1. Eclipse (1764 to 1789)
Eclipse remains one of the foundational names in thoroughbred racing. He won all 18 of his races and was so dominant that he helped shape the phrase “Eclipse first, the rest nowhere”. His influence extended far beyond the track, as he became one of the most important stallions in racing history. Even today, his name still sits at the root of countless pedigrees.
2. Ormonde (1883 to 1904)
Ormonde was unbeaten and completed the English Triple Crown in 1886. Trained by John Porter, he combined brilliance with toughness and did so despite suffering from breathing issues later in his career. His race record was exceptional, and he is still widely remembered as one of the outstanding horses of the nineteenth century.
3. St Simon (1881 to 1908)
Another unbeaten great, St Simon won all 10 of his races and later became a hugely important influence at stud. He was not only a top class racehorse but one of the most successful sires the sport has ever seen. His reputation rests on both his dominance on the track and his lasting impact on the breed.
4. Golden Miller (1927 to 1957)
Golden Miller was one of the greatest jumpers of all time and achieved something that still stands alone. In 1934 he won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season. He also won five consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, a remarkable feat that underlines just how far ahead of his rivals he was.
5. Arkle (1957 to 1970)
For many, Arkle is still the greatest National Hunt horse ever seen. He won three Cheltenham Gold Cups, an Irish Grand National under a huge weight burden and a host of other top class races. More than that, he did it with a style and authority that turned him into a benchmark for greatness. Even now, when a chaser looks exceptional, Arkle is the name people reach for.
6. Sea Bird (1962 to 1974)
Sea Bird’s 1965 season left an extraordinary impression on the sport. His Derby win at Epsom was exceptional, but it was his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory that truly cemented his legend. He did not have a long career, yet the quality of his peak performances was so high that he remains one of the most admired flat horses ever.
7. Mill Reef (1968 to 1986)
Trained by Ian Balding, Mill Reef was a brilliant colt who won the Derby, Eclipse, King George and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He brought together speed, class and versatility, and his rivalry with Brigadier Gerard still stands out as one of the great storylines of the era. Injury cut short what could have been an even greater career.
8. Brigadier Gerard (1968 to 1989)
Brigadier Gerard won 17 of his 18 starts and was one of the most popular horses of the modern era. His only defeat came in the 1972 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup, yet that single loss did little to dent his reputation. He beat top class opposition time and again and showed a rare combination of speed, stamina and consistency.
9. Nijinsky (1967 to 1992)
Nijinsky’s place in history is secure because he became the last horse to win the English Triple Crown in 1970. Trained by Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Lester Piggott, he was brilliant as a juvenile and then went on to dominate the classics at three. The fact that no horse has completed that same treble since only adds to his aura.
10. Desert Orchid (1979 to 2006)
Desert Orchid may have been a great racehorse, but he was also something more than that to the public. “Dessie” became a genuine national favourite thanks to his attacking style, his grey coat and his famous front running performances. His 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup win in desperate conditions remains one of the most cherished moments in jumps racing.
11. Best Mate (1995 to 2012)
Best Mate brought a new generation of fans their own Cheltenham hero. He won three straight Cheltenham Gold Cups from 2002 to 2004 and did so with a calm, effortless style that made top class staying chases look simple. He was not flashy in the Desert Orchid mould, but he was a wonderfully efficient champion.
12. Kauto Star (2000 to 2015)
Kauto Star did what many believed could not be done by regaining the Cheltenham Gold Cup after already losing it. He won the race in 2007 and again in 2009, and alongside multiple King George victories he built one of the greatest resumes in modern jumps racing. His versatility and longevity made him a truly outstanding chaser.
13. Sea The Stars (2006 to 2019)
Sea The Stars put together one of the finest three year old campaigns the flat has ever seen. In 2009 he won the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse, International, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It was a run of elite victories across different tracks and distances that marked him out as a truly special horse.
14. Frankel (2008 to 2021)
Frankel is one of the easiest modern additions to any list of great racehorses. Unbeaten in 14 starts, he combined devastating speed with an ability to sustain it against the highest level of opposition. His performances in the 2000 Guineas, Sussex Stakes, Queen Anne and Champion Stakes were breathtaking. For many racing fans, he is the modern standard bearer for flat racing greatness.
15. Enable (2014 to 2023)
Enable deserves a place in any expanded celebration of great racehorses. She won two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes, multiple King Georges and became one of the most admired fillies of the modern era. Her brilliance was matched by her durability, and she kept returning year after year at the highest level.
16. Red Rum (1965 to 1995)
No list of famous racehorses ever feels complete without Red Rum. He won the Grand National three times and finished second twice, a record that remains extraordinary given the unique demands of that race. More than that, he became a household name and helped define the Grand National for generations of sporting fans.
