Famous Racehorses
A list of the most famous American racehorses. Triple Crown winners, Derby Winners, fan favorites and great sires.
Kentucky Derby Contenders: horse information and future bet odds
| A.P Indy |
| Pedigree: Seattle Slew - Weekend Surprise (Secretariat) |
| Owner: Tomonori Tsurumaki, et. al. Trainer: Neil Drysdale |
| Race Record and Earnings: (11 starts - 8 wins, 1 third) $2,979,815 |
| A.P. Indy took the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity in his first stakes try. Strong performances in the San Rafael and the Santa Anita Derby made him second favorite for the Kentucky Derby but a bruised hoof kept him out of the race. A.P. Indy secured 1992 Horse of the Year honors with a dominant Breeders' Cup Classic win. |
| Affirmed See Video |
| Pedigree: Exclusive Native - Won't Tell You (Crafty Admiral) |
| Owner: Lou Wolfson Trainer: Laz Barrera |
| Race Record and Earnings: (29 starts - 22 wins, 5 seconds, 1third) $2,393,818 |
| The most recent Triple Crown winner (1978), and a champion in each of his racing seasons, and Horse of the Year in 178 and 1979. As the leading stakes earner of 1978, Affirmed won eight consecutive races at 3, including the Triple Crown. As a four-year-old, Affirmed won the Hollywood Gold Cup, set a track record in the Santa Anita Handicap, defeated Belmont winner Coastal in the Woodward, and won the Jockey Club Gold Cup against Spectacular Bid. |
| Alydar |
| Pedigree: Raise A Native - Sweet Tooth (On-And-On) |
| Owner: Calumet Farm Trainer: John Veitch |
| Race Record and Earnings: (26 starts - 14 wins, 9 seconds, 1 third) $957,195 |
| Alydar was the first and only horse to run second in all three Triple Crown Races. Running second every time to Affirmed. At 2, he beat Affirmed in the Champagne stakes. AS a 3 year old he won the Florida Derby, Flamingo Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes, Arlington Classic, Whitney and Travers. He was the sire of 10 champions including Alysheba and Easy Goer. |
| Alysheba |
| Pedigree: Alydar - Bel Sheba (Lt. Stevens) |
| Owner: Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer Trainer: Jack Van Berg |
| Race Record and Earnings: (26 starts - 11 wins, 8 seconds, 2 thirds) $6,679,242 |
| Alysheba won the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and finished 4th in the Belmont. As a 4 year old, Alysheba won the Strub Stakes, Santa Anita and San Bernardino Handicaps, the Philip H. Iselin, Woodward and Meadowlands Cup. Alysheba's career ended with a half-length victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic |
| Assault |
| Pedigree: Bold Venture - Igual (Equipoise) |
| Owner: King Ranch Trainer: Max Hirsch |
| Race Record and Earnings: (42 starts - 18 wins, 6 seconds, 7 thirds) $675,470 |
| Asssault was the 1946 Horse of the Year and the 7th Triple Crown winner. He easily won the Kentucky Derby by 8 lengths. By the end of his 3-year-old season, Assault's earnings eclipsed the one-season mark set in 1930. He was named Champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year for 1946. |
| Barbaro See Video |
| Pedigree: Dynaformer - La Ville Rouge (Carson City) |
| Owner: Roy and Gretchen Jackson Trainer: Michael Matz |
| Race Record and Earnings: (7 starts - 6 wins) $2,302,200 |
| The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro entered the race undefeated. Prior to his Kentucky Derby victory, Barbaro won the Florida Derby, Holy Bull Stakes, and Tropical Park Derby. His 6 1/2 length victory in the Derby was so impressive that he was considered the best Triple Crown threat in many years. Barbaro was severely injured in the Preakness, shattering 3 bones in his right hind leg and his chances of survival were very slim. Through the dedication of his owners and medical team led by Dr. Dean Richardson, Barbaro's recovery continues. He is battling laminitis, but continues to show signs of improvement. His on track performance and will to live has made him one of America's favorite horses. |
| Black Gold |
| Pedigree: Black Toney - Useeit (Bonnie Joe) |
