In your opinion, what thoroughbred race horse was the best ever?

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There have been thousands of thoroughbred horses that have raced, but which one stands out the most in your memory and the best ever?

Ther Is Two Many To Name.

Colin
A true rarity in racing, an unbeaten horse, Colin won all his 15 starts in 1907 and 1908, including the Belmont Stakes.

Exterminator
Beloved under the nickname "Old Bones," Exterminator originally was purchased as a workmate for Sun Briar, but wound up defeating the other horse in the 1917 Kentucky Derby. Exterminator won 50 of 100 races over eight seasons.

Man o' War
Although he last raced in 1920, Man o' War is still often regarded as the greatest of American race horses. He won 20 of 21 starts, often in record times and by commanding margins, and later became a great tourist attraction as a stallion.

Equipoise
Nicknamed "The Chocolate Soldier" for his rich coat color and extraordinary handsomeness, Equipoise raced through the age of seven in the 1930s, winning 29 of 51 races, often carrying top weights in handicap races.

Count Fleet
The Triple Crown winner of 1943, Count Fleet won the Belmont Stakes by 25 lengths in the final race of his career.

Citation
Winner of 19 races in 20 starts as a three-year-old in 1948, Citation followed Whirlaway as the second Triple Crown winner for the famed Calumet Farm. At six, he became the first Thoroughbred to reach $1 million in career race earnings.

Native Dancer
Early in the television era, the flashy "Gray Ghost" became a public idol. He won 21 of 22 starts, losing only to Dark Star in the 1953 Kentucky Derby.

Kelso
The only horse in history to be voted Horse of the Year five times, Kelso, reigned from 1960 through 1964. He was a great weight carrier and won five runnings of The Jockey Club Gold Cup, then raced at two miles.

Secretariat
In 1973, Secretariat became the first horse in a quarter-century to win the Triple Crown. His climactic moment was his 31-length victory in world record time in the Belmont Stakes. "Big Red's" image graced the covers of Time and Newsweek, as well as Sports Illustrated.

Forego
Over his brilliant six year career, Forego was awarded a record eight Eclipse Awards including Horse of the Year in 1974, 1975 and 1976, Champion Handicap Horse in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 and Champion Sprinter in 1974. In his 54 career starts he only finished out of the money seven times. Forego is buried at the Kentucky Horse Park, near the Hall of Champions where he spent sixteen years delighting race fans.

Seattle Slew
In 1977, Seattle Slew became the first undefeated winner of the Triple Crown and was named Horse of the Year. The following year, Slew would firmly establish himself as one of the greatest champions of the 20th century by winning against 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed and England's top horse, Excellor.

Affirmed
In racing's greatest ongoing rivalry, Affirmed and Alydar waged war through 1977 and 1978. Affirmed won seven of their 10 meetings, including all three Triple Crown races, but most were extraordinarily close finishes.

Cigar
During one phase of his career, over three seasons, 1994-96, Allen Paulson's Cigar won 16 consecutive races, matching the modern record of Citation. He traveled to Dubai to win the first running of the Dubai Cup, and his career earnings were within $100 of $10 million. Cigar is now a resident of the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions.

in thoroughbred horse racing by Michael Pizzolla 19 Comments

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