My favorite TB (horse for that matter) is Man O' War (also known as Big Red).
He was born in 1917 & raced for 2 years, winning 20 of 21 starts (1 second), setting/breaking 8 records, some of which lasted for over 70 years:-o, as well as sireing 64 race champions in his years at stud.
He won the 1920 Lawrence Realization by an estimated 100 lengths, defeated 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton in a match race (after which he was retired) & had one of the longest strides in the recorded history of racing.
He was so famous, that when he died on Nov.1, 1947 at the age of 30, his funeral was broadcast on radio & was the first TB to be buried in a casket (which was lined with the colors of his racing silks) He now lies beneath a lifesized statue at the Kentucky Horse Park.
He was also voted by the Bloodhorse as the greatest racehorse of the 20th century.

 

Same here..... Man O' War. He was the best of the best. I have an old antique picture of him hanging on my wall at home here, I love Big Red!

Some interesting facts about him here....

Man O' War - Fun Facts and Information

 

Mine is native dancer and northern dancer both winning twice in Kentucky derby very famous look em up and my tb is grandaughter of northern dancer and great granddaughter of native dancer on her dam and sires side
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Mine is native dancer and northern dancer both winning twice in Kentucky derby very famous look em up and my tb is grandaughter of northern dancer and great granddaughter of native dancer on her dam and sires side
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I have a APHA with both Native and Northern Dancer.........This is Golden Dancer.....lol!!! aka Denny........unfortunately he has a moderate case of PSSM and is unrideabe

 

Man o' War. I did a report on him in 5th grade and he's my favorite racehorse ever.

 

Lomitas.... the German horse that showed people over here in Germany that you cant force a horse to everything. he was beautiful and intelligent and fast... great horse.
He died a few weeks ago

 

Man o´War is my favorite. My old little Pony is a great-great-great…-grandson of him. I also have the book of its story.

 

The greatest I think still to this day is, was, and always will be Man O' War. Was an outstanding racehorse and sire. Was so great people didn't even want to race him.

But my favorite racehorse is Cigar. Just love him.

 

I have a list.lol

Man O' War
Seabiscuit(I have a drawing of him and some of his colts on my wall that my Great grandma gave me.)
Native Dancer
Northern Dancer
Secretariat
Bold Ruler
Cigar
Gallant Fox
Alydar(He passed away exactly 1 year before I was born. The same day.)
Affirmed
Barbaro
Rachel Alexandra
Zenyatta(Even though she lost her last race, she is a winner to me!) I want to have a colt or filly by her or a grand daughter or grand son, but that might cost a fortune.lol.

And tons more. =)

 

my 2 favourites would have to be MAN'O'WAR and PHAR LAP!!!!
phar lap came to australia when he was young and was a wreck but he got worked on, nearly got shot and won a Melbourne cup.......sadly he died not long after at a young age after going to race overseas.....he was poisened!!!!:-(

 

phar lap came to australia when he was young

bred in NZ hehe :P



I dont really "follow" any of the great horses. But I did enjoy reading the Seabiscuit book and think Man O' War was pretty awesome.
And because my mare has northern dancer (on both sides :/) I have a slight soft spot for him cause of the whole being related to my horse haha

 

My favorite is Showgirl. I bet no one her..

 

Hmmm...hard for me to choose...

Phar Lap for sure is up there...along with Ruffian, and of course Zenyatta...

 

MANOWAR he is magnificent!!although i do think zenyatta is beautiful and a great race horse but i think the whole breeders cup thing was all talk and no actions!

 

What are you talking about? She won the classic last year by over a lenght, and ran down Blame, and if she would have had a better run, would have beat him without a doubt this year, because she passed him right after the finish line, before either of them had a chance to be pulled up. Considering NO mare has EVER won the classic, in the first place, let alone win and then come back and place 2nd by a head the following year? I fail to see the "no action" part of the equation...:-|

 

Secretariat. No doubt. Followed very closely by Man O'War.

 

Secretariat. No doubt. Followed very closely by Man O'War.

It's kind of ironic how both horses were 16.3 hh, both nicknamed Big Red & both raced 21 times!

 

Yep, I agree.

 

Man O'War seems to be the favorite of most. Yes, he was the Greatest horse in the first 1/2 of the 20th Century, but what about --- drumroll here ---- SECRETARIAT.

