Question: What was the greatest racehorse of all time?

List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses





The list of leading Thoroughbred racehorses contains the names of undefeated racehorses and other horses that had an outstanding race record in specific categories. Note though that many champions do not appear on the list as an unexpected defeat may be caused by many factors such as injury, illness, going, racing tactics and differences in weight carried, the latter being particularly significant in North America and Australia where handicaps are common even at the highest level of racing.
It is common to compare racehorses on multiple factors such as their overall race record, the quality of the horses they beat and the brilliance of their wins. Comparison of raw times is generally unreliable between horses of different eras or even in different countries due to a variety of factors such as the racing surface and the pace at which the race is run. Timeform ratings, introduced in 1948,[1] and Beyer Speed Figures, introduced in the United States in 1992, are relatively recent attempts to compensate for such variables.[2] Thoroughbred Winning Brew holds the Guinness world record for the fastest speed for a Thoroughbred racehorse, at 70.76km/h (43.97mph) over two furlongs,[3] although Quarter Horses attain higher speeds over shorter distances than Thoroughbreds.[4] Looking at average speeds for longer distances may be misleading as many races are run with a slow initial pace followed by a sprint in the stretch drive.
The two main forms of Thoroughbred horseracing are flat racing and hurdle or steeplechase (jumping) races over obstacles. Jumpers tend to be older than their flat racing counterparts[5] and can have much longer careers, making it possible to earn a large number of wins. For example, champion hurdler Hurricane Fly holds the world record for winning 22 Grade One races over his ten-year career.[6]
Most race horses and race winners are male horses (either intact males or geldings). While male and female horses do not exhibit sexual dimorphism as obviously as human athletes, male horses are considered more aggressive racers and generally have a significant competitive advantage. At the highest level of racing though, intact males have great economic value at stud, so they are often retired after only a few years of racing. In part because they may have longer racing careers, some of the most winning racehorses of all time are females, including Kincsem, Black Caviar, Winx and Zenyatta.[7][8]
Undefeated horses
Below is a list of Thoroughbred racehorses with an undefeated race record. The list is not comprehensive for otherwise unnotable horses with five or fewer starts.




























































































































































































































