Famous Racehorses That Changed the Sport Forever

Legends of the Turf

Horse racing has produced some of the most extraordinary athletes the world has ever seen — not human athletes, but equine ones. These are the horses whose names transcend the sport, who drew crowds of hundreds of thousands, who made even non-racing people stop and watch. Their stories are woven into the fabric of sporting history, and their legacies endure long after their final race.

Here are ten racehorses that changed the sport forever.

Frankel (2008–)

Fourteen races. Fourteen wins. No horse in modern flat racing has matched Frankel's perfect record at the highest level. Trained by the late Sir Henry Cecil and ridden by Tom Quealy, Frankel was not just unbeaten — he was frequently untouchable, winning by margins that made world-class fields look ordinary. His demolition of the 2,000 Guineas field at Newmarket in 2011 remains one of the most jaw-dropping performances in racing history. Timeform rated him 147 — the highest figure ever assigned to a racehorse. He retired to stud in 2012 and has since become one of the most influential sires in the world.

Secretariat (1970–1989)

"Big Red" did not just win the 1973 Triple Crown — he annihilated it. His 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes remains the largest winning margin in the race's history, and his time of 2:24.00 for a mile and a half on dirt has never been beaten. Secretariat was a phenomenon: powerful, beautiful, and possessed of a heart that was literally twice the normal size. He became the first horse to appear on the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated in the same week. Half a century later, his Belmont performance is still considered the single greatest race ever run.

Red Rum (1965–1995)

No horse captures the romance of the Grand National like Red Rum. He won the race three times — in 1973, 1974, and 1977 — and finished second in 1975 and 1976. His first National victory, overhauling the seemingly unbeatable Crisp on the run-in, is one of the most famous finishes in sporting history. Trained on the sands of Southport beach by Ginger McCain, Red Rum became a national treasure, opening supermarkets and switching on Christmas lights long into retirement. He is buried at the winning post at Aintree.

Arkle (1957–1970)

In Ireland and beyond, Arkle is simply the greatest steeplechaser that ever lived. Between 1964 and 1966 he was so dominant that the Irish handicapper created a separate weight scale — "Arkle" and "all others." He won three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, a King George, and 27 of his 35 career starts. Trained by Tom Dreaper and ridden by Pat Taaffe, Arkle combined breathtaking jumping with remorseless galloping power. A fractured pedal bone at Kempton in 1966 ended his racing career, but his legend only grew. He remains the standard against which every jumps horse is measured.

Desert Orchid (1979–2006)

The grey who captured a nation's heart. Desert Orchid — "Dessie" to his legion of fans — won 34 of his 70 races, including the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup in conditions he famously disliked: heavy ground and a left-handed track. That victory, grinding up the hill through the Cheltenham mud, cemented his status as the people's champion. He was brave, front-running, and spectacular to watch, and his striking grey coat made him instantly recognisable. Long after retirement, crowds would queue for hours just to see him at public appearances.

Enable (2014–)

John Gosden's brilliant filly won two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes, a King George, an Oaks, and a Breeders' Cup Turf. Enable combined tactical versatility with devastating acceleration, and Frankie Dettori's emotional celebrations after each big-race victory became part of her story. Her attempt at a historic third Arc in 2020, when she was narrowly denied by Sottsass, was heartbreaking — but her legacy as one of the finest middle-distance fillies in history was already secure. She retired with 15 wins from 19 starts and earnings of over six million pounds.

Winx (2011–)

Australia's wonder mare won 33 consecutive races between 2015 and 2019 — a streak that may never be equalled. Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Hugh Bowman, Winx won 25 Group 1 races and earned over 26 million Australian dollars, making her the highest-earning racehorse in history at the time of her retirement. She was not just dominant; she was versatile, winning from 1200 metres to 2200 metres and carrying huge weights with contemptuous ease. In Australia, she became a cultural phenomenon — her final race at Randwick drew a crowd of over 40,000.

Black Caviar (2006–)

Unbeaten in 25 career starts, Black Caviar was the sprinting machine who never lost. The Australian mare won 15 Group 1 races, including a nail-biting Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012 — the only time she looked remotely vulnerable. Her jockey, Luke Nolen, eased up too soon, and she held on by a head. The nation collectively held its breath. She retired with her record intact, a perfect ambassador for Australian racing and proof that sprinters can capture the public imagination every bit as much as Classic winners.

Shergar (1978–1983)

Shergar's story is triumph and tragedy in equal measure. His ten-length victory in the 1981 Epsom Derby — the largest winning margin in the race's history — announced a horse of extraordinary talent. He followed it with the Irish Derby, the King George, and a dominant season that earned him the title of European Horse of the Year. But in 1983, Shergar was stolen from the Ballymany Stud in County Kildare by armed men, widely believed to be connected to the IRA. He was never recovered. The mystery of his disappearance has haunted racing for over four decades.

Kauto Star (2000–2015)

The horse who rewrote the Cheltenham Gold Cup record book. Kauto Star was the first horse to regain the Gold Cup, winning it in 2007 and 2009, and his rivalry with stablemate Denman — trained, like Kauto Star, by Paul Nicholls — defined an era of jump racing. He won five King George VI Chases at Kempton, a record that still stands. Kauto Star was bold, brilliant, and occasionally fallible, which only made the public love him more. His standing ovation at Kempton after his fifth King George is one of the most moving moments in National Hunt history.

Why These Stories Endure

The greatest racehorses are more than statistics. They are moments frozen in time — Secretariat pulling away at Belmont, Red Rum surging up the Aintree run-in, Frankel destroying the Guineas field. They are the reason people who have never placed a bet find themselves gripped by a horse race, the reason crowds roar and grown adults weep at the finishing post.

Our Racing collection captures that energy — the coiled power before the gates open, the blur of the final furlong, the electric moment when one horse separates from the pack. If these stories stirred something in you, browse the collection and find the piece that brings that feeling home.

For more on racing in art, read our guide to the Racing collection or explore Racing Art: Capturing the Thunder of the Racecourse.