| Owner: Mrs. Rosa M. Hoots Trainer: Hanley Webb |
| Race Record and Earnings: (35 starts - 18 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds) $110,553 |
| Black Gold was the 1924 Kentucky Derby winner. As Al Hoots lay dying, he had a vision that his mare, Useeit, would be bred to Col. E.R. Bradley's Black Toney and the resulting foal would win the Kentucky Derby. Several years later Al's widow bred the mare as predicted, and the foal, Black Gold, did go on to win the Derby. As a 3 year old he also won the Louisiana, Chicago, and Ohio Derbys. |
| Buckpasser |
| Pedigree: Tom Fool - Busanda (War Admiral) |
| Owner: Ogden Phipps Trainer: William C. Winfrey, Edward Neloy |
| Race Record and Earnings: (31 starts - 25 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third) $1,462,014 |
| Buckpasser came in second in his first race at 3, but was undefeated for the remainder of the year. He won the Travers, American Derby, Arlington Classic (setting a world record), Woodward, Brooklyn, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Lawrence Realization. Buckpasser's record was so impressive, betting windows were closed when he ran in the Flamingo, temporarily renamed the "Chicken" Flamingo. Buckpasser was a champion as a 2,3, and 4 year old. |
| Cigar |
| Pedigree: Palace Music - Solar Slew (Seattle Slew) |
| Owner: Allen and Madeleine Paulson Trainer: Bill Mott |
| Race Record and Earnings: (33 starts - 19 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds) $9,999,015 |
| From late 1994 through mid 1996, Cigar won 16 consecutive races and matched Triple Crown winner Citation’s streak set during the 1940s. Some of Cigar's victories; the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup, two Massachusetts Handicaps, the Hollywood Gold Cup, two Donn Handicaps, a Pimlico Special, Oaklawn Handicap, and the specially-carded Citation Challenge. In 1995, Cigar earned a perfect record of 10 wins in 10 starts, matching Tom Fool’s unbeaten campaign as a champion 4-year-old in 1953. Not surprisingly, Cigar was voted Horse of the Year and champion older male. Cigar's streak came to an end when Dare and Go beat him in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Cigar is infertile and was sent to the Kentucky Horse Park where he resides in the Hall of Champions near fellow Hall of Famer John Henry. |
| Citation |
| Pedigree: Bull Lea - Hydroplane II (Hyperion) |
| Owner: Calumet Farm Trainer: Ben Jones, Jimmy Jones |
| Race Record and Earnings: (45 starts - 32 wins, 10 seconds, 2 thirds) $1,085,760 |
| Citation was the first horse to earn more than a million dollars and still holds the record for winning the most stakes races in a year, 17 in 1948. Citation won the 1948 Triple Crown and was also named Best Handicap Horse and Horse of the Year. Arthritis kept Citation out of the races at 4. At 5 he set a new world record in the Golden Gate Mile and at 6 won the Hollywood Gold Cup. |
| Count Fleet |
| Pedigree: Reigh Count - Quickly (Haste) |
| Owner: Mrs. John D. Hertz Trainer: Don Cameron |
| Race Record and Earnings: (21starts - 16 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third) $250,300 |
| In 15 starts as a 2 year old, Count Fleet was never out of the money. He set a track record in the Champagne and equaled the track record in the Pimlico Futurity. He was named Champion 2-year-old. At 3, after winning the Wood Memorial, he took the Triple Crown races easily winning the Kentucky Derby by 3 lengths, the Preakness by 8, and the Belmont by 25. Count Fleet was America's leading sire in 1951 and leading broodmare sire in 1963. |
| Dr. Fager |
| Pedigree: Rough 'n Tumble - Aspidistra (Better Self) |
| Owner: Tartan Farms Trainer: John Nerud |
| Race Record and Earnings: (22 starts - 18 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third) $1,002,642 |
