Horse racing is known to be one of the most intense and demanding sports in the world, with the very best and most well-trained horses competing in a race, jumping huge fences and stampeding across huge distances. To win any race, the horse must be incredibly fit and strong, with lots of stamina needed to cover these distances in such a short period of time. The experts of casino slots at Boylesports have decided to look through some of the very best horses throughout the history of horse racing as we take into account how dominant the horse was and other factors that contributed to its greatness!
Frankel
Frankel was a British racehorse who was regarded as one of the most dominant horses of his time when he raced between 2010 and 2012. Trained by Sir Henry Cecil, this special horse was undefeated in 14 career starts, retiring with a perfect record! Throughout his incredibly impressive career, Frankel won races such as the 2000 Guineas in 2011, the Queen Anne Stakes in 2012 and the Champion Stakes in 2012, which was his final race.
Throughout his career, Frankel was able to win a whopping £2.9 million pounds worth of prize money, and his performances earned him a Timeform rating of 147, which is the highest rating ever awarded to a flat-running racehorse! What made Frankel stand out was not just his great temperament, but the horse had a unique ability to accelerate, making him a clear favourite for all races he competed in. After his racing career, Frankel became a successful sire, and his offspring have been successful on the track as well, continuing his legacy.
Red Rum
Known to be one of the most legendary British racehorses of all time, Red Rum was known to be a true great when it comes to National Hunt races. Being the only horse in history at the time of writing to have won the Grand National three times, Red Rum won the race in 1973, 1974 and 1977. His performance in the 1973 Grand National is especially memorable, as the horse was able to win by a record-breaking 25 lengths, showcasing his immense stamina and jumping ability! In the two years that Red Rum did not win the Grand National (1975 and 1976), the horse finished second, solidifying his status as one of the most consistent performers.
Winning 24 races in total throughout his career, Red Rum earned £300,00 in prize money, which was a significant sum in his era, and after retirement, Red Rum was kept at Aintree Racecourse as he was a symbol of the Grand National’s history. He passed away in 1995, and a statue of him stands at Aintree Racecourse as a tribute to his legacy!
Best Mate
Known for his remarkable success in National Hunt racing, especially in steeplechasing, Best Mate has built his reputation on his three consecutive victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In addition to his Gold Cup victories, Best Mate also won other prestigious races at the Cheltenham Festival, cementing his status as a real champion. He retired from racing undefeated at Cheltenham with a perfect record at the festival.
Over the span of his career, Best Mate won 14 of his 22 career races, with a total of £1,000,000 in prize money awarded to the horse. With a smooth jumping technique, stamina and determination, all these aspects and characteristics of Best Mate were key to his dominance in beating the competition.
Desert Orchid
Often affectionately known as ‘Dessie’, Desert Orchid is one of the most beloved, iconic and popular race horses throughout the history of National Hunt Racing. Famous for his versatility, boldness and thrilling performance, Desert Orchid is one of the most impressive horses in the history of the sport!
Desert Orchid had some incredibly famous wins, with the King George VI Chase being won three times by the horse and the Cheltenham Gold Cup being won in 1989, solidifying his status as one of the greatest jump horses of his era. What made this horse stand out from others was the versatility of the animal, as he competed successfully over a wide range of distances and on different types of ground, from two miles to three miles, on soft, heavy and good ground, which made him a true fan-favourite! With 34 wins in his 70 races, he retired in 1991, and a statue was erected in his honour at Kempton Park Racecourse, where he was known to have some of his finest moments.