It is Secretariat who still olds the 1 1/2 mile World Record at 2:24, running each furlong at 12 seconds or less. No horse has come within 2 seconds of Secretariat's Belmont mark, and that Secretariat movie did a real harm(in my opinion) to people who have never seen the video of the real 1973 Belmont Stakes. Please watch it on Youtube.

This is my first post here, and my id is: Lovebigred, because SECRETARIAT, also known as Big Red, was the horse I fell in love with at age 10. But no horse since Secretariat has ever come close to his time record, and no one ever will.

 

Man O'War seems to be the favorite of most. Yes, he was the Greatest horse in the first 1/2 of the 20th Century, but what about --- drumroll here ---- SECRETARIAT.

It is Secretariat who still olds the 1 1/2 mile World Record at 2:24, running each furlong at 12 seconds or less. No horse has come within 2 seconds of Secretariat's Belmont mark, and that Secretariat movie did a real harm(in my opinion) to people who have never seen the video of the real 1973 Belmont Stakes. Please watch it on Youtube.

This is my first post here, and my id is: Lovebigred, because SECRETARIAT, also known as Big Red, was the horse I fell in love with at age 10. But no horse since Secretariat has ever come close to his time record, and no one ever will.

Because he is in most of the famous racehorses lineages, is why he is also very famous. Many people went to his funeral(or was it his retirement?) Also they bred Secretariat to almost anything. And if it weren't for Man O' War Secretariat wouldn't be here.I have not seen the movie, and I still plan to.any horse people I know saw the movie and loved it.

What do mean it did real harm?(Remember its a movie, there will be facts that are wrong, or stuff exagerrated or just put in.but its basically a tribute to the legend.) I have seen the real 1973 Belmost Stakes race on youtube.

 

Here is my Top 10 List of Greatest Thoroughbreds of All Time:

1. Secretariat
2. Man O'War
3. Citation
4. Phar Lap
5. Nijinsky II - England's Triple Crown winner in 1970
6. Spectacular Bid
7. Kelso
8. Forego
9. Count Fleet
10. Round Table

 

Another neat fact about Secretariat is that his heart was actually twice the size of a normal horse's heart, which many vet/experts think was what helped enable him to run each 1/4 mile faster than the last in the Belmont.
(He also won the Man O' War Stakes, lol)

 

WildJessie - I don't mean to argue with you but ----

1st: Man O'War's funeral was on the radio and many people went to his funeral, yes, that is true.
I can appreciate your love for Man O'War.

2nd: They DID NOT breed Secretariat to "almost anything" as you think. Secretariat was bred to 40 mares a year at most, and he was in no way overbred. SECRETARIAT will live on in the Thoroughbred breed through his daughters, who were exceptional producers, especially of stallions. Storm Cat, the most successful Thoroughbred stallion in the past 20 years was out of Secretariat's daughter, Terlingua. Gone West, another very successful stallion was out of Secrettame. And, perhaps the stallion who is the savior of the Bold Ruler male line, A.P. INDY, was born from Weekend Surprise, another daughter of Secretariat.

3rd: How can you say that if it was not for Man O'War, Secretariat wouldn't be here? I am sorry, but that does not make sense. Secretariat has no Man O'War blood or breeding anywhere in his pedigree. In fact, Secretariat was produced almost exclusively from stallions imported to the USA after the year 1900. Only one of his lines, that of his sire, Bold Ruler, who's dam was Miss Disco, by Discovery, who was by Display, by Fair Play, has any American blood at all.

This is my first post on here, and I didn't want to start an arguement, but rightly so, I do have to put to rest any misconceptions of fact.

If anything, Secretariat will live on in more then just the Thoroughbred breed. There were 2 mares bred to Secretariat as test mares to see if he could get a mare in foal. Of those 2 mares, one was an Appaloosa, and that resulting foal - First Secretary, is in the Appaloosa Racing Hall of Fame. The 2nd foal was born from a Begium mare, and was named Statesman. Here's an article on Statesman: Statesman - gelding by Secretariat

Back to the movie. The Belmont Stakes scenes were filmed at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington. The way the Belmont was filmed it is(in my opinion) close to impossible to understand what Secretariat really did in that Belmont Stakes of 1973. Anyone who watches the race in the movie could not fully understand what happened by just watching the movie itself. That is my opinion.

 

1st: Man O'War's funeral was on the radio and many people went to his funeral, yes, that is true.
I can appreciate your love for Man O'War.

