Top 10 Best Female Race Horses of All Time
What makes a truly great female racehorse? Is it sheer speed, heart, or the ability to win in the face of adversity?Some of the most remarkable racehorses in history have been mares who went on to break records, defy expectations, and capture the hearts of fans worldwide. Female racehorses have shown time and again that they can outshine their male counterparts on the track and inspire just as much awe and admiration. The mares on this list have pushed the limits of endurance, strategy, and athleticism, and their names have become iconic in the racing world.
Where do I start? The most perfect horse to ever walk the Earth. I used to think she wasn't the best until I saw that no other horse could go past her, not even in training.
A great example of how horses are more intelligent than we think. God is perfect, but chose to put some of that PERFECTION into a 3-year-old black filly.
There has never been another like this dark beauty. She could run 1 1/2 miles at a sprinter's pace, and her jockey had to try his hardest to hold her back. Zenyatta? Rachel? None of these newer fillies could have caught her or even kept up with her.
Look up the mare called Imp. She resembled Ruffian and had an incredible racing schedule. Ruffian is by far the greatest we have ever seen or will ever see. Unfortunately, her sire's line was known for having fragile bones, and she ran so fast, plus she was HUGE. Just imagine what she could have achieved in her later years as a racer. She came from a broodmare of the year, Shenanigans, and her half-sister Laughter was also an exceptional broodmare.
Horse racing changed forever when we lost Ruffian. Never, NEVER forget what Lucien Laurin (Secretariat's trainer) said about Ruffian. He never said that about another horse.
I met her son, Cozmic One! Her racing tactics were like nothing I have ever seen - starting last and finishing first. Her last race was one of the most disappointing moments in racing history.
I like Ruffian as well as Zenyatta, but Zenyatta had more time to prove herself against the boys than Ruffian did. We'll never truly know how good Ruffian could have been, but we do know how great Zenyatta was.
The only defeat she ever suffered was in her second Breeders' Cup when she lost by a head to Blame.
I would have loved to have seen her come-from-behind wins. She is so gorgeous, and I love watching her dance videos. Amazing personality - hope to visit her soon.
This is my girl! When she stumbled out of the gates in the Belmont and still beat Curlin, the horse of the year, I just loved it. I screamed with such joy. A girl beat Curlin!
And who is Rags to Riches' granddaddy? None other than Secretariat. Need I say more? She should have been horse of the year in my book. I think she is just wonderful. Love her!
The win against Curlin was the most exciting race I've witnessed. She was so much smaller but just powered through it for the win. What spirit. Amazing heart.
Rachel won the Kentucky Oaks by about 20 lengths. She beat the boys in the Preakness and again later in the year at Saratoga! As good as Zenyatta is as a West Coast horse, she has NEVER WON A MAJOR!
She is my third favorite after Zenyatta and Black Caviar. I know a little more about her.
Ran away from the great Zenyatta!
Small in stature but not in speed or heart. This little "Iron Lady" was truly Daddy's little girl! Rachel Alexandra is my number two.
One of the three filly winners of the Triple Crown races. She was the last to win the Kentucky Derby.
Winning Colors won the Kentucky Derby, not the Triple Crown.
If she won the Filly Triple Crown, she has Winning Colors!
Congrats to this lady for her 25 wins. The second-longest unbeaten racing record in history, behind Kincsem. I had wanted her model horse for a long time, and I am so happy I have it now.
Black Caviar should easily be at the top of this list. I rate Zenyatta, but Black Caviar was undefeated in all 25 races, with 14 of them being Group 1s. She even went to Ascot to prove herself against the world's best, got injured mid-race, and still won. #undefeated
Black Caviar deserves a higher placing. She NEVER lost a race in her career and should be number two behind Winx. She is not overrated compared to Frankel. In my opinion, she is simply the better racehorse.
The Newcomers
If she hadn't died at age 2, Landaluce would have been the greatest filly ever.
