Best racehorses of the 21st century
110 items ranked
Click on up and down arrows to affect item's ranking
1.
Beresford Stakes (2008), 2000 Guineas (2009), Derby (2009), Eclipse (2009), International Stakes (2009), Irish Champion Stakes (2009), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2009)
Comments:
Retired to stud after a fantastic 2009 flat season. Among the progeny include Oaks winner, Taghrooda, Masar (who won the 2018 Epsom Derby) and top stayer Stradivarius (two Goodwood Cups, 2017 & 2018 and an Ascot Gold Cup 2018).
He had stamina, tremendous acceleration and the balance to handle courses as different as Epsom & Longchamps. Mick Kinane who also rode Galileo said he had never felt such power beneath him when asked to go. In contrast to the likes of Frankel and Mill Reef, he was not a relentless galloper and had a tendency to idle when he had nothing to chase. To quote Sir Anthony McCoy, "We never got to the bottom of him." How he would have compared with Pinza, Sea-Bird, Nijinsky, Mill Reef and Shergar is anyone's guess, but for what my opinion is worth, the best European racehorse we have seen this century to date.
2.
Comments:
Has sired over 150 Group 1 winners as of 9th May 2017 including Churchill and Winter, the Newmarket 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas winners respectively.
One of the top flat horses of 2001 and now a successful sire, many of them classic winners including Frankel, Australia and Minding.
3.
Prix Rothschild (2008), Peix Du Moulin (2008), Breeders Cup Mile (2008 / 2009 / 2010), Falmouth Stakes (2009), Prix D'Astarte (2009 / 2010), Prix Jacques (2009), D'ispahan (2010), Queen Anne Stakes (2010), Prix de la Foret (2010)
4.
Railway Stakes (2001), Gimcrack Stakes (2001), Grand Criterium Lucien Barriere (2001), Dewhurst Stakes (2001), 2000 Guineas (2002), Irish 2000 Guineas (2002), St Jame's Palace Stakes (2002), Sussex Stakes (2002), Prix Du Moulin (2002)
5.
Racing Post Trophy (2001), Derby (2002), Irish Derby (2002), Royal Whip Stakes (2003), Irish Champion Stakes (2003), Breeders Cup Turf (2003)
6.
Comments:
El Encino Stakes (2008)
Apple Blossom Handicap (2008, 2010)
Milady Handicap (2008,2009)
Vanity Handicap (2008,2009,2010)
Clement Hirsch Handicap (2008, 2009, 2010)
Lady's Secret Stakes (2008,2009,2010)
Santa Margarita Handicap (2010)
Breeders' Cup:
Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (2008)
Breeders' Cup Classic (2009)
Awards
American Champion Older Female Horse
(2008, 2009, 2010)
American Horse of the Year
(2010)
Secretariat Vox Populi Award[1]
(2010)
William H. May Award
(2011)
Honours
Zenyatta Stakes
(2010)
NTRA "Moment of the Year"
(2008, 2009)
SI – Top 10 Female Race Horses of All Time
(2010)
Should have been 20 and 0 but ran out of racetrack her last time out! The most exciting closer to watch period.
7.
Recently achieved the Triple Crown in the United States:
Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, all in 2015.
Comments:
Our 1st Grand Slam horse racing winner. One of the all time greats.
most popular horse in modern times and 1st grand slam winner and defeated older horses on his 1st and only attempt.
Great run winning the Triple Crown, Haskell, and Breeders Cup Classic, and only lost the Travers by half a length. Best horse of the 21st century. Would have done great things as a 4 year old if he were allowed to run.
As many have said, he is a horse of a lifetime. Great personality and could cruise at high speed. Once he got out front, no horse was going to catch him.
won on 8 different race tracks and unusual durability for a modern thoroughbred and 1st Triple Crown winner in 37 years
Has now added the Breeders Cup Classic to round off a fabulous year.
A grand slam winner of horse racing and had one of the best 3 year old seasons ever.
Maybe one of the great horses ever. Would really be outstanding if he were allowed to race as a 4 year old, but we can always imagine what would it would be like.
HAS TO BE ONE OF THE GREAT MODERN HORSES TO RUN winning the 1st triple crown in 37 years and continuing to run all the way into the fall season.
although he finished 2nd in the Travers, it was still one of the classic races ever run. He will have a chance against older horses in the Breeder's Cup Classic.

8.
Irish Derby (2006), Irish Champion Stakes (2006 / 2007), Prix Ganay (2007), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2007), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2007)
9.
Literally THE greatest. Won 14 races and considered by many knowledgeable people to be the very best of all time. Unfortunately his best distance seems to have been a mile to 12 furlongs and so his connections ether chose to duck out of the really big races, or were too cowardly. However this should not detract from hos greatness
10.
Only prevented from winning the triple crown by the inept performance of the trainers son masquersding as a jockey. He will be an arc winer at least once
11.
Jockey Club Stakes (2007 / 2008), Breeders Cup Classic (2007), Jaguar Trophy (2008), Dubai World Cup (2008), Woodward Stakes (2008)
12.
