Famous American Racehorses Quiz
This son of Native Dancer was the only Kentucky Derby winner to have been disqualified:
- Dancer's Image was found to have an anti-inflammatory is his blood after winning the Derby. Northen Dancer, grandson of Native Dancer, set a track record only bested by Secretariat. Native Dancer himself never won the Derby, it was his only loss.
This Triple Crown winner arguably had his most spectacular race in the Belmont Stakes. "Moving like a tremendous machine" he won the race by 31 lengths (340 feet or 1/16 mile) and set a new world record—2:24 minutes— for the 1 1/2 mile distance.
Which father-son pair of horses each won the Triple Crown?
- Man O' War did not run in the Kentucky Derby, though he did go on to win the Preakness and Belmont. Bold Ruler won the Kentucky Derby, but not the Preakness and Belmont.
This horse, known as "Big Red," won 20 out of his 21 races but was retired after his three-year-old season because his owner feared how much weight the Jockey Club handicapper would put on him.
- The great Man O' War (1917-1947) ran in 21 starts, with 20 wins and a second place. He broke eight records—three world records, two American records, and three track records—most by several seconds. As a three-year-old he carried as much as 138 pounds, conceding up to 30 pounds to his competitors. Owner Samuel Riddle decided to retire Big Red after the Jockey Club handicapper stated that he would put more weight on him than any horse had ever carried as a four-year-old. Incidentally, Secretariat also ran 21 races, retired after his three-year-old season, and was known as Big Red.
Who was last Triple Crown winner?
- Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. Seattle Slew, who won it in 1977 was the last living Triple Crown winner until his death in May 2002.
This gelding—who started as a small, ugly, and foul-tempered colt—was bought at an auction for a mere $1,100. He went on to have one of the longest and most lucrative careers in racing history and won seven Eclipse Awards.
- John Henry was named after the legendary steel-driving man because of his habit of stomping buckets flat. Although his career had a poor start, winning one in ten races as a two-year-old, he got better as he got older. When he retired at age ten (1989) he had started in 89 races and won 39, won nearly $6.5 million in prize money (making him the leading money winner at the time), and won seven Eclipse Awards. John Henry is still the richest gelding and was named Racehorse of the Decade for the 1980s. He resides at Kentucky Horse Park with fellow-champion Cigar.Kelso boasted 39 wins in 63 starts and won almost $2 million. He was named Horse of the Year 5 times. Forego won 34 of 57 races and garnered eight Eclipse Awards.
This grandson of Seattle Slew retired as the leading money winner of all-time and holds a joint North American record with Citation for the longest winning streak:
- In his three-year career (1993-1996) Cigar won over $9,999,000 and won 16 races straight.
This Depression-era champion defeated a Triple Crown winner in a memorable match race and is the subject of a recent bestseller.
- Seabiscuit defeated Triple Crown winner War Admiral on November 1, 1938, in what is still considered one of the greatest horse races ever run.
The winner of the Belmont Stakes receives a Tiffany silver bowl supported by three horses: Eclipse, Herod, and Matchem. They are:
- The thoroughbred breed was developed in England. Today nearly all thoroughbreds trace their lineage back to these three 18th-century racehorses.
These two colts and their rivalry dominated their three-year-old season. They ran against each other in ten races. Only three other horses ran against them in the Kentucky Derby, and only two in the Travers Stake.
- In 1978 Affirmed won the Triple Crown while rival Alydar took second in each race. In their last meeting in Saratoga's Travers Stakes Alydar won and Affirmed ran second. While Affirmed had a longer racing career Alydar proved the better at stud.Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure and the champion filly Ruffian met in a wildy anticipated match race on July 6, 1975. Tragically, Ruffian broke down in the race. It was the last match race held at a major Thoroughbred track.