Wins
Horse
Bred
Details
Foaled
Pedigree and notes54KincsemHungarych m1874Cambuscan (GB) x Water Nymph by Cotswold[9]25Black CaviarAustraliabr m2006Bel Esprit x Helsinge by Desert Sun (GB)[10]19Peppers PrideUnited StatesB.f.2003Desert God x Lady Pepper by Chili Pepper Pie[11]18EclipseGreat BritainCh.c.1764Marske x Spilletta by Regulus[12][13][14]18KarayelTurkeyB.h.1970Prince Tudor (GB) x Linda (TUR) by Cihangir (GB). Triple Crown winner.[15]16OrmondeGreat BritainB.c.1883Bend Or x Lily Agnes by Macaroni. Triple Crown winner.[16][17]16PrestigeFranceb c1903Le Pompon x Orgueilleuse by Révérand[18]16RibotGreat BritainB.c.1952Tenerani (ITY) x Romanella (ITY) by El Greco[19]15ColinUnited StatesBr.c.1905Commando x Pastorella (GB) by Springfield[20]15MaconArgentinaB.c.1922Sandal (GB) x Bourgogne by Your Majesty[21][22]14FrankelGreat BritainB.c.2008Galileo x Kind by Danehill[23]14HighflyerGreat BritainB.c.1774Herod x Rachel by Blank[24]14NearcoItalyBr.c.1935Pharos (GB) x Nogara by Havresac II(FR)13BarcaldineGreat BritainB.c.1878Solon x Ballyroe by Belladrum13Personal EnsignUnited StatesB.f.1984Private Account x Grecian Banner by Hoist The Flag[25]13TremontUnited StatesB.c.1884Virgil x Ann Fief by Alarm12AsteroidUnited StatesB.c.1861Lexington x Nebula by Glencoe (GB)[26]12BraqueItalyB.h.1954Antonio Canale x Buonamica by Niccolò dell'Arca[27]12CrucifixGreat BritainB.f.1837Priam x Octaviana by Octavian[28]11GoldfinderGreat BritainB.c.1764Snap x mare by Blank[29]11Kurifuji (Toshifuji)JapanCh.f.1940Tournesol (GB) x Kenfuji by Chapel Brampton (GB)10HandsomchampUSAGr./R h.2002Fabulous Champ x Holly D by Hey Rob[30]10NereideGermanyB.f.1933Laland x Nella da Gabbio (ITY) by Grand Parade (GB)[31]10Tokino MinoruJapanB.c.1948Theft (IRE) x Daini Tyrant's Queen (GB) by Soldennis[32]9BahramGreat BritainB.c.1932Blandford x Friar's Daughter by Friar Marcus9CombatGreat BritainBr.c.1944Big Game x Commotion by Mieuxce (FR)[33]9Grand FlaneurAustraliaB.c.1877Yattendon x First Lady (GB) by St. Albans[34]9PatienceHungaryCh.f.1902Bona Vista x (GB) Podagra (GB) by Galopin[32][33]9RegulusGreat BritainB.c.1739Godolphin Arabian x Grey Robinson by Bald Galloway[35]9St. SimonGreat BritainB.c.1881Galopin x St. Angela by King Tom[36]8La CressonniereFranceb.f.2013Le Havre x Absolute Lady by Galileo[37]8AlipesGreat BritainBr. or b. f.1757Regulus x Lusty by Locust[38]8American EclipseUnited StatesCh.c.1814Duroc x Miller's Damsel by Messenger[39]8CaracallaFranceB.c1942Tourbillon x Astronomie by Asterus[32]8MaruzenskyJapanb. c.1974Nijinsky II x Shill by Buckpasser8SweetbriarGreat BritainCh. c1769Syphon x mare (1763), by Shakespeare[40]8TiffinGreat Britainb. f.1926Tetratema x Dawn-wind, by Sunstar7Cluster of StarsUnited StatesB.f.2009Greely's Galaxy x Babyurthegreatest by Honour and Glory[41]7El Rio ReyUnited StatesB.h.1887Norfolk x Marian by Malcolm[42]7Kitano Dai OJapanCh.c.1965Die Hard x Kitano Hikari by Tosa Midori7Malt QueenAustraliaBr.f.1905Maltster x Her Majesty by Sunrise[43]7MannameadGreat BritainB.h.1929Manna x Pinprick by Torpoint[43]7Perdita IIGreat BritainB.m.1881Hampton x Hermione by Young Melbourne[33]7The TetrarchIrelandGr.c.1911Roi Herode (FR) x Vahren by Bona Vista[33]7ZarkavaIrelandB.f.2005Zamindar (USA) x Zarkasha by Kahyasi[44]6Bay MiddletonGreat BritainB.c.1833Sultan x Cobweb by Phantom6Bustin StonesUnited StatesCh.h.2004City Zip x Shesasurething by Prospectors Gamble[45]6Candy RideArgentinaB.c.1999Ride The Rails (USA) x Candy Girl by Candy Stripes (USA)6Cavaliere d’ArpinoItalyB.c.1926Havresac II (FR) x Chuette (GB) by Cicero[32]6ClaudeItalyB.h.1964Hornbeam (GB) x Aigue-Vive (FR) by Vatellor[46]6Flying ChildersGreat BritainB.c.1714Darley Arabian x Betty Leedes by Wharton's Careless[47]6Hurry OnGreat BritainCh.c.1913Marcovil x Tout Suite by Sainfoin[32]6JustifyUnited StatesCh.c.2015Scat Daddy x Stage Magic by Ghostzapper. Triple Crown winner.