Sceptre deserves to be on this list and well into the top 10. She was a legendary mare, the winner of not one, not two, but FOUR British Classics (2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas, Oaks, and St Leger). She even finished fourth in the Derby despite being left at the start - a feat which would be unheard of nowadays.
I respect that all of these American horses in the top 10 were very special, but Sceptre is something else. The only horse to win four Classics outright, Sceptre also proved that she could hold her own against the opposite sex multiple times with wins in the St James' Palace Stakes, the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Champion Stakes as a four-year-old.
I was really surprised that this brilliant mare wasn't on this list, as she truly is one of the best in history. To win the number of races that she did in such a short space of time is the definition of courage. It is likely that we will never see a horse win four Classics ever again.
I'm 46 years old, and Winx is the second-best horse I have ever seen race worldwide.
Frankel is by far the best racehorse I've ever seen globally. Phar Lap is the greatest horse in Australian history, carrying up to 68.5 kilos to win.
Secretariat is the best racehorse EVER, winning the 1973 Belmont Stakes by nearly 70 meters and running 1:09 for the first six furlongs in that race. Wow. The time of 1:59.2 will never be broken in a thousand years.
I suggest watching the videos of the horses above. It's truly a massive rush to witness these equine champions of the racetrack.
My favorite racehorse! I don't think we will ever see such impressive winnings again. Also, her being a horse from Hungary, one of my favorite countries, is just an added reason why I love her.
She won 54 races out of 54 in 5 different countries, including England, France, and Germany. Newspapers were edged with black when she died, and parks and museums were named after her - all screaming greatness.
Though from many years ago, she must have been something. Look at how many races she had and didn't lose! A true iron horse.
Amazing! I have a horse model just like her!
A true staying champion, winning three successive Melbourne Cups (3200 meters / 2 miles). A record that has not been equaled in 157 years of the race's history. She beat all comers, including several European and Japanese Group One winners.
She should be rated much higher on those performances alone.
"The race that stops the nation." Makybe Diva won the 2-mile Melbourne Cup three times in a row - an absolute ICON.
The Melbourne Cup (Australia) attracts horses and jockeys from around the world to compete in this race on the first Tuesday of November every year.
My dad pointed out a horse statue when we visited the Kentucky Derby. I didn't realize he was actually pointing to Eight Belles's grave. She really showed us that second place doesn't always have to be a vain victory.
Eight Belles was the most wonderful female racehorse. Only a few have run in the Kentucky Derby, and she managed to beat most of the boys and come in second!
Love, love, love this sweet girl! She did not deserve the fate she got.
LOOK at Imp's schedule. She was the Ruffian of the early days. Look how much she resembles her. There's no way, just like Ruffian, that Zenyatta or Rachel would have kept up with her. Never.
She was an incredible horse, and in those days, they didn't have the fancy care they do for horses now. Ruffian/Imp #1.
Great little filly/mare owned by my great-great-grandfather, "Uncle" Dan Harness.
Sunline is probably one of the best horses in the world. I'd say she would be number four on this list, behind Winx, Black Caviar, and Makybe Diva.
Small in stature but wickedly fast with a great turn of foot. She won Grade-1 races everywhere.
Amazing filly - she has always been one of my favorites!
Come on! Back to back in the Breeders' Cup!
I believe Secretariat is immortal as the dictionary defines the word: exempt from oblivion. Imperishable. Immortal fame.
Somethingroyal and Bold Ruler created the most amazing horse. There will never be another.
Her race hit me hard. She should have NEVER gone out like that. She injured her leg next to Ruffian's grave (another unbeatable female racehorse who died on the same track from the same cause: broken legs).
Go For Wand had almost completed the entire race when her leg finally gave out, and she fell on the last stretch to the finish line. A disgusting tragedy. I just know that Ruffian's spirit helped Go For Wand's spirit reach the afterlife that day.
At her best, she was among the very best female racehorses.