| At 3. Dr. Fager won the Gotham, Arlington Classic, Hawthorne Gold Cup, and Vosburgh. He was named Champion Sprinter. At 4, Dr. Fager carried 134 pounds and set the world record for the mile - 1:32 1/5. He also carried 139 pounds and set a track record for the seven furlong Vosburgh, won the Suburban and the United Nations. In 1968 Dr. Fager was the first horse to be voted Horse of the Year, Champion Handicapper, Champion Grass Horse, and Champion Sprinter. |
| Easy Goer |
| Pedigree: Alydar - Relaxing (Buckpasser) |
| Owner: Ogden Phipps Trainer: Shug McGaughey |
| Race Record and Earnings: (20 starts - 14 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third) $4,873,770 |
| After breaking his maiden in his 2nd start at Saratoga, Easy Goer went on to win the Cowdin and Champagne Stakes. He was named Champion 2-year-old of 1988. As a three year old, Easy Goer ran second to Sunday Silence in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but turned the tables in the Belmont, winning by 8 lengths and running the second fastest Belmont ever. Other wins as a 3 year old included the Travers, Whitney, Woodward, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. |
| Forego See Video |
| Pedigree: Forli - Lady Golconda (Hasty Road) |
| Owner: Mrs. Edward H. Gerry Trainer: Sherrill Ward, Frank Whiteley, Jr. |
| Race Record and Earnings: (57 starts - 34 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds) $1,938,957 |
| Horse of the Year for three consecutive years and Champion Handicapper for four, Forego was one of the most dominant horses in history. He carried 130 pounds or more in 24 races and won 13 of them. During his career he won the Woodward four times (1974-1977). He also won the Brooklyn Handicap three consecutive years. At 4 Forego won the Brooklyn, Woodward, Vosburgh, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. The leader in stakes earnings for the year, he was also named Horse of the Year, Champion Handicapper, and Champion Sprinter. At 5 He won the Seminole and Widener Handicaps in Florida, took the Carter under 134 pounds, and set a track record under 132 pounds in the Brooklyn, and won the 1 1/2 mile Suburban carrying 134 pounds. At 6 he was again the leading stakes earner. At 7 Forego repeated his victory in the Metropolitan Handicap and won his fourth consecutive Woodward. He also was named Champion Handicapper for the fourth time.A gelding, Forego raced until he was 8 years old and retired to the Kentucky Horse park. |
| Gallant Fox |
| Pedigree: Sir Gallahad III - Marguerite (Celt) |
| Owner: Belair Stud Trainer: William Woodward |
| Race Record and Earnings: (17 starts - 11wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds) $328,165 |
| The 1930 Triple Crown winner (second horse to accomplish the feat). Gallant Fox is also the only Triple Crown winner to sire another Triple Crown Winner (Omaha - 1935 Triple Crown winner). In addition to his Triple Crown victories, Gallant Fox also won the Wood Memorial, Dwyer, Arlington Classic, Saratoga Cup, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. |
| Genuine Risk |
| Pedigree: Exclusive Native - Virtuous (Gallant Man) |
| Owner: Mrs. Diana Firestone Trainer: LeRoy Jolley |
| Race Record and Earnings: (15 starts - 10 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds) $646,587 |
| The 1980 Kentucky Derby winner, Genuine Risk was the first filly in 65 years (Regret 1915) to accomplish this feat. Later, Winning Colors (1988) would be the third filly to win the Kentucky Derby. Genuine Risk finished 2nd in the Preakness and Belmont, and was named champion 3 year old filly. She has had trouble as a broodmare, her first foal was born in 1993. |
| Go For Wand |
| Pedigree: Deputy Minister - Obeah (Cyane) |
| Owner: Christiana Stable Trainer: Billy Badgett |
| Race Record and Earnings: (13 starts - 10 wins, 2 seconds) $1,373,338 |
| As a 2 year old, Go For Wand won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies race and was later named 2 yr old filly of the year. At 3 she won the Beaumont, Ashland, Mother Goose, Test, Alabama, Maskette, and Beldame. In the 1990 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Go For Wand suffered a fatal breakdown. She was named Champion 3 year old Filly. |
