Historical, Horse Racing Heroes
In the field of horse racing, there are several race horses that are heroes that are known and loved throughout the United States. Race horses like Man O’War, Seabiscuit, Seattle Slew, Winning Colors and Spectacular Bid are a few of the famous names in horse racing history that are known and loved for their winning styles and persistent ambition to beat the rest.
Man O’War:
Famous race horses, such as this horse are still known after their death. Man O’War died at the age of 30 from a heart failure. Even 50 years later, almost everybody has heard the name of the horse that won 20 of 21 starts and was the leading money winner in America at the time of his retirement after a 3 year campaign in horse racing. He studded Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
Seabiscuit:
Race horses with a movie can hardly top Seabiscuit, who became the focus of the movie by his name. It took 15 horses to play Seabiscuit and capture the various traits of his personality. A best-selling book translated to the big screen is true to the story, with a few details left out. The general public who has never seen horse racing definitely got a taste of the real thing and the movie got rave reviews. Seabiscuit was a horse who beat the odds during the Depression, and was named the US Champion Handicap Male in 1937 & 1938, and the US Horse of the Year in 1938. He is listed as #25 in the Top 100 race horses of the 20th century.
Seattle Slew:
The only undefeated Triple Crown Winner gained him the name as Thoroughbred Racing’s Greatest Champion of race horses. His contribution to the sport through his marvelous rise and times of adversity where he would emerge stronger on a comeback, made the public fall in love with this horse racing champion. People who were around him called him one of the most intelligent race horses they were ever around and it was like interacting with a human. Seattle Slew was known for his personality that had fire, energy and extreme mental focus and the champion race horse that loved to have his picture taken and loved when children came to see him.
Winning Colors:
This horse racing hero was one of only three fillies to ever win the Kentucky Derby and was given the US Champion 3 year old Filly racing award in 1988. Voted for the 1988 Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3 year old Filly, this horse became hampered with health problems and was retired the following year. Winning Colors lived to be 23, and died in 2008, but her contribution as a female in a male’s world of horse racing, has made her a historical great, that became well known.
Spectacular Bid:
This champion race horse won 26 out of 30 horse races started, and took home almost 3 million dollars over his career, which was a then record sum. Making the cover of the Sports Illustrated Magazine, he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and won 4 Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Male horse of the year in consecutive years of 1978, 1979 and 1980.
By: Simon_Michael Skinner_, US Horse Racing
