Here’s the scene: It’s the 1913 Kentucky Derby. Donerail saunters to the starting gate. 91-1 odds. Nobody gives him a second glance. Total afterthought among the big boys.
The beginning of the race doesn’t change much. The favorite, Ten Point, leads into the stretch. The crowd roars. Ten Point’s bettors are already high-fiving (or celebrating however was appropriate in the Woodrow Wilson era).
It’s all going as planned.
But then – a flash of movement on the outside.
Donerail the disrespected afterthought comes charging from behind. People can’t believe what they are seeing.
He does the unthinkable and hits the wire first. Stunned silence falls over Churchill Downs. For a moment, nobody believes what they saw.
Then chaos erupts.
The longest shot in Derby history had just won. $185 for a $2 bet. Dreams realized for Donerail’s owners and rider, fortunes made (at least for a bold few), and racing lore forever changed.
In two minutes, Donerail proved why they ran the race.
On Derby Day, anything can happen.
Yet Donerail — legendary as he was — isn’t even on the long list for best Derby horses. That’s how magical the performances have been at Churchill Downs over its long and storied history.
With this being the 151st year of the Kentucky Derby, I figured it’s a good time to look back at some of the best horses to ever grace the track at Churchill Downs — the greatest Kentucky Derby winners.
Before I get into my list, let’s talk about how I picked these famous Derby horses. It’s not just about who won the fastest. I looked at their whole career, how they changed the sport, their impact on breeding, and those moments that stick with you long after the race was run.
My Criteria for Selection
If you want to determine the “best” Kentucky Derby horses, you need a framework or methodology. In compiling this list, I thought about several factors:
- Their Derby Performance. This is the most strongly weighted category in the methodology. Did the champion horse set or break records?
- Their Career Achievements. Was the horse a Triple Crown’er? Did it win other notable races?
- Their Historical Impact. How much impact did the horse have on culture and sport history?
- Their Legacy. Has the horse had descendants who were successful?
- Their Unforgettable Moments. Did the horse thrill the crowd and/or overcome significant odds like Donerail.
Considering these criteria, here is my (not purely scientific but well-informed) view of the top 5.
Who is the Best Kentucky Derby Horse of All Time?
This is a topic of lots of debate among racing aficionados. However, it’s not exactly “LeBron or Jordan,” because it’s not really that close. The horse that consistently tops most lists is the legendary Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby in record-breaking fashion.
Now, let’s explore the FULL cream of the crop: The very best past Kentucky Derby winners. These horses didn’t just cross the finish line first; they smashed expectations and made themselves into names to remember many decades hence.
- Secretariat, 1973 Winner
When it comes to past Kentucky Derby winners, Secretariat is the first and final word. He’s the best horse to win the Kentucky Derby, full stop. I’m hardly alone in making this call. His 1973 win was truly singular. He started dead last (to the shock of all), then ran so fast he left the crowd gasping.
The clock stopped at 1:59 2/5. That’s a record that’s still standing today, nearly half a century later.
But Secretariat wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. He went on to win the Triple Crown and improved along the way. This includes an insanely dominant 31-length win in the Belmont. Even a casual fan would get goosebumps thinking about it.
Fifty years later Secretariat’s lineage remains powerful. He can be seen in the bloodlines of top horses. Best Derby horse, no question.
- Citation, 1948 Winner
Citation is one of the few horses who can hang with Big Red. His ’48 Derby win had the crowd in awe. Jockey Eddie Arcaro rode a perfect race, hanging back and making a late charge to win the race.
Yet Citation’s argument for number two is really based on what he did after the Derby. Sixteen wins in a row, first and foremost. He was also the first horse to earn a million dollars. In today’s money, that’s… well, don’t ask me to do the calculations, but it’s A LOT.
Like Big Red, Citation’s bloodlines are strong. His descendants are out there winning races, keeping his legacy alive, nearly 80 years after he wrote his own name into history.
- Seattle Slew, 1977 Winner
Seattle Slew has a distinction that not even the great Secretariat can match: He was the first undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown, an achievement that has only occurred twice in 150 years.
His Derby was not auspicious at first. He struggled early and had to draw on his inner resources to recover. But great horses find a way to win, and Slew did exactly that.
Slew’s versatility was his key to greatness. He could run in any style: Set the pace or come from behind. Fast start or slow, he managed to end up getting his nose across the finish line first.
Seattle Slew’s influence continued long after his racing days ended. His bloodline is notable and still producing champions as we speak.
- Affirmed, 1978 Winner
Affirmed’s Derby win was great, but it’s what came after that cemented his name among the greats. His rivalry with Alydar captivated everyone, even the casuals.
These two horses went nose-to-nose in all three Triple Crown races. Each one was closer than the last. They went seven furlongs, neck and neck, during the Belmont. Horse watchers had never seen anything like it before — or since. The rivalry was heavily featured in the media and became a national obsession of sorts.
Affirmed didn’t stop after the Triple Crown. He came back at four-years-old and had another monster racing season. That gave him one of the greatest two-year stretches ever.
- Spectacular Bid, 1979 Winner
The “Bid” may be last on the list, but it’s hard to call him least. His 1979 Derby win was…spectacular is the only way to put it.
The Bid started with a disadvantaged position along the outside post. Yet it didn’t matter. He and jockey Ronnie Franklin rode their way to glory and made it look pretty effortless.
Which was normal, as the Bid often made good horses – actually elite horses – look very average. He just had another gear he could draw on to blow by the competition.
He missed out on the Triple Crown (stepped on a safety pin, shockingly – one of the craziest injuries in racing history), but like Affirmed his four-year-old season was phenomenal. He was a major winner and major earner who retired with the highest career earnings ever recorded at the time.
Honorable Mentions
I can’t finish without acknowledging a few more legends.
- Whirlaway. Winner in 1941 and a Triple Crown’er, his closing kick unmatched.
- Northern Dancer. Won in 1964 and was a champion breeder.
- Genuine Risk. Showed fans (and the colts) that fillies can run with the best of them after a stellar 1980 performance.
- American Pharoah. Famous for stopping a decades-long Triple Crown drought in 2015. Made modern fans believe in the magic of racing again.
Final Thoughts
The Derby isn’t just a horse race – Churchill Downs is where legends are forged. These horses I’ve talked about set the bar and became what future horses are measured against.
As we look ahead to the 151st running, I can’t help but wonder: Will we see another dominant win like Big Red? Another classy horse like Citation, with amazing technical chops? Another Triple Crown winner? Another Affirmed going head-to-head vs. another Alydar?
Who knows? That’s the beauty of the Derby.
Anything can happen –Just ask Donerail!
So, here’s to the next century of Derby history.
May it be as thrilling as the first 150 years.
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A journalist and avid horse racing fan, Chris' love of these majestic equine athletes was sparked at any early age. He attended his first Kentucky Derby in 2003, where he watched longshot Funny Cide shock the crowd and gallop into greatness by nipping highly favored Empire Maker by a length. Sadly, he didn’t have Funny Cide on his betting slip, but the experience helped forge a long-time passion for the sport.