2nd: They DID NOT breed Secretariat to "almost anything" as you think. Secretariat was bred to 40 mares a year at most, and he was in no way overbred. SECRETARIAT will live on in the Thoroughbred breed through his daughters, who were exceptional producers, especially of stallions. Storm Cat, the most successful Thoroughbred stallion in the past 20 years was out of Secretariat's daughter, Terlingua. Gone West, another very successful stallion was out of Secrettame. And, perhaps the stallion who is the savior of the Bold Ruler male line, A.P. INDY, was born from Weekend Surprise, another daughter of Secretariat.

3rd: How can you say that if it was not for Man O'War, Secretariat wouldn't be here? I am sorry, but that does not make sense. Secretariat has no Man O'War blood or breeding anywhere in his pedigree. In fact, Secretariat was produced almost exclusively from stallions imported to the USA after the year 1900. Only one of his lines, that of his sire, Bold Ruler, who's dam was Miss Disco, by Discovery, who was by Display, by Fair Play, has any American blood at all.

This is my first post on here, and I didn't want to start an arguement, but rightly so, I do have to put to rest any misconceptions of fact.

If anything, Secretariat will live on in more then just the Thoroughbred breed. There were 2 mares bred to Secretariat as test mares to see if he could get a mare in foal. Of those 2 mares, one was an Appaloosa, and that resulting foal - First Secretary, is in the Appaloosa Racing Hall of Fame. The 2nd foal was born from a Begium mare, and was named Statesman. Here's an article on Statesman: Statesman - gelding by Secretariat

Back to the movie. The Belmont Stakes scenes were filmed at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington. The way the Belmont was filmed it is(in my opinion) close to impossible to understand what Secretariat really did in that Belmont Stakes of 1973. Anyone who watches the race in the movie could not fully understand what happened by just watching the movie itself. That is my opinion.

I don't think I was intentionally saying he wasn't a great racehorse, because he was. I was just stating what others have told me and what I have read about him. Don't think I said it was fact either. And I found your post rather offensive. Also he was bred with pretty much anything, I never said he was overbred. I also never stated that none of his offspring was horrible and that he failed as a sire. I know very well he was a great producer of champions. I am a fan as well.

When I said if it weren't for Man O' War Secretariat wouldn't be here, I actually meant to go and edit it(Because I knew something wasn't right about that statement) and say he paved the way for him and many other racehorses. He is and will be one of the greatest racehorses of all time and helped pave the way for other racing legends. Secretariat is not a direct descendant of Man O' War. However, through his sire Bold Ruler via his paternal granddam, he is a descendant of Fair Play, who was Man O' War's sire. Therefore they are related, but not closely.

Sometimes they have to film certain scenes at certain places due to many reasons. Maybe they had to film it at that track because they couldn't make the horse(or horses) replicate what he did at the Belmont. I don't think any horse can like he did at the Belmont that year, and they would be pushing the horse to run like that and possibly hurting the horse. So that is probably one of the reasons they chose a different track. If I am not mistaken Belmont is a rather long track.

And I think anyone who was interested to learn more about Secretariat would look him up and read about him. But remember, it was a movie, it was made for entertainment, and to pay tribute to a incredible racehorse. Don't expect a movie to get everything right about something, there are bound to mistakes in the accuracy of the facts. People enjoyed it and I am rather glad they made a movie on him, to show that was a great racehorse and wanted to show that to people, and bring back a little piece of history.

I think you might like this it has to do with Secretariat:
Horse is great great granddaughter of Secretariat | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO

 

Track record says it all

THE greatest racehorse of all time has to be.....


KINCSEM ( 1874 - 1887 )

I know this horse isn't american but her record is beyond compare

54 starts and 54 wins

Major wins include
Hungarian Two Thousand Guineas (1877)
Hungarian One Thousand Guineas (1877)
Hungarian Oaks (1877)
Hungarian Autumn Oaks (1877, 1878, 1879)
Hungarian St. Leger (1877)
Austrian Derby (1877)
Austrian Kaiserpreis (1877)
Grosser Preis von Hanover (1877)
Grosser Preis von Baden (1877, 1878, 1879)
Staatspreis Eister Classe (1878)
Goodwood Cup (1878)
Grand Prix de Deauville (1878)

Please don't forget that back in the 1870's 1880's the Hungarian empire was one of the richest and most powerful in the world and none of the hungarian races were lightweights , and the record includes overseas victories in Germany, England , France , Austria etc

I know Man 'O War was impressive but I don't think that Kincsems record can ever be beaten.

