The unforgettable icons of horse racing

20^th January 2021

The editorial unit

The editorial unit

20 January 2021

Over the years, this long-running sport of horse racing has provided spectators and fans with some seriously good entertainment, such as the excitement of Cheltenham opening day. From triumphant victories to prestigious finishes, many events have gone down in cultural history. Here is a look at some of time’s most unforgettable racing achievements, in the hope that normal racing resume soon.

Secretariat

Any list of the greatest horses or horse racing achievements in history would be wrong not to include this fine thoroughbred. Secretariat remains one of horses in the sport. His time at the Belmont Stakes in 1973 sent him 31 furlongs ahead of his competitors, and this form allowed him to complete the Preakness Stakes race in one minute and 53 seconds. Yes, that means this majestic beast managed to run more than a mile in under two minutes! Unsurprisingly, this truly unique specimen went on to win the Triple Crown in the same year. Whilst he had a long and illustrious career, his performance at the Triple Crown undoubtedly cemented his status as a legend in the sport. Even the most experienced racing fiends would not have been able to predict his excellence in 1973.

Red Rum

Horse racing lends itself perfectly to those who like to speculate, but the horses on this list managed to surprise everyone. Red Rum is no exception: he was able to distinguish himself as one of the greatest horses of all time with his performance throughout the 70s. During the decade he bagged himself an astonishing three Grand National wins – something that has yet to be rivalled. Whilst some have come close, and the current champion Tiger Roll may well go on to rival this legendary great, Red Rum really was one of a kind. His wins brought a cultural wave of popularity to the sport of horse racing and facilitated the fashion, especially in Britain, of having a punt on the National. He would go on to feature in the BBC Sports Personality and in the Blackpool illuminations: a cultural icon and a master of the steeplechase.

All Along

Even experts would have struggled to even consider this horse a potential winner, but All Along pulled off one of the biggest outsider upsets in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1983. This French filly won the race at a phenomenal 17-1, setting off a tirade of epic wins, including victories in both Canada and America. Such amazing transatlantic form is rarely seen, particularly in such a small period of time. Indeed, within six weeks she managed to secure four wins in the days when this kind of consistent success was less common. This remarkable horse’s achievements led her to top the Horse of the Year Honours, and break some barriers surrounding European and American racing both being winnable. Her legacy opened up the already huge racing market even further in the decades that followed.

The editorial unit