Ranking the best racehorse of all time will draw plenty of angst, discussion, disagreements and more, as any lists of this nature always do. It is of course full of subjectivity and there is no right or wrong answer. For a start, there are different types of racehorse – Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Standardbreds and more. They race in all different parts of the world on different surfaces and cover different distances. The sport of horse racing goes back centuries, which also means you can’t possibly accurately compare such a wide range of horses from different eras.
Well, this list will only contain U.S flat racers, considering Thoroughbred is the most popular form of the sport. After all, Thoroughbred racing is where we discover the prestigious Triple Crown winner, which comprises of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness S. and Belmont S.
Still, ask 10 different people for their favorite flat racers of all time and I’m sure you would get 10 different answers. But, this below is how I would rank them, let’s begin.
1. Man O’ War
This horse claimed multiple titles with an unprecedented winning record on racing tracks, and that is why this amazing horse is at the top of this list. Look up any lists like this one and you will be sure to see Man O’ War at or at least near to the top. Born in 1917, most of his wind were achieved with effortless fashion, including both the Belmont S. and Preakness S. The Triple Crown likely also would have been achieved if he had started the Kentucky Derby. Man O’ War rounded off his career in a fitting way, defeating Triple Crown winner Sir Barton in a match race, cementing his status of one of the best racers of all time.
2. Secretariat
This horse was also known as Big Red and broke several records that still stand today. Those records include stakes in all three legs in the Triple Crown in 1973. The victory at Belmont S. as part of that success is still talked about to this day as one of the greatest performances ever seen on a U.S racetrack, as Secretariat cruised to victory by 31 lengths. He went on to win five championships across five years of racing, and also won back-to-back horse of the year crowns.
3. Citation
Citation absolutely burst onto the scene not seen before or since. Amazingly, he won 27 of his first 29 starts, and even the two races he didn’t win there were valid reasons. He claimed the 1948 Triple Crown with ease, cruising past two future horses of the year in Coaltown and Armed, confirming his sheer class. Unfortunately, Citation missed an entire season at four years old and never really looked his imperious best when returning. However, there were signs of the old sparkle in 1951, capping off a superb career with a Hollywood Gold Cup win to ensure he became the first Thoroughbred to claim over $1million in career earnings.
