There is nothing better than horse racing in the world. The thrill and excitement of watching some of the biggest horse racing names on some of the biggest stages can’t be compared with anything else. This statement is especially true for a Kentucky Derby betting fan who has been following this sport for a long time.
1- Secretariat
It is impossible to skip Secretariat in any list of famous racehorses. The legendary racehorse etched his name in history after his achievements in the 1973 Triple Crown races. Time sectionals have a great significance in flat racing and Big Red established age or track records in all the prestigious three-year-old races in America. His margin of victory (31 lengths) in the Belmont Stakes is the greatest in any Triple Crown event.
There have been many Triple Crown winners in history, but no horse could come even close to his levels. He was American Horse of the Year in 1972 and 1973 and later he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974.
2- Man o’ War
It is greatly mortifying that a racehorse like Man o’ War wasn’t given the chance to compete for the Triple Crown by his owner. He lost only one race out of the 21 races he competed during his career. That loss came at Saratoga Race Course where a colt called Upset defeated him by a neck.
Man o’ War is also credited with reviving interest in horse racing in North America after World War I. His successes earned him an incredible $249,465 which is equivalent to $3,184,000 in 2019.
3- Seattle Slew
For a long period, Seattle Slew remained the only racehorse who claimed the Triple Crown without losing beforehand until Justify matched his record in 2018. He was awarded the American Horse of the Year for 1977 plus he was ranked ninth in the Top 100 US Racehorses of the 20th Century.
In early 1978, he suffered from a career-threatening illness but he fought back and returned to action soon, claiming the Marlboro Cup in an emphatic style.
When he was retired to stud, he continued to have a great influence over North American horse racing. Famous racehorses California Chrome and Orb are descended from Seattle Slew.
4- Kelso
Despite missing the Triple Crown bid, Kelso achieved true sporting greatness. He is ranked fourth in the Top 100 US Thoroughbred Champions of the 20th Century, with the American racehorse defeating more Hall of Fame horses than any in the previous century.
It is very uncommon for any horse to be awarded American Champion Three-Year-Old without competing in the US Triple Crown races, but Kelso won that honor too without taking part in the prestigious competition. He made an incredible $1,977,896 in earnings during his career.