| Holy Bull See Video |
| Pedigree: Great Above - Sharon Brown (Al Hattab) |
| Owner: Warren A. Croll, Jr.Trainer: Warren A. Croll, Jr. |
| Race Record and Earnings: (16 starts - 13 wins) $2,481,760 |
| Holy Bull was unbeaten at two winning the Futurity and the In Reality Stakes. He won 8 of 10 starts at 3 including the Hutcheson, Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Metropolitan Mile, Dwyer, Haskell, Travers and Woodward. He turned in an inexplicably bad performance in the Kentucky Derby. At 4, Holy Bull pulled up in the Donn Handicap with and injury and retired to stud. He sired the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. |
| John Henry |
| Pedigree: Ole Bob Bowers - Once Double (Double Jay) |
| Owner: Sam Rubin Trainer: V.J. Nickerson, Ron McAnally |
| Race Record and Earnings: (83 starts - 39 wins, 15 seconds, 9 thirds) $6,591,860 |
| John Henry raced well, but under the radar at 2, 3, and 4. During his 5 year old season he won the Hialeah Turf Cup, San Juan Capistrano, San Luis Rey, and the Oak Tree Invitational. He was named Champion Male Turf horse in 1980. At 6 John Henry won the first of two consecutive Santa Anita Handicaps, the San Luis Rey, the inaugural Arlington Million, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup and was named Champion Male Turf Horse, Champion Older Horse, and Horse of the Year. At 8 John Henry won the American Handicap and the Hollywood Turf Cup and was again named Champion Male Turf Horse. At 9 years of age, John Henry won the Golden Gate Handicap, Hollywood Invitational, Sunset Handicap, Budweiser Arlington Million, Turf Classic, and Ballantine's Scotch Classic. He was again named Champion Male Turf Horse and Horse of the Year. John Henry owns the record for career earnings by a gelding and for earnings on the turf. John Henry is living at the Kentucky Horse Park. |
| Man O' War See Video |
| Pedigree: Fair Play - Mahubah (Rock Sand) |
| Owner: Samuel Riddle Trainer: Louis Feustel |
| Race Record and Earnings: (21 starts - 20 wins, 1 second) $249,465 |
| Man O' War only lost one race in his career, to a horse named Upset in the 1919 Sanford Stakes. As a 2 year old he 9 wins from 10 starts with victories in Hopeful and the Futurity. At 3, man O' War was undefeated. He won 11 races and set records in 8 of them. He won the Dwyer, Preakness, Belmont, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He did not race in the Kentucky Derby. Among many great horses he sired, War Admiral was the winner of the 1937 Kentucky Derby. According to Will Harbut, his longtime groom, Man O' War was"the mostest horse that ever was". |
| Northern Dancer |
| Pedigree: Nearctic - Natalma (Native Dancer) |
| Owner: E.P. Taylor Trainer: Horatio Luro |
| Race Record and Earnings: (18 starts - 14 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds) $580,737 |
| Northern Dancer was never worse than 3rd in his racing career. As a 3 year old he won the Flamingo, Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and the Queen's Plate in Canada. He was named Champion 3-year-old of 1964. Although Northern Dancer had a fantastic career as a racehorse, he really made his mark as a stallion. It is estimated that his bloodlines extend to 50 to 70 per cent of all thoroughbred horses. He sired 146 stakes winners including the great Nijinsky II, winner of England's Triple Crown, as well as The Minstrel, Shareef Dancer, Secreto, El Gran Senor, Fanfreluche and multiple champion sire Sadler's Wells. |
| Omaha |
| Pedigree: Gallant Fox - Flambino (Wrack) |
| Owner: William Woodward Sr.Trainer: William Woodward Sr. |
| Race Record and Earnings: (22 starts - 9 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds) $154,755 |
| In 1935 Omaha became the third Triple Crown Winner. After winning the Belmont, Omaha won the Dwyer and Arlington Classic as a 3 year old. At 4, Omaha raced in England where he won the Victor Wild Stakes and the Queen's Plate, he also finished 2nd in the Ascot Gold Cup. |
| Personal Ensign See Video |