Comments:
Golden Rod Stakes (2008)
Martha Washington Stakes (2009)
Fair Grounds Oaks (2009)
Fantasy Stakes (2009)
Kentucky Oaks (2009)
Mother Goose Stakes (2009)
Haskell Invitational Handicap (2009)
Woodward Stakes (2009)
Fleur de Lis Handicap (2010)
Triple Crown classic race wins:
Preakness Stakes (2009)
13.
Coronation Cup (2005), Ascot Gold Cup (2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009), Goodwood Cup (2006 / 2008), Irish St Leger (2007), Vintage Crop Stakes (2007 / 2008), Prix Royal-Oak (2008)
14.
15.
Prix Marcel Boussac (2007), Prix de la Grotte (2008), Poule D'essai Des Pouliches (2008), Prix De Diane (2008), Prix Vermeille (2008), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2008)
16.
Won Preakness and Belmont in 2005, was tough as nails with his Preakness win, almost falling to his knees on the far turn after clipping heels with Scrappy T. Won Belmont by 7 lengths, running the fastest final quarter since 1969. A true champion.
17.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (2012)
Las Virgenes Stakes (2013)
Santa Anita Oaks (2013)
Zenyatta Stakes (2013, 2014)
Breeders' Cup Distaff (2013)
Santa Lucia Stakes (2014, 2015)
Adoration Stakes (2015)
Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (2015)
Pacific Classic (2015)
Awards
American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (2012) American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (2013)
Comments:
Recently won a Breeders Cup race just getting the better of Songbird in a closely fought finish.
18.
19.
Tyros Stakes (2007), Futurity Stakes (2007), National Stakes (2007), Dewhurst Stakes (2007), Derby (2008), Irish Champion Stakes (2008), Champion Stakes (2008)
20.
21.
Tattersalls Gold Cup (2000), Prix de Saint-Cloud (2000), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000), Prix Foy (2000)
22.
Irish Derby (2005), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2005), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2006), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2006)
23.
Gordon Stakes (2009), Suprise Stakes (2010), Diamond Ormonde Stakes (2010), Hardwicke Stakes (2010), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2010)
24.
25.
Australian filly who as of 16th September 2017 has won nineteen victories out of nineteen including multiple Group 1 wins.
26.
Railway Stakes (2005), Pheonix Stakes (2005), National Stakes (2005), 2000 Guineas (2006), Queen Elizabeth 2nd Stakes (2006)
27.
Coventry Stakes (2007), 2000 Guineas (2008), Irish 2000 Guineas (2008), St Jame's Placace Stakes (2008), Sussex Stakes (2008)
28.
Prix Ganay (2008), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2008), Prince Of Wales' Stakes (2008), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2008), International Stakes (2008)
29.
Derby (2000), Irish Derby (2000), Prix Niel-Casino (2000), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2000)
30.
Twice Coronation Cup winner in 2011 and 2012. I think he won the Breeder's Cup in America in 2011.
31.
Gordon Stakes (2008), St Leger (2008), Breeders Cup Turf (2008 / 2009), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2009)
32.
Coventry Stakes (2009), Irish 2000 Guineas (2010), St Jame's Palace Stakes (2010), Sussex Stakes (2010)
Comments:
One of the recent great milers. For me, the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009 led this horse to a string of Group 1 victories including the 2011 Queen Anne and Lockinge Stakes.
33.
Four time winner of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle between 2009 and 2012, one of the new races at the Cheltenham Festival.
34.
Celebration Mile (2008), Queen Elizabeth 2nd Stakes (2008), Breeders Cup Classic (2008)
35.
36.
37.
Has landed big prizes internationally including Ascot's King George and most recently the 2016 Breeders Cup Turf.
Comments:
Now retired as a multiple Group 1 winner. Final victory was in Hong Kong at the end of 2017. Formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien. Sired by Galileo.
Multiple Group 1 winner including two Group 1 victories in 2017, the Coronation Cup and Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
38.
Unbeaten as far as I know in nine starts. Could well on the way to become a future champion hurdler. Won Kempton's Christmas Hurdle recently.
Comments:
As of January 2016, multiple Grade 1 winner including the Champion Hurdle and two time Christmas Hurdle winner. Was the top novice hurdler of 2014.
39.
40.
41.
42.
Won the 2010 Epsom Oaks and has had a string of victories around the world including the 2012 Irish Champion Stakes.
43.
Classic Trial (2000), Dante Stakes (2000), International Stakes (2001), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2001)
44.
2015 Breeders Cup Turf but has placed many times in Group 1 races, the latest was the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Ascot in June 2016.
45.
Preis der Winterfavoriten (2004), Prix de Harcourt (2006), Earl Of Sefton Stakes (2007), Prix D'Ispahan (2007), Prince Of Wales' Stakes (2007), Prix Jacques (2007), Prix Foy (2007)
48.
Won the 2015 Epsom Derby. Went on to win Sandown's Eclipse Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes and recently landed Longchamp's Prix de L'Arc De Triomphe.
49.
Won the 2014 Champion Stakes on 18th October 2014 just holding off Al Kazeem. This horse is the younger brother of 2012 winner, Frankel.
50.
51.
