Looking for some famous racehorse names to help inspire you in naming your own steed?
We’ve got you covered!
Below are some of the most memorable stallions and mares in racehorse history, along with their stats and other fascinating facts.
Let’s check them out!
31 INCREDIBLE FAMOUS RACEHORSE NAMES
- Secretariat – this was the name of the first horse to ever win the Triple Crown horse racing event. Later in his career, he went on to win five Eclipse awards, one of which was Horse of the Year when he was 2 and 3 years old.
- Red Rum – he was the winner of the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. Even in the intervening years (1975 and 1976), he was the runner-up.
- Native Dancer – When he was 2 and 3 years, he won 21 out of 22 races.
- Man o’ War – he won 9 out of 10 races that he competed in when he was just a juvenile.
- Seattle Slew – recognized as the only horse to ever win the Triple Crown event with an unbeaten record.
- Kelso – famous for being crowned Horse of the Year for 5 consecutive years. He also holds the fourth position in the “top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th century.
- Justify – he was the 13th horse to win the Kentucky Stakes. He followed this with another win, the Preakness Stakes, just 2 weeks later.
- Flying Fox – not only did he win the 1899 English Triple Crown, but he also held the title of the leading sire in France thrice.
- Seabiscuit – purchased for just $8,000, he had won 5 races and finished in second position by the time he was 2 years old.
- American Pharaoh – he became the first winner to win the Triple Crown event after 37 years.
- Zenyatta – often recognized as the uncontested queen of racing, Zenyatta was the first mare to rank first in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
- Alydar – he is most prominent for being the runner-up in all three races of the 1978 Triple Crown.
- Dr. Fager – he is recognized as the only horse to have four honors: Horse of the Year, champion turf male, champion sprinter and champion older male.
- Winx – the first horse ever to be crowned winner of the esteemed Cox Plate four times. He also won the title of Australian Horse of the Year four times, back-to-back.
- Smarty Jones – one of the most successful race horses from Pennsylvania, he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2004.
- Affirmed – he was the 11th race horse to win the Triple Crown. Throughout his career, he won 22 of the 29 races he had under his belt.
- Count Fleet – he was the 6th winner of the American Triple Crown.
- Black Caviar – he is most famous for his winning streak, remaining undefeated in 25 racing events. This record includes winning Group One races 15 times.
- Spectacular Bid – he fell short of the 1979 Triple Crown, by winning two of the races: the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
- Holy Bull – he was crowned the American Horse of the Year in 1994 after winning in major races, such as Florida Derby, Metropolitan Handicap, Blue Grass Stakes and Woodward Stakes.
Check: 400+ Famous TV Horse Names
- Sunday Silence – he also won two of the Triple Crown races, that is, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (1989).
- Effinex – in his career, he won 8 of the 28 racing events that he participated in, earning $3,312,950. This helped him rank fourth among the most prominent of New York-bred horse earners.
- First Dude – he won several races including the Alysheba Stakes and Hollywood Gold Cup in 2011, and the American Classic Race placing: Preakness Stakes of 2010.
- Big Brown – he has crowned the champion 3-year-old colt of 2008 after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in that same year. Check out other chestnut mare names.
- Buchanan – he is one of Australia’s most prominent horses. He is most recognized for winning the 1884 Kentucky Derby, Ripple Stakes, and Clark Stakes.
- Twenty Grand – this name has a really nice ring to it. It refers to the Twenty Grand horse, which won the 1939 Kentucky Derby in record-breaking time.
- Whirlaway – he won the U.S. Triple Crown of 1941 and the Travers Stakes. Thanks to these wins, he remains to be the only mount that was crowned the Superfecta title; this is given to horses that manage to win at least 4 wins in a season.
- Wintergreen – he is the only horse bred in Ohio that went on to win a Kentucky Derby (1909).
- Stone Street – he is most famous for winning the Kentucky Derby in 1908
- Canonero II– he was bred in Kentucky but trained in Venezuela, he went on to win the Kentucky Derby of 1971. He also won the Preakness Stakes in that same year.
- Sir Barton – he was the first horse to ever win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, earning him the title Triple Crown winner.
While it’s fine to use these ideas for a horse that you don’t plan to race or show, keep in mind that racehorse names are registered.
So, you’ll need to come up with your own if you plan to actually race one. Check out these 100 unique horse names for some inspiration.
Also, don’t forget to check why do racehorses have weird names.
Check: 100 Names for a Fast Horse
If you’re interested in learning about royal horse names, you might also enjoy exploring the history and symbolism behind various coat colors and markings found in different horse breeds.
What are your favorite famous racehorse names? share with us below!
Salome Njeri has established a successful career offering ghostwriting, copywriting, and blogging services. Her passion is to create meaningful and detailed content that not only educates, but also entertains.
Before she started writing, she got a graduate degree in Economics and Statistics from Kenyatta University, Kenya. After that, she did a couple of clerical jobs just to make ends meet. She now works as a full-time freelance writer.
When she’s not on her computer or tending to her new baby, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen trying out a new recipe.
