The Road to the Kentucky Derby is well underway, and the field for the 2024 race is beginning to take shape based on performances in the big prep races. Runners that turned three this year will be looking to make their mark in one of the world’s most famous races, and join the list of greats that have previously landing success in the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
However, horses involved in the race this year will need to reach an astronomically high level in order to be discussed among the greatest winners of the race in history. But, which horses rank among the most famous Kentucky Derby winners in history?
Secretariat
It would be hard to start anywhere other than one of the most famous American-trained racehorses in history. Secretariat continues to rank among the best horses to have appeared on track among fans, with Lucien Laurin training the runner to land victories in 16 of his 21 career starts. He is the horse that most contender jockeys in the Kentucky Derby future wager pool admire.
Overall, he picked up just over $1.3 million in prize money throughout his career, and he was the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years after landing a record-breaking success in the Belmont Stakes. The initial signs of his talent weren’t clear at the start, as he finished fourth on his debut as a two-year-old in 1972. However, he would bounce back from that defeat by landing seven wins in his next eight starts.
His dominance as a three-year-old has rarely been matched since, as Secretariat set time speed records in all three of the Triple Crown races. That includes his win over 1 ¼ miles in the Kentucky Derby, which means the quickest time that any horse has ever achieved victory.
Spectacular Bid
There have been few more breath-taking performances in Triple Crown races throughout history than the runs put in by Spectacular Bid. The superstar landed victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; both in 1979.
His speedy nature ensured that he was able to capture the imagination of fans, and that was evident after he set the world record for time to complete ten furlongs on the dirt. During his career, he also broke a number of long standing track records. His dominance on track was also clear throughout his career after winning 26 of his 30 starts, winning over $2.7 million in prize money. He also finished outside of the top three on one occasion throughout his career for trainer Bud Delp.
However, he wasn’t able to land the Triple Crown after finishing third in the Belmont Stakes, which still represented a stunning effort considering he competed with an injury.
Citation
Many still regard Citation to be the greatest racehorse in American history. It always appeared that the runner was set for big things after being closely related to Colorado, who landed victory in the G1 2,000 Guineas. Citation was extremely dominant throughout his career for trainer Ben Jones and Jimmy Jones, as he won 32 from his 45 career starts.
He also made history by becoming the first horse to break the $1 million barrier on track prize money. Such was his dominance, Citation landed victories in 16 consecutive stakes races. His performances on track also saw him named as the U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old in 1948. At the end of that calendar year, he was also named the U.S. Horse of the Year and the DRF Champion Male Handicap Horse.
Count Fleet
Count Fleet became the sixth Triple Crown winner when landing success by a record margin of 25 lengths in the Belmont Stakes in 1943. He was incredibly dominant throughout his career, having landed wins in 16 of his 21 career starts. His best racing year came when winning the Triple Crown, which included victories in the Wood Memorial and Withers Stakes.
His achievements that season saw him named the American Horse of the Year. He would later achieve huge success as a sire, with Kentucky Derby winner Count Turf and Belmont Stakes victory One Count among his most successful offspring. Throughout his career, he won over $250,000 in prize money.
Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew remains one of the most popular racehorses in history, becoming the tenth winner of the Triple Crown in 1977. His victory in the final leg of the sequence at Belmont Park saw him become the first horse to achieve victories in all three races while unbeaten.
However, that feat was emulated by Justify, who landed Triple Crown glory in 2018. Seattle Slew was named the Horse of the Year in 1977, and was named champion at ages two, three, and four. During his career, he landed victories in 14 of his 17 races, and won over $1.2 million in prize money. Seattle Slew also achieved great success as a sire, producing 1984 Derby winner Swale.