 

ZENYATTA hands down is my all time favorite racehorse. And Barbaro, would have one the Triple Corwn if it waqsn't for his injury....which was so sad.

 

Lol it's so funny because the Man O' War/Secretariat debate has been going on for years!
It's one thing for fans to decide who is the greatest because fans have a tendancy to stick with their favorites no matter what lol, it's another for experts to do so because they take into account everything the horse did in its career for their time, how long they raced, their breeding records as well as racing records & how long they stood for. They never take just one spectacular performance & deem them the greatest.

One of the most unfortunate things, i think, is that Man O' War's owner practically refused to breed him to any mares apart from his own & on occasion, his niece's. Still, even with such a small selection at his disposal he managed to sire many champions.

Also, though it is too bad he never won the Triple Crown, one has to remember that back before the 1930's there was no such thing in America as the Triple Crown yet, though they had been throwing around the idea for some time (the original 3 races were supposed to be the Withers Stakes, Belmont Stakes & Travers Stakes, which Man O' War did win all of those as a 3-yr-old).

 

Aren't most racehorses also decended from Eclipse(or am I thinking of another horse?)? Also another great thoroughbred racehorse, I forgot to add him to my list.

 

I don't really follow the great horses, but I've always like Genuine Risk.
I remember watching the Kentucky Derby she won as a kid.
I think it stuck with me all this time, because she was a filly.

 

I personally love Secretariat. Though Man O War or Bold Ruler would come in close second for the racing TBs.

But if we're talking about all time favorite Tbs... I'll have to throw in Gem Twist. Having actually seen him compete with Laura Chapot, he's my favorite.

I guess my list would look like:

Gem Twist
Secretariat
Man O War
Ruffian
Unbridled Song--actually saw him at the wood memorial and a leading sire. Plus he's drop dead gorgeous!
Unbridled -- one of the first Kentucky Derbies I've seen in person
Cigar

There's an Eventer that I can't think of the name of... I know he was smallish and from the 90s.

 

I personally love Secretariat. Though Man O War or Bold Ruler would come in close second for the racing TBs.

But if we're talking about all time favorite Tbs... I'll have to throw in Gem Twist. Having actually seen him compete with Laura Chapot, he's my favorite.

I guess my list would look like:

Gem Twist
Secretariat
Man O War
Ruffian
Unbridled Song--actually saw him at the wood memorial and a leading sire. Plus he's drop dead gorgeous!
Unbridled -- one of the first Kentucky Derbies I've seen in person
Cigar

There's an Eventer that I can't think of the name of... I know he was smallish and from the 90s.

MUDPAINT:
If this link works, here is a link to my Facebook photo album of most of the horses I've seen in the last 25+ years. Secretariat, Seattle Slew & Affirmed have their own album, but this photo album link should take you to a photo album where I have pics of Cigar, Unbridled & Unbridled Song.
Sharon Kettlewell | Facebook

I posted this in my Introductory post, but I've been photographing horses for 25+ years, mostly Thoroughbreds, and I sell my own photographs in 8x10 sizes on eBay. I also sell photo albums at Christmas, and I specialize in the horse racing memorabilia category and sell books, magazines, etc. too. I go down to Lexington at least once a year, go to the stud farms, and racing at Keeneland. Keeneland is my favorite racetrack.

 

Worlds most sucessful racehorse of all time

Kincsem

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kincsem (Hungarian for "my treasure") (1874-1887) was the most successful Thoroughbred race horse ever, having won 54 races for 54 starts. Born in Tápiószentmárton, Hungary in 1874, she is a national icon, and is revered in other parts of the world too. Over four seasons she won all her races against both female and male company at various race tracks across Europe, a record that's still unbeaten.

