the legendary folk hero known for his strength, this horse earned his name by tearing down steel water and feed buckets from stall walls and flattening them as a young colt.

With 39 victories to his name, John Henry achieved the unique distinction of winning the Arlington Million and Santa Anita Handicap twice each. After his final race at the 1984 Ballantine Scotch Classic, he retired in 1985 as the wealthiest thoroughbred in the world.

8: War Admiral

As the offspring of the legendary Man O' War, War Admiral had enormous expectations to live up to from the very beginning.

Born in 1934 in Lexington, Kentucky, War Admiral's coat was such a deep shade of brown that many mistook him for being black. Despite early struggles with the starting gate, he overcame these challenges, earning a formidable reputation and securing both the Triple Crown and Horse of the Year titles in 1937.

7: Affirmed

Affirmed stood out as one of the most financially successful racehorses of his era, becoming the first North American thoroughbred to surpass two million dollars in career earnings.

His most notable achievements came in 1978, when he clinched the Triple Crown and triumphed over Seattle Slew at the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap, marking the historic first clash between two Triple Crown champions.

Affirmed's fierce rivalry with Alydar reached its peak during the Travers Stakes in Saratoga, New York, in the same year. With his regular jockey, Steve Cauthen, sidelined due to injury, replacement rider Laffit Pincay took the reins. However, Pincay's maneuver to cut off Alydar led to a check, resulting in Affirmed's disqualification from his first-place victory.

6: Barbaro

Barbaro arrived at the 2006 Kentucky Derby with an unbeaten record and secured a stunning victory by 6-1/2 lengths, the largest margin in nearly five decades. Earlier, he had also claimed victories at the Florida Derby, Holy Bull Stakes, and Tropical Park Derby.

Many considered Barbaro the strongest contender for the Triple Crown in years, but tragedy struck two weeks later at the Preakness Stakes. He fractured three bones in his right hind leg, abruptly ending his racing career. Although his right leg eventually healed after several surgeries, Barbaro later suffered from laminitis, a debilitating hoof condition, in both front legs.

Barbaro's passing in 2007 sparked an overwhelming wave of sorrow among fans nationwide. In his memory, his owners established an equine health fund to honor his legacy.

5: Smarty Jones

Smarty Jones boasts an extraordinary lineage. As a third-generation descendant of the iconic Mr. Prospector, he is also closely related to recent Triple Crown contenders like Funny Cide, Afleet Alex, and Fusaichi Pegasus.

Born in 2001, Smarty Jones traces his ancestry back to legends such as Secretariat and even the mighty Man O' War. This prestigious pedigree likely contributed to his victories at the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. His wins, coupled with a Sports Illustrated cover, ignited nationwide excitement, with many considering him a surefire Triple Crown winner. However, he was unexpectedly defeated by 36-1 long shot Birdstone, securing second place instead.

4: Secretariat

Born in 1970, Secretariat was initially dismissed as "too pretty" to excel as a racehorse. However, in his debut season of 1972, he silenced skeptics by winning eight straight races and becoming one of only two 2-year-olds ever named Horse of the Year. The next year, he secured the Triple Crown, famously winning the Belmont Stakes by a staggering 31 lengths—a world record that remains unbroken, alongside his Kentucky Derby record.

When Secretariat passed away in 1989, millions grieved his loss. He was granted the rare distinction of being buried whole, as typically only the head, heart, and hooves are interred. In Secretariat's case, his heart alone weighed approximately 22 pounds, nearly double that of an average horse.

Secretariat was one of only three non-human athletes featured on ESPN's "100 Greatest Athletes of the Twentieth Century." Additionally, in 1999, the United States Postal Service commemorated him by issuing a stamp featuring his iconic image.

3: Citation

Many racing enthusiasts place Citation on par with, if not above, Man O' War. Born in 1945, Citation began his racing career two years later, securing his first victory in Havre de Grace, Maryland. The 1948 Triple Crown champion also made history as the first U.S. horse to earn one million dollars in winnings.

Citation was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959, and a life-sized statue was erected in his honor at Hialeah Park in Florida. His remarkable career even inspired Dwayne Wallace, Chairman of the Cessna Aircraft Company, to name their new business jet "Citation" and incorporate a horse show motif into the logo.

2: Seabiscuit

Despite being the grandson of the legendary Man O' War, Seabiscuit initially showed little potential as a racehorse. However, his fortunes changed dramatically in 1936 under the mentorship of new trainer Tom Smith and jockey Red Pollard. By the following year, the team had secured 11 victories out of 15 races, even though Pollard had lost an eye in a training accident.

Seabiscuit's fame skyrocketed, lifting spirits during the Great Depression and setting the stage for the 1939 "Match of the Century" against War Admiral, which Seabiscuit won. He retired in 1940, but his legacy inspired numerous books and films, including the 2003 movie "Seabiscuit," which received seven Academy Award nominations.

1: Man O' War

Man O' War is celebrated for revitalizing American horse racing during the 1920s. Born in 1917, he began his racing career two years later, securing victories in three stakes races within just 17 days.

Man O' War became known as a "guaranteed win" in betting circles, causing other horse owners to avoid competing against him. His only defeat came at the Sanford Memorial Stakes, where early racing practices, such as circling the starting line, left him facing the wrong direction when the race began. Despite this, he still finished in second place.

As a sire, Man O' War fathered over 64 stakes winners and 200 champions, including War Admiral. One of his descendants also became the sire of Seabiscuit.

Upon his death in 1947, Man O' War lay in state for several days in a custom casket adorned with his racing colors. He was buried at Kentucky Horse Park, where a statue marks his resting place. His legacy has been immortalized in numerous books, and he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957.