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Phar Lap
Born: 1927
Died: 1932 The monstrous New Zealand-bred Phar Lap (“lightning” in Thai) raced mainly in Australia, winning 37 times in 51 races and setting 8 track records. Phar Lap was a staggering 17.1 hands and his heart weighed 13.7 lbs, compared to the average weight of 9 lbs. Phar Lap was invited to the $50 000 Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico. Racing on dirt for the first time against some of America’s best horses, Phar Lap set a new record winning time. Phar Lap died suddenly after becom -
Seabiscuit
Born: 1933
Died: 1947 Seabiscuit's career mainly involved claiming races. At 4, Seabiscuit set records in four Handicaps, won three others and was named Champion Male Handicap Horse. Seabiscuit beat War Admiral in the 1938 Pimlico Special and was named 1938 Horse of the Year. Seabiscuit finished with career earnings of $437 730, winning 33 of his 89 starts. -
Citation
Born: 1945
Died: 1970 Citation won 8 out of 9 races in his first year, and was named Champion Two Year Old. Citation is ranked at Number 3 in the Top 100 US Thoroughbred Champions of the 20th Century. He became the eighth American Triple Crown champion in 1949, and the first thoroughbred to win 16 major stakes races in a row. By the end of his three year old season, Citation had 27 victories in 29 starts and earnings of $865 150. A 15-race winning streak won him Horse of the Year in 1950. -
Red Rum
Born: 1965
Died: 1995 Red Rum’s historic Grand Slam treble in 1973, 74 and 77 is considered one of the greatest British sporting moments of all time. He suffered from a debilitating, incurable bone disease in his foot for most of his life, and is now buried at the winning post of the Aintree Racecourse. -
Secretariat
Born: 1970
Died: 1989 Secretariat was a monster horse, with a heart that weighed almost 22 lbs! In 1972, his first season, Secretariat claimed eight consecutive victories and was the first of only two 2-year-olds to ever be crowned Horse Of The Year. In 1973 Secretariat won the Triple Crown, winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths in a new world record time. This record still stands, along with his record set at the Kentucky Derby. Secretariat’s earned a then-record $1 316 808 and sired man -
John Henry
Born: 1975
Died: October 2007 John Henry won the 1981 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park to secure his first Horse of the Year title at 6 years old. In 1983, he became the first racehorse to surpass $4 million in career earnings and he was voted racehorse of the decade for the 1980s. In his last race, the 1984 Ballantine Scotch Classic, John Henry claimed his 39th career victory and his second Horse of the Year title. John Henry is ranked 23rd in the Top 100 US Thoroughbred Champions of th -
Desert Orchid
Born: 1979
Died: November 2006 English racehorse Desert Orchid gained iconic status in National Hunt racing for his front-running attacking style, iron will and adaptability. After being switched to steeplechasing, he won four races in a row at Sandown and Ascot. In 1986 Desert Orchid won the King George VI Chase by 15 lengths from a number of star names, destroying the field with some of the most spectacular steeplechasing ever seen. Desert Orchid’s record at right-handed tracks was substan