Won the French Derby in 2014. Defeated dual Derby winner, Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday 13th September in a thrilling finish.
52.
Famously defeating Dawn Approach in the 2013 Sussex Stakes in a proper 'Duel On The Downs'.
53.
Won the Chester Cup, Northumberland Plate and Fighting Fifth Hurdle. This is a really special horse combining National Hunt and flat.
54.
Group 1 winning middle distance horse who retired to stud, formerly trained by John Gosden. This horse is famous for siring the brilliant award winning Oaks and international superstar filly, Enable.
55.
Probably the greatest 2m chaser this century even ahead of Sprinter Sacre, both trained by Nicky Henderson. Winner of the 2018 Queen Mother Champion Chase among a host of Grade 1 victories so far. Used to be a good hurdler, too.
56.
Emulated American Pharoah's 2015 Triple Crown success in the United States, Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in one season. Now retired to stud.
57.
One of the best chases this century trained by Willie Mullins. Highlights so far include three consecutive Clarence House chases, a Tingle Creek and two Grade 1 Festival victories at Cheltenham.
58.
59.
Group 1 winning horse, formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien who retired to stud. Among the progeny is Alpha Centauri and St Leger winner, Kingston Hill.
60.
Multiple Group 1 winning filly including the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes. Won a big race in France on 12th August 2018.
61.
62.
Recently completed the Irish/English Champion Stakes double, on both occasions beat recent Arc winner, Found.
63.
64.
66.
67.
Comments:
As of 4th February 2019, a multiple Grade 1 winner including the Irish Champion Hurdle on 2nd February. Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, now with Gordon Elliott.
68.
Comments:
As of 4th February 2019, retired to stud as a top stayer winning two Irish St Legers and an Ascot Gold Cup during the horse's longevity. Was also placed in the Arc De Triomphe formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien.
69.
2016 2,000 Guineas winner from Newmarket who recently landed the St. James's Palace Stakes.
70.
71.
72.
73.
Won the 2015 Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton Park. This was the horse that gave Lizzie Kelly her first Grade 1 victory. This horse is by an Ascot Gold Cup winner in Kayf Tara.
74.
Already a triple Group 1 winner including the Dewhurst Stakes, a race that has had many great champions like Frankel. Could well be one of the stars of the 2016 flat season.
75.
Comments:
Now retired but yet another outstanding filly formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien.
As of 6th November 2016 has notched up seven Group One victories including the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and most recently Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October on Champions Day.
As of August 2016, has notched up six Group One victories including the 1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and Goodwood's Nassau Stakes.
As of June 29th 2016, has five group ones including the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and Ireland's Pretty Polly Stakes.
As of June 15th 2016, achieved the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks.

76.
Without doubt, the Champion Sprinter of 2015. Highlights include the inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup and Newmarket's July Cup. Won Ascot's Group 1 sprint on 17th October 2015.
77.
78.
French horse whose victories include the Champion Stakes in 2011 and the Coronation Cup in 2014. Still competing as of 28th May 2015.
79.
As of 23rd May 2015, has just completed the 2000 Guineas double both at Newmarket and Curragh in the Republic of Ireland.
80.
81.
Famously won the Yorkshire Oaks in a close finish with the 2014 Epsom Oaks and King George winner Taghrooda.
82.
Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and more recently York's International Stakes on 20th August 2014.
83.
Phenomenal Japanese racehorse who won the Japanese Triple Crown. A perinnially unlucky horse being just beaten in the Arc and the Japan Cup. A world record over 3200 metres in 3:13!! Remember that the big 2 milers like the Melbourne Cup are run around 2:24.
84.
Champion racehorse who has won the Japan Cup twice, Triple Crown winner in Japan and won in the Dubai World Cup series.
85.
86.
Won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace and more recently, the Sussex Stakes on July 30th 2014.
87.
Won the 2014 Epsom Oaks and then Ascot's King George on Saturday 28th July trained by John Gosden.
88.
89.
91.
Shock 100-1 winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes, one of the major sprint races in the United Kingdom. Recently won the King's Stand at Ascot.
92.
Winner of the 2013 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Just won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot impressively.
93.
94.
Won the 2013 Prince Of Wales's Stakes as his biggest win to date. Could well be on the way to become a top class middle distance horse.
95.
96.
Winner of the 2011 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Also won the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks that same year.
97.
Three time winner of Goodwood's Nassau Stakes in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Trained I think by Henry Cecil.
98.
99.
Similar Top lists
Category | Ranked | Added by | |
---|---|---|---|
Best racehorses of all time | Sports | 8 items | Charles Olney |
Ski Resorts with the Highest Ski Slopes in Austria | Sports | 20 items | irina |
Best Players in the Major League Soccer (MLS) | Sports | 23 items | GuateGringo |
NBA Players with the Most Career Points | Sports | 21 items | samutsari |
Best Athletes of The 20th Century | Sports | 22 items | schriscoe |
ShareRanks is about ranking things that are top, most, greatest, or even worst in all categories.
Use arrows to rank one item in versus another.
Use arrows to rank one item in versus another.
Top 10 Best racehorses of the 21st century are especially marked