Kincsem
SireCambuscan (GB)DamWater NymphDamsireCotswold (GB)SexFillyFoaled1874CountryHungaryColourChestnutBreederErnst von BlaskovichOwnerErnst von BlaskovichTrainerRobert HespRecord54: 54-0-0Earnings199,705 fl = 379,805 goldmark (sic)

Major winsHungarian Two Thousand Guineas (1877)
Hungarian One Thousand Guineas (1877)
Hungarian Oaks (1877)
Hungarian Autumn Oaks (1877, 1878, 1879)
Hungarian St. Leger (1877)
Austrian Derby (1877)
Austrian Kaiserpreis (1877)
Grosser Preis von Hanover (1877)
Grosser Preis von Baden (1877, 1878, 1879)
Staatspreis Eister Classe (1878)
Goodwood Cup (1878)
Grand Prix de Deauville (1878)

HonoursKincsem Park in Budapest, Hungary
Kincsem Museum, Budapest, Hungary
Kincsem Horse Park, Tápiószentmárton, Hungary
Kincsem Hotel, Kisbér, Hungary
Kincsem Farm, Archer, Florida
Life-sized statue at Kincsem Park,


Pedigree

Kincsem's sire, Cambuscan, was owned by Queen Victoria. He was sold to Hungarian interests in 1873 and was brought to stand at the Hungarian National Stud, Kisber. Cambuscan, second in England's St. Leger Stakes in 1864, was by Newminster, his dam, The Arrow was by Slane. Kincsem was out of the Hungarian mare Waternymph, a daughter of the English horse Cotswold, by Newcourt (by Sir Hercules). Kincsem's third dam, Seaweed was also by Slane making her inbred to him in the third and fourth generations (3x4).[2]
A perhaps apocryphal story surrounds the beginnings of Kincsem. Running with a group of fifty horses on the grounds of her owner's ancestral Hungarian home, she alone was lanky and ungainly. She would stand with her head low and her eyes half-opened. One night she went missing...and when found again, was with a band of gypsies. "Why," asked her puzzled owner of the thief, "steal this horse when there were so many better to chose from?" "Because," answered the gypsy, "The other horses may be better looking, but she was the best of the lot. She'll be a champion." [3]
Racing career





Kincsem's career began in 1876. She was entered for ten races in ten different places in Hungary, Germany and Austria as a two-year-old and won them all.[1]
As her unbeaten streak against Europe's best horses continued, Kincsem attracted great interest from the European racing public. Emperor Franz Josef was known to be a fan. As a three-year-old she won the Two Thousand Guineas in Pozsony, the One Thousand Guineas and the Oaks in Budapest, not to mention the Austrian Derby, the Kaiserpreis in Vienna and the Grosser Preis von Hanover and Grosser Preis von Baden. In all she had seventeen victories.
Her four-year-old campaign was equally successful, beginning with nine straight victories. She travelled to England to take part in the Goodwood Cup, but injury to the fancied Verneuil meant it was an easier challenge than expected.
As a four-year-old Kincsem won the Grand Prix de Deauville and the Grosser Preis von Baden again (after a run-off following a dead-heat).
Kincsem had her fiftieth victory in Frankfurt the next year. Her last race was the Hungarian Autumn Oaks which she won for the third time.
Stud record

Kincsem retired at the age of seven and was only at stud for a short time.
She died on her thirteenth birthday March 17, 1887 from a colic attack, shortly after the birth of her last foal, Kincs.[1] Newspapers across Hungary edged their pages in black the day she passed. Flags were flown at half mast.[3]
Her five offspring were:

• Budagyöngye ("Pearl of Buda"), filly 1882, by Buccaneer. Won German Derby
• Ollyan nincs ("None such"), filly 1883, by Buccaneer. Won Hungarian St Leger.
• Talpra Magyar ("On Your Feet Now"), stallion 1885, by Buccaneer. Unntried , but sired the exceptional, Tokio, winner of the Austrian Derby, Grosser Preis von Baden, and the Hungarian St Leger.
• Kincsőr ("Guardian of Treasure"), stallion 1886, by Doncater, second in the Austrian Derby and died shortly before the German Derby in which he was highly favoured.
• Kincs ("Treasure"), filly 1887, by Doncater. Untried, she became an influential broodmare, her daughter Napfény ("Sunshine") being a major stakes winner and in turn producing the good filly Miczi, winner of stakes races in Hungary and Austria.

The progeny of Kincsem's three daughters won 41 classic races in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary and Italy.[1]
There is a life sized statue of her near the stadium at Kincsem Park in Budapest where the Kincsem Museum is located

 

I personally like Ruffian, Secretariat and Eight Belles (she reminded me of Ruffian). I remember watching her race against Big Brown in Boston Pizza lol. I was devistated when I saw her go down.