| Pedigree: Private Account - Grecian Banner (Hoist the Flag) |
| Owner: Ogden Phipps Trainer: Shug McGaughey |
| Race Record and Earnings: (13 starts - 13 wins) $1,679,880 |
| As a 2 year old Personal Ensign raced twice, winning the Frizette Stakes, but spent most of the season on the sideline with a broken pastern bone. At 3 she was the winner o f 4 races including the Rare Perfume Stakes and the Beldame. At 4, still undefeated, Personal Ensign won the Hempstead and Shuvee Handicaps, defeated males in the Whitney, and won the Breeders Cup Distaff over Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors. She won the 1988 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Female Horse. Personal Ensign has also made her mark as a broodmare. She is the Dam of Grade 1 winners: Miner's Mark, Our Emblem (sire of Derby winner War Emblem) , Traditionally, and My Flag (dam of Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fily winner Storm Flag Flying) |
| Ruffian See Video |
| Pedigree: Reviewer - Shenanigans (Native Dancer) |
| Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Stuart S. Janney Jr.Trainer: Frank Whiteley |
| Race Record and Earnings: (11 starts - 10 wins, 1 second) $313,429 |
| Ruffian was perhaps the most dominant racing filly ever. She won her maiden race by 15 lengths, the Fashion by 6 3/4, the Astoria by 9, the Sorority by 2 1/4, and the Spinaway by 12 3/4. She was named Champion Juvenile filly of 1974. Returning to the races at 3, Ruffian continued her winning ways. She won New York's Filly Triple Crown: the Acorn, Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks, never trailing in any of those starts. Her dominance led many fans and the media to demand that she face males. A match race between Ruffian and the Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure was arranged. They met at Belmont in June of 1975. Ruffian led the way for the first 1/4 mile, then tragedy struck. Her leg broke and she kept running. It took jockey Jacinto Vasquez 50 yds. to bring her to a stop. Vets tried valiantly to save her life, operating for 12 hours on her leg. Unfortunately when she awoke from the surgery she began thrashing around and re injured the leg. Ruffian is buried in the infield of Belmont Park. |
| Seabiscuit See Video |
| Pedigree: Hard Tack - Swing On(Whisk Broom II) |
| Owner: Charles S. Howard Trainer: Tom Smith |
| Race Record and Earnings: (89 starts - 33 wins, 15 seconds, 13 thirds ) $437,730 |
| Seabiscuit raced an amazing 35 times as a 2 year old, he won 5 of those races. At 3 he ran 29 more times winning 9 races. At 4 with a new owner and trainer, Seabiscuit gained national prominence as a racehorse setting records in the San Juan Capistrano, Massachusetts, Yonkers, and Riggs Handicaps. He also won the Brooklyn, Butler, and Bay Meadows Handicaps and was named Champion Male Handicap Horse. At 5, he faced the 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a match race at Pimlico. The nation stood still as the super horses raced. Seabiscuit came out on top. Seabiscuit returned at age 7 after an injury to win the Santa Anita handicap. His improbable story and that of his jockey, Red Pollard, owner and trainer made for a best selling book by Laura Hillenbrand which inspired the move Seabiscuit. |
| Seattle Slew See Video |
| Pedigree: Bold Reasoning - My Charmer (Poker) |
| Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Taylor Trainer: Billy Turner, Doug Peterson |
| Race Record and Earnings: (17 starts - 14 wins, 2 seconds) $1,208,726 |
| Seattle Slew was the 10th Triple Crown winner (1977) and a champion at two, three, and four. He was purchased for only $17,500 at auction. He is the only horse to win the Triple Crown without a loss on his record. At age 4 he defeated the 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup. Seattle Slew was as impressive in the breeding shed as he was on the race track. He sired the 1984 Derby winner Swale, as well as a total of 7 North American Champions. Seattle Slew's legacy continues through his sons A.P. Indy and Vindication among many others at stud. |