[48]6QuintessenceGreat BritainB.f.1900St. Frusquin x Margarine by Petrarch6TolgusGreat BritainB.h.1923Stefan the Great x Rosa Croft by Lemberg[49]5AjaxFranceB.h.1901Flying Fox x Amie by Clamart5DiceUnited StatesB.h.1925Dominant x Frumpery by Chicle[50]5EmersonBrazilB.c.1958Coaraze (FR) x Empenosa by Full Sail (GB)[32][51]5HussonArgentinaCh.h.2003Hussonet (USA) ex Villa Elisa (CHI) by Roy[52]5KnellerGreat BritainCh.c.1985Lomond x Fruition by Rheingold[53]5LandaluceUnited StatesB/br.f.1980Seattle Slew x Strip Poker by Bold Bidder5LandgrafGermanyB.c.1914Louviers (GB) x Ladora (GB) by Ladas[32]5MelairUnited StatesGr.f.1983Debonair Roger x Melrose Nugget by Viking Spirit[54]5NorfolkUnited StatesB.c.1861Lexington x Novice by Glencoe (GB)[26]5PrecociousGreat BritainB.c.1981Mummy's Pet x Mrs Moss by Reform[53]5ResetAustraliaB.h.2000Zabeel x Assertive Lass by Zeditave5FasliyevIrelandB.h.1997Nureyev x Mr P's Princess by Mr. Prospector[55]5TeofiloIrelandB.h.2004Galileo x Speirbhean by Danehill[56]5Queen's LogicIrelandCh. f.1999Grand Lodge x Lagrion by Diesis[57]5PillagerUnited StatesB. c.1980Inverness Drive x Holly H. by Khaled4Agnes TachyonJapanch.h.1998Sunday Silence x Agnes Flora by Royal Ski. Won Satsuki Sho.[58]4Blood RoyalIrelandB.c.1971Ribot x Natashka by Dedicate[53]4CatchascatchcanGreat BritainB.f.1995Pursuit of Love x Catawba by Mill Reef. Yorkshire Oaks.4Fuji KisekiJapanblk.h1992Sunday Silence x Millracer by Le Fabuleux. Champion two-year-old.[59]4Golden FleeceUnited StatesB.c.1979Nijinsky II (CAN) x Exotic Treat by Vaguely Noble. Won Epsom Derby.[60]4LammtarraUnited StatesCh.c.1992Nijinsky II (CAN) x Snow Bride by Blushing Groom. Three Group 1 victories.[61]4MadeliaFranceCh.m.1974Caro x Moonmadness by Tom Fool[62]4MasteryUnited StatesB.c2013Candy Ride x Steady Course4OnlyforyouUnited StatesB,f2011Malibu Moon x Erhu by Tactical Cat4Raise a NativeUnited StatesCh.c.1961Native Dancer x Raise You by Case Ace.[63] Champion two-year-old colt.4SnapGreat BritainBlk.c.1750Snip x Sister to Slipby by Fox. Noted sire.[64]4VindicationUnited StatesB.h.2000Seattle Slew x Strawberry Reason by Strawberry Road.[65] Breeders' Cup Juvenile.4White MoonstoneGreat BritainB.f.2008Dynaformer x Desert Gold by Seeking the Gold[66]4DroneUnited StatesGr.c.1966Sir Gaylord x Cap and Bells by Tom Fool3Army MuleUnited StatesCh.c.2014Friesian Fire x Crafty Toast by Crafty Professor3Blue TrainGreat BritainCh.c.1944Blue Peter x Sun Chariot (IRE) by Hyperion[53]3BoniformNew ZealandB.h.1904Multiform x Otterden (GB) by Sheen[67]3CobwebGreat BritainB.f.1821Phantom x Filagree by Soothsayer. Winner of 1000 Guineas and Oaks.3DanzigUnited StatesB.c.1977Northern Dancer (CAN) x Pas De Nom by Admirals Voyage[68]3KantharosUnited StatesCh.c.2008Lion Heart x Contessa Halo by Southern Halo.[69] Two graded stakes.3MeadowlakeUnited StatesCh.c.1983Hold Your Peace x Suspicious Native by Raise a Native.3AlgorithmsUnited StatesCh,c2009Bernardini x Ava Knowsthecode by Cryptoclearance.3FootstepsinthesandIrelandB.c.2002Giant's Causeway x Glatisant by Rainbow Quest. Won 2000 Guineas.[70]3PharisFranceBl.c.1936Pharos (GB) x Carissima by Clarissimus.[32] Noted sire.3ProntoArgentinaB.c.1958Timor x Prosperina by Gusty[32]3ValyraGreat BritainB.f.2008Azamour x Valima by Linamix[71]
* Still active
Federico Tesio bred several undefeated champions including Nearco, Ribot, Braque, and Cavaliere d’Arpino, whom he considered the best horse that he ever bred.[72]

