Whether it’s over hurdles or fences, the flat mile, or the five furlong sprint, racehorses have captured the hearts and minds of enthusiasts for hundreds of years. On the flat, we look for a steady, smooth travelling horse, which can cruise past opponents, exploding into a gallop to the post. On the national hunt circuit, the punter admires a strong traveller, a fluent jumper, and an animal that has the strength and stamina to power clear of rivals in the closing stages. So which horses made our all-time greatest lists? We have compiled a Top 3 Flat List, and a Top 3 National Hunt List based on a straw poll on TopBet, my Facebook racing page.
Here is our flat list compiled using the poll:
1st - Frankel
When I asked TopBet’s Facebook following to suggest a horse that epitomises the essence of flat racing, one name bounded clear, and that was Frankel. The Sir Henry Cecil trained colt became the highest rated racehorse the world has ever seen in May 2011, and stayed there until his retirement in 2012. Frankel was foaled in 2008, and began his racing career as a two-year-old in a one mile maiden at Newmarket, where, despite breaking slowly, he won by ½ a length from subsequent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Nathaniel. He went on to win 14 times unbeaten in a stellar career, including triumphs in the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes where he beat his sternest opponent in the form of Canford Cliffs. 2nd - Sea The Stars
Sea the Stars – The John Oxx trained Sea the Stars is one of the most iconic horses in racing history, having excelled beyond expectation after a debut defeat at the Curragh in 2008 as a two-year-old. After this day, Sea the Stars remained unbeaten, racking up multiple Group 1 success, including the illustrious treble of the Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas, and Eclipse Stakes. Although only on the track for two years, Sea the Stars sewed his name into the fabric of racing’s heart, and represents Ireland amply on this list. In 2009, he was sent to Paris where he once looked in trouble, boxed-in in a 19 runner field in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but he managed to get out and win eased down by two lengths. In doing so, he became the only horse to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Epsom Derby, and 2,000 Guineas in the same year. It is only a pity he hadn’t arrived two years later when Frankel came on the scene; that would have been the race of our lifetime.
3rd - Nijinsky
We have to return to the 60s and 70s for the horse filling our No.3 spot, and it comes in the shape of the Vincent O’Brien trained Nijinsky. In 1970, Nijinsky truly announced himself as one of the greats. He became the first horse in 45 years to win the English Triple Crown: The English 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and St. Leger. Since this triumph 43 years ago, no horse has replicated the achievement of Nijinsky, and he remains the only horse since World War II to win the Triple Crown. Nijinsky was a massive presence of a horse standing at 16.3 hands, and his other notable wins came in the Dewhurst, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Irish Derby. The Ballydoyle great Vincent O’Brien once said Nijinsky was the greatest horse he ever trained, and he trained some good ones in his time. As O’Brien said himself on that occasion, for “sheer brilliance”, he makes it onto our list too.
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National Hunt requires a completely different animal than the flat scene; arguably a stronger, more durable, enduring specimen, with not only the physical prowess to succeed, but a real will to get his head in front. Here are the horses that have made our Top 3 National Hunt horses:
1st - Arkle
In racing circles, the debate rages on as to who is the greatest ever; Nicholls’ Kauto Star, or Tom Dreaper’s Arkle. Arkle ran 35 times throughout his career, winning a total of 27 times, and he tops this list. He was foaled in 1957, and in a relatively short career, he managed to ravage fields of competitors at the highest level. A record that remains to this day, Arkle is the highest rated steeplechaser of all-time, and no modern horse has come close to passing him. He won three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups (1964, 1965, 1966), as well as a King George VI Chase, an Irish Grand National, and two Hennessy Gold Cups. His 65' and 66' wins in the race would send him into the stratosphere of the racing universe. He slammed Millhouse by 20 lengths in the 1965 Gold Cup, and bettered that again in '66 with a 30 length victory as the shortest priced favourite (1/10) in Gold Cup history. Famous racing commentator Peter O’Sullevan described Arkle as a “freak of nature”, and remarked we are unlikely to see his sort again. He was right, and it will take a super-specimen to knock him off his perch as the greatest.
2nd - Kauto Star
Like Frankel on the flat list, Kauto Star was a recurring horse in our National Hunt poll. The sheer endurance and consistency at the very highest level of the Paul Nicholls trained gelding saw him storm up our list, only to be denied by Arkle. He was foaled in the year 2000, and ran 41 times in a long, often eventful career until the age of 12 in 2012. Kauto Star began his career in France in 2003, but the 2004/05 season saw his move to England into the able hands of trainer, Paul Nicholls. Having won the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto had strong competition in 2008 with another Nicholls horse, Denman emerging as a major rival. Both horses excelled, but that year’s Gold Cup was destined for Denman’s connections. Proving his toughness, resilience, and winning spirit, Kauto Star returned in 2009 to re-oppose his stablemate Denman in a long awaited renewal of the Gold Cup. This time, Kauto Star powered clear up the Cheltenham hill, winning by 13 lengths from his great rival. He went on to resume a scintillating career, winning three more King George VI chases, and enjoying a further two successes in the Betfair Chase. He is certainly one of the finest racing specimens ever known.
3rd - Istabraq
Switching from fences to hurdles, Istabraq makes it onto our list at the expense of Best Mate; a three time Gold Cup winner. Istabraq was a rare venture into the National Hunt scene for predominantly flat trainer, Aiden O’Brien, and was foaled in May 1992. In Ireland, Istabraq is regarded as a national treasure, and the finest hurdler the country ever sent over the Irish Sea to tackle Cheltenham. Recent years has seen Willie Mullins’ Hurricane Fly emerge as a possible successor, but his poor performances in 2012 has seen his colours fade into the shadow of Istabraq. Istabraq won three consecutive champion hurdles at Cheltenham (1998, 1999, 2000). He competed in 29 hurdle races throughout his career, and he won 23 of these, placing 2nd on three further occasions. As well as this, he monopolised the Irish Champion Hurdle for four straight years (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). A better hurdler has yet to emerge anywhere in the world.
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