| Secretariat See Video |
| Pedigree: Bold Ruler - Somethingroyal (Princequillo) |
| Owner: Penny CheneryTrainer: Lucien Laurin |
| Race Record and Earnings: (21starts - 16 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third) $1,316,808 |
| Secretariat was the 1973 Triple Crown winner and carries the title of "America's Horse". He was the first horse in 25 years to win the crown, and revived interest in the sport of horse racing. As a 2 year old Secretariat set records in the Sanford, Hopeful, Futurity, Laurel Futurity, and Garden State Stakes. Secretariat set records in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont which still stand. He won the Belmont by an unbelievable 31 lengths. He was named champion 2 year old in 1972 and won Eclipse awards for Horse of the Year, 3yr old male, and turf horse in 1973. Secretariat died in 1989 from laminitis. Before his burial he was necropsied at the University of Kentucky, and it was dicovered that his heart weighed 21 pounds. The average thoroughrbed has a heart weight of 8.5 pounds. Secretariat is still the most widely know thoroughbred horse in America. |
| Serena's Song |
| Pedigree: Rahy – Imagining (Northfields) |
| Owner: Robert and Beverly Lewis Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas |
| Race Record and Earnings: (38 starts - 18 wins, 11 seconds, 3 thirds) $3,286,388 |
| Serena’s Song gathered 17 graded stakes wins in three years of racing. Extremely sound and healthy, she never needed the common race-day medication Lasix. She began proving her toughness at age two. In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Serena’s Song battled the unbeaten champion, Flanders, in a terrific stretch drive and lost by only a head. Next, in the Hollywood Starlet, she beat Urbane by a nose in a similar duel. Earlier that year, she won the Landaluce and the Oak Leaf Stakes. Serena’s Song became dominant at age three, winning 9 of 13 starts. Venturing outside her division, she beat males in the Jim Beam and the Haskell Invitational, and older females in the Beldame, on her way to champion three-year-old filly honors. At age four, she won the Santa Monica and the Santa Maria, then ran seventh in the Santa Anita Handicap. Bouncing back, Serena’s Song competed twelve more times that year, traveling to eight racetracks and always finishing third or better. |
| Sir Barton |
| Pedigree: Star Shoot - Lady Sterling (Hanover) |
| Owner: J.K.L. Ross Trainer: Guy Bedwell |
| Race Record and Earnings: (31starts - 13 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds) $116,857 |
| In 1919 Sir Barton became the first horse to win the Triple Crown. In fact, the kentucky Derby was the first race he ever won. As a 2 year old he started 6 times with only one second place finish to his credit. At 3 he blossomed, winning the crown and the Withers stakes between the Preakness and Belmont. At 4, Sir Barton won the 1 1/4 mile Dominion Handicap under 134 pounds, gave Exterminator three pounds and defeated him in the Saratoga Handicap, and set an American record of 1:55 3/5 in the Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap, but he lost a match with younger champion Man o'War. |
| Skip Away |
| Pedigree: Skip Trial - Ingot Way (Diplomat Way) |
| Owner: Carolyn Hine Trainer: Sonny Hine |
| Race Record and Earnings: (38 starts - 18 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds) $9,616,360 |
| During his four seasons of racing, Skip Away was a champion for three consecutive years and won 16 stakes events. As a four- and five-year-old, he sustained a nine-race winning streak at the highest levels of competition. At age five, Skip Away won his first seven races, including five Grade I events. He captured the Donn Handicap in Florida, the Pimlico Special in Maryland, his second Massachusetts Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup in California, and the Iselin Handicap in New Jersey (with 131 pounds up). Skip Away completed his winning streak with the Woodward Stakes in New York. Wrapping up his career, he ran third on a sloppy track in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. He was voted champion older male and Horse of the Year. |