Horses without five known starts
Nordlicht (chestnut horse 1941–1968, by Oleander x Nereide, by Laland) was also undefeated after an unknown number of starts. His victories included the Deutsches Derby and Austrian Derby.[73] Middleton and Amato had one start each with both of them winning The Derby and then retiring. Cherimoya did likewise when she won The Oaks in her only start. Morston (colt by Ragusa x Windmill Girl by Hornbeam) had two starts, winning both, the second of which was the 1973 Epsom Derby. Sailor won both his races, including the 1820 Epsom Derby. Suspender had three starts, in smaller races, for three wins.[74] Don Juan by Loyalist, Ball's Florizel (1801), Mirza by the Godolphin Arabian, and Lecturer (1869), were also unbeaten, but the number of their wins is unknown.[75]
Most wins

Kingston (by Spendthrift) had 138 starts and won 89 of these, including 30 stakes-races. According to the American Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the 89 wins is the all-time record.[76] Commencing a winning sequence as a four-year-old on 21 August 1888, Kingston had 35 race starts until 30 May 1891 during which he was defeated only twice.  Bankrupt won 86 races from 348 starts, and he was also by Spendthrift.[77]
Catherina (1830, by Whisker) started in 171 races and won 75 of them, many over long distances, including the Manchester Cup and Heaton Park's King's Cup.[78] Pan Zareta  started 151 times with 76 wins. Jorrocks won 65 times, Imp ran 171 times and won 62 of them.
Successive victories

The horses who were defeated but had ten or more consecutive race wins include:
56 wins – Camarero (PR)[79]
49 wins – Cofresi (PR)[80]
44 wins – Condado (PR)[80]
39 wins – Galgo Jr (PR)[79]
29 wins – Winx (AUS)‡[81]
24 wins – Sicotico (DOM)[82]
23 wins – Leviathan (USA) (1793)[83]
22 wins – Miss Petty (AUS)‡,[84] Pooker T (PR),[83] Rapid Redux[85]
21 wins – Fashion, Kentucky, Picnic in the Park (AUS),[84] (Bond's) First Consul (USA),[86] Lottery (USA),[53] Meteor (GB)[53]
20 wins – Filch (Ireland)[83]

19 wins – Desert Gold (NZ)‡,[53] Gloaming (AUS),[84] Light (FR),[87] Zenyatta (USA)‡, The Hero (GB)[53]
18 wins – Ajax (AUS),[84] Sally Hope‡,[88] Big Buck's,[89] Hindoo,[90] Squanderer (IND)[91]
17 wins – Altior,[92] Careless (Warren's, 1751),[93] Gay Lungi (AUS),[94]  Generations (USA), Gradisco (Venezuela),[95] Hanover,[96] Mainbrace,[84] Silent Witness,[84] Mister Park,[97] Sarazen
16 wins –  Cigar (USA),[84] Citation (USA),[98] Hallowed Dreams (USA),[84] Miss Woodford‡,[99] Mister Frisky,[100] Sweetmeat (GB),[101] The Bard,[102] Luke Blackburn
15 wins - Bayardo,[32] Bernborough (AUS),[84] Boston, Brigadier Gerard, Buckpasser (USA),[103] Carbine (NZ), Gay James (AUS),[104] Man o' War (USA), Pretty Polly‡,[105] Vander Pool (USA)[106]
14  Harry Bassett (USA),[107] Kukulkan,[108] Overdose,[109] Phar Lap (NZ), Springfield (GB),[110] Stylish Lord (AUS),[84] Douvan[111]
13 Camarine, Bula (1965) (over hurdles),[112] Limerick (NZ),[113] Mollie McCarty,[114] The Flying Dutchman, Timoleon

