Not necessarily the best 3, but your top 3 favorites. I would go with Seabiscuit, Seattle Slew, Funny Cide.
2007-01-16 23:53:56 · 21 answers · asked by Jeff S 4 in Sports ➔ Horse Racing
I would say Man O' War for sheer dominance, Kelso for durability and class while racing with top company over a very extended period of time, and Secretariat for charisma and showing people what a champion racehorse can do.
I wish I had been around when Man O' War was racing, but reading about his dominance of the horses he raced against and the way he won his races, as well as assessments of him by top horsemen who did see him race, I'd have to conclude that "Big Red" was as great a champion as America has ever seen. I think his superiority is borne out by his stud career-- bred to mares that were mostly mediocre as either racers or producers, he was a leading sire. I have to wonder what kind of offspring he would have produced if bred to the kinds of mares Northern Dancer or Storm Cat got.
I never saw Kelso race in person, but did see TV footage of his races. Kelso is the kind of horse that we need to have racing nowadays-- as game and competitive as a racehorse can be, capable of winning over just about any distance and on any surface his trainer cared to start him, and above all else, ENDURING. Kelso was a factor in championships for five solid years, building a fan base that loved him just for the fact that he kept coming back to the races. Oh how we need a horse like Kelso now!
Secretariat was just a great champion and had all the charisma and beauty in the world. He epitomized what was good and right about Thoroughbred racing and connected a lot of people to the sport. Even in retirement, at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, he continued to win fans. I got to visit him at Claiborne in 1985, and if there was ever a horse that was an ambassador for racing, it was Secretariat. You had to see him to believe his beauty and majesty.
Other Thoroughbreds worthy of a mention: Makybe Diva for her 3 Melbourne Cups; Nijinsky II and Brigadier Gerard for their dominance in British racing; Dahlia and Allez France for their victories against males; Native Dancer for his flashing brilliance; and Spectacular Bid, Affirmed and Seattle Slew as great champions.
2007-01-18 07:53:20 · answer #1 · answered by Karin C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Seattle Slew is the first great horse that I remember watching live on TV, so I have to include him. The Tin Man is probably the most impressive horse I've seen in person and made me a lot of money on Arlington Millions day. Last, I'd have to say Sunday Silence...watching him duke it out with Easy Goer, that's as good as the sport gets. Honorable mention has to go to Upset, a horse from way before my tme, for adding a new word to the sporting lexicon with his win over Man O' War.
2007-01-17 13:26:21 · answer #2 · answered by Edward K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ruffian, Secretariat/Seattle Slew (tie) and Man O'War. Ruffian was quite probably better than Big Red (at least according to Lucien Lauren). Unfortunately, she didn't get to finish the one race she ran against a male. She was a neck in front of Foolish Pleasure and going away when she broke down. Man O'War, nothing more can be said. Secretariat and Slew were the two greatest horses of my youth. Equally great in my mind.
2007-01-17 08:41:21 · answer #3 · answered by lee3620111 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Secretariat, Ruffian, Seabiscuit/Man O'War
I didnt really like Smarty Jones, but Funny Cide was alright. Secretariat should have been horse of the century, his triple crown was the best there ever was. I like Barbaro, but I dont think he could rank in with Secretariat and Man O'War.
2007-01-17 12:51:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
MAN OF WAR The start of the thoroughbred line as we know it today. SECRETARIAT who triple crown victories will never be equaled and the best racehorse I ever saw SPECTACULAR BID.who 20 years later still holds the track records at
SantaAnita for 7 furlongs and 1 1/4 miles as well as setting more track records than any other racehorse to this day.I have to add another who deserves to be on this for doing what none of these ever thought of doing(owners and conditions)At the ages 7,8 and 9 winning the Hollywood Gold Cup carrying upwards of 136 to 140 lbs(today's limit 126)that was handicap racing to the extreme becoming California's first millionaire horse (that calculates to about 10 million)NATIVE DIVER. 1 vote also for the best looking horse ever ROCKHARDTEN
2007-01-18 07:26:20 · answer #5 · answered by tujungarocket 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seattle Slew
Affirmed
Ruffian
2007-01-17 22:09:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man 'O War is the BEST!!!! Then Ruffin. Then Black Gold. I love what the owner of Man 'O War said when he was offered 1 Mill for him. He said "A lot of people have a million dollars, but only ONE person has Man 'O War!"
Ruffin lived a short life of triumph and tragedy. Same with Black Gold. They both had hard racing lives and were put down at young ages.
2007-01-17 09:30:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Secretariat - a big horse with a big heart. I still love to watch him win that Triple Crown, and blow away the rest of the field.
Afleet Alex. A horse that can fall to his knees, and get back up and win the race is amazing. Too bad he retired early.
Seabiscuit - the way they ran those horses back then week after week (unlike today, where you have weeks and months to reast between races) and how he came back as old as he was beat one of the best race horses ever. Amazing!
2007-01-17 11:01:04 · answer #8 · answered by sandand_surf 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Horses i remember that bring vivid memories are:
1. Point Given...huge beautiful horse
2. Barbaro....what can u say, super horse
3. Seattle Slew...awesome all around
2007-01-17 16:33:56 · answer #9 · answered by Doug C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ruffian, Man O' War and Secretariat
2007-01-18 18:38:55 · answer #10 · answered by Boxer Lover 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