| Smarty Jones See Video |
| Pedigree: Elusive Quality - I'll Get Along (Smile) |
| Owner: Roy and Pat Chapman Trainer: John Servis |
| Race Record and Earnings: (9 starts - 8 wins, 1 seconds) $7,613,155 |
| Smarty Jones won the 2004 Kentucky Derby. He went on to win the Preakness by a record 11 1/2 lengths, and then the nation caought Smarty Jones fever. Not since Secretariat had a horse captured the hearts and minds of the nation the way that Smarty Jones did. His trainer (John Servis) and jockey (Stewart Elliot) were the first team to win the Derby in their firsts appearance in the race. As a 2 year old Smarty won the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes by 15 lengths. At 3 he captured the Count Fleet Stakes, Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby priot to the Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones was beaten by Birdstone in the Belmont, ending his Triple Crown hopes in front of over 120,000 people, the largest crowd ever to watch a sporting event in the state of New York. Smarty was retired due to chronic bruising of his ankle bones. His first foals will race in 2008. |
| Spectacular Bid See Video |
| Pedigree: Bold Bidder - Spectacular (Promised Land) |
| Owner: Harry Meyerhoff Trainer: Buddy Delp |
| Race Record and Earnings: (30 starts - 26 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third) $2,781,607 |
| Spectacular Bid's most important achievements at 2 included a 15 length victory in the World's Playground Stakes and a record-setting Laurel Futurity. At 3 Spectacular Bid was unbeaten through the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but finished third in the Belmont Stakes. He later won the Marlboro and the Meadowlands Cup. Spectacular Bid finished his career with an unbeaten season in which he set four track records, swept California's Strub series, won the Washington Park Handicap, set a career earnings record, and was voted Horse of the Year. His trainer, Buddy Delp, said that Spectacular Bid was "The greatest horse to ever look through a bridle. The Bid Set or equaled 8 Track and American Records." |
| Storm Cat |
| Pedigree: Storm Bird - Terlingua (Secretariat) |
| Owner: W.T. Young Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard |
| Race Record and Earnings: (8 starts - 4 wins, 3 seconds) $570,610 |
| Storm Cat finished second in the 1985 Breeders' Cup juvenile. He did not make a serious mark on the record books as a race horse, but his impact as a stallion has been monumental. He has sired 31 Grade 1 winners, 93 Graded Stakes winners, and over 150 stakes winners. His progeny have earnings of over 100 million dollars. He is the "Sire of Sires", with 16 of his sons siring Grade 1 winners. Some notable horses that have been sired by Storm Cat are; Bluegrass Cat, Cat Thief, Giant's Causeway, Tabasco Cat, Sharp Cat, and Storm Flag Flying. Storm Cat's stud fee is $500,000. |
| Sunday Silence See Video |
| Pedigree: Halo - Wishing Well (Understanding) |
| Owner: A.B. Hancock Trainer: Charles Whittingham |
| Race Record and Earnings: (14 starts - 9 wins, 5 seconds) $4,968,554 |
| Sunday Silence had an impressive race record; he never placed lower than second in the 14 starts of his career. However, he is best remembered for his rivalry with 2-year-old champion Easy Goer. The two spent much of their second season battling for the lead. Sunday Silence defeated Easy Goer in 3 of their 4 meetings. Sunday Silence won the Kentucky Derby by 2 1/2 lengths and the Preakness in an exciting stretch duel. He then lost the Belmont to Easy Goer but retaliated later in the year by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. At the end of the season Sunday Silence was named champion 3-year-old and Horse of the Year. The following year he ran twice: winning the Californian and placing second in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Sunday Silence was eventually sold to Japanese breeder Zenya Yoshida to stand at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido. Yoshida had bought a 25% interest in Sunday Silence early in his 4-year-old season and bought out the other partners for an undisclosed amount. Sunday Silence flourished in Japan and became their leading sire over the last decade, topping their sire list from 1995 through 2005. As a sire, Sunday Silence is simply unsurpassed. His offspring have won over $500 million dollars at the track. |
