A Century of the Best Thoroughbreds

Who were the greatest male and female horses, by decade, of the past 100 years? An impossible question, I know, but after weeks of research, and plenty of heart-wrenching decisions, I’m ready to take a stab it. For clarification, horses that raced in two different decades were placed in the decade of their most dominant season. The following lists include American based horses only, and are strictly for entertainment purposes.

The Males

1910’s  1) Sir Barton  2) Old Rosebud  3) Roamer

1920’s  1) Man O’ War  2) Exterminator  3) Grey Lag

1930’s  1) Equipoise  2) Discovery  3) War Admiral 

1940’s  1) Citation  2) Count Fleet  3) Whirlaway

1950’s  1) Native Dancer  2) Swaps  3) Tom Fool

1960’s  1) Dr. Fager  2) Kelso  3) Damascus

1970’s  1) Secretariat  2) Forego  3) Seattle Slew

1980’s  1) Spectacular Bid  2) John Henry  3) Sunday Silence

1990’s  1) Cigar  2) Holy Bull  3) Skip Away  

2000’s  1) Ghostzapper  2) Invasor  3) Curlin

The Females

1910’s  1) Regret  2) Pan Zareta  3) Milkmaid

1920’s  1) Princess Doreen  2) Black Maria  3) Cleopatra

1930’s  1) Top Flight  2) Myrtlewood  3) Black Helen

1940’s  1) Gallorette  2) Twilight Tear  3) Busher 

1950’s  1) Two Lea  2) Real Delight  3) Silver Spoon

1960’s  1) Gallant Bloom  2) Cicada  3) Gamely

1970’s  1) Ruffian  2) Desert Vixen  3) Ta Wee

1980’s  1) Lady’s Secret  2) Personal Ensign  3) Genuine Risk

1990’s  1) Go For Wand  2) Bayakoa  3) Inside Information

2000’s  1) Zenyatta  2) Rachel Alexandra  3) Azeri