| Swaps |
| Pedigree: Khaled - Iron Reward (Beau Pere) |
| Owner: Rex Ellsworth Trainer: Mesh Tenney |
| Race Record and Earnings: (25 starts - 19 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds) $848,900 |
| Swaps was the best horse to come out of California in years. He set five world records at a mile or more, three track records, and equalled an American turf record. Even with all these records, owner Rex Ellsworth claimed that he had never really turned the colt loose to see how fast he could run. Swaps' career on the track and as a sire was marked by his competition with Nashua. Both were named Horse of the Year and both sired numerous winners. At 3 Swaps won the San Vicente, Santa Anita Derby, defeated Nashua in the Kentucky Derby, and won the Will Rogers, Californian, and the American Derby. He then lost a match race and the championship to Nashua. Swaps earned Horse of the Year honors at 4 after winning the Argonaut, Inglewood, American, Hollywood Gold Cup, Sunset, and Washington Park Handicaps. He also fractured a cannon bone which ended his racing career. |
| War Admiral See Video |
| Pedigree: Man o'War - Brushup (Sweep) |
| Owner: Samuel D. Riddle Trainer: George Conway |
| Race Record and Earnings: (26 starts - 21wins, 3 seconds, 1 third) $273,240 |
| War Admiral was America's fourth Triple Crown winner, an accomplishment he might have missed if owner Samuel D. Riddle had followed his usual custom and skipped the Kentucky Derby. War Admiral won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness by eight lengths and by a head, respectively. His finest hour came in the Belmont when he stumbled near the start and tore away a small section of one front hoof. Despite this injury, he won the race by 3 lengths and equaled the track record. In addition to the Triple Crown races, War Admiral won the Washington Handicap, Chesapeake Stakes, Pimlico Special, and was named Horse of the Year. At 4 War Admiral won the Widener, Queens County and Saratoga Handicaps. He also won the 2 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, but lost the Pimlico Special to rival Seabiscuit. War Admiral was buried beside his sire, Man o'War, and beneath his statue at Faraway Farm. |
| Whirlaway |
| Pedigree: Blenheim II - Dustwhirl (Sweep) |
| Owner: Calumet Farm Trainer: Ben Jones |
| Race Record and Earnings: (60 starts - 32 wins, 15 seconds, 9 thirds) $561,161 |
| Whirlaway was one of a number of superb horses owned by Calumet Farm and trained by Ben Jones. But, as America's fifth Triple Crown winner and a two-time Horse of the Year, he stood out even among the Calumet horses. Whirlaway's behavior in races was so erratic in his early career that trainer Ben Jones designed a blinker to keep the colt from bolting to the outside rail. Needless to say, the extra effort met with success. At 2 Whirlaway won the Saratoga Special, Hopeful, Breeders' Futurity, and Walden Stakes. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, Whirlaway won the Travers, American Derby, Dwyer, Saranac, and Lawrence Realization at 3. At 4 Whirlaway carried 130 pounds to victory in the Massachusetts, Trenton, Washington, and Louisiana Handicaps. He also won the Clark, Dixie, and Brooklyn Handicaps, had a walkover in the Pimlico Special, and defeated Alsab in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Whirlaway was the first horse to earn $500,000 and retired as the world's greatest money earner. |