12 Harkaway (1834),[115] Morvich,[116] Tulloch,[113] No Involvement,[117] Spectacular Bid,[118] Super Easy (NZ),[119] Va Bank,[120] Gallant Bloom
11 Azeri, Buveur d'Air,[121] Eurythmic, Kingston Town (AUS), Native Dancer,[103] Nijinsky, Oju Chosan (JPN), Pink Lloyd (CAN),Somerset Fair,[84] Songbird,[122] Faugheen, Kelso, Mended, Tom Fool, War Admiral
10 Annie Power (IRE), Better Than Ever (AUS),[123] Count Fleet (USA), Co Tack,[124] Defaulter (AUS), Kindergarten (NZ), Lost in the Fog,[125] Piko,[84] Quijano (GER),[126] Ruffian (USA), Sir Fever (URU),[127] Spectacular Bid,[128] Surround‡,[34] Sprinter Sacre, Native Dancer, Awesome Feather, Mac Diarmida, Solow (GB), Star Guitar (USA) Sysonby,
Timoleon (1813) won 13 consecutive races and sired National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame horse Boston (1833), who started in about 45 races, winning 40, including 15 in succession. Boston then sired Lexington, who had 7 starts for 6 wins and a place. Lexington in turn sired Kentucky (23 starts, 21 wins), plus the undefeated Asteroid and Norfolk.
Horses with long sequences of jumping victories include Sir Ken, who won 16 hurdle races in England; and Poethlyn, who won 11 steeplechases in succession, including two Grand National races.[129]
Most wins in one season

30 wins– Jorrocks, also known as The Iron Gelding, won 30 of his 31 starts in 1846, carrying no less than nine stone (126lbs) over the usual distances of two or three miles
22 wins – Luke Blackburn (1880), in 24 starts
21 wins – Fisherman,[34] Picnic In The Park (AUS) from 23 starts including breaking down in final race, Top Ace (AUS),[84] Imp
20 wins – Hanover
19 wins – Citation (1948), in 20 starts; Camarero (1954, Puerto Rico); Roseben (1905), in 29 starts,[84] Rapid Redux (2011, USA),[130] Phar Lap (AUS)
18 wins – Hindoo (1881), Clifford (1893)
17 wins – Kincsem (1877, Hungary)
16 wins – Provideo,[131] Timeless Times[84] Sweetmeat (GB),[132] The Bard (1883, GB)
15 wins – Alsab, Mainbrace (NZ),[84] Old Rosebud (1917), Kingston (1891), Pan Zareta (1913 & 1915), Round Table (1957)
14 wins – Ajax, Desert Gold (NZ)‡, Phar Lap (NZ), Tulloch (NZ),[84] Twilight Tear, Billy Kelly, Kingston (1889)
13 wins –Firenze, Gloaming, Grey Way (NZ), Nagwa,[131] Spindrifter,[133] Uncle Remus,[84] Whirlaway, Buckpasser, Ben Brush,[134] Kingston (1887-1892), Tremont, Henry of Navarre
12 wins – Beldame, Colin (USA), Emperor of Norfolk, Firenze, Kingston Town (AUS), Surround‡,[84] Mac Diarmida (USA), Zev (USA), Coaltown (USA), Damascus (USA), Roamer (USA),[135] Mister Frisky (USA), Parole, Whirlaway
11 wins – Man o' War (USA), Armed (1946 and 1947), Duke of Magenta, Poseidon, Proud Miss‡,[84] Soba,[136] Vindaloo,[137] Red Craze, Cicada, Discovery, Seabiscuit, Bold Ruler, Princess Doreen, La Voyageuse
10 wins – Bernborough (AUS),Blow the Whistle (USA) Busher (USA), Carbine (NZ), Cigar (USA), Count Fleet (USA), Equipoise (USA), Exterminator (1920-1922), Kindergarten (NZ), Kincsem (Hun), Lady's Secret (1985 and 1986), Mended,[138] Nashua (USA), Ormonde (GB), Rising Fast (NZ), Saginaw Sarazen (USA), Spectacular Bid (USA), Trafalgar,[43] Tom Fool (USA), Tosmah, Tuscalee (USA), Miss Woodford
Most group / grade one (G1) wins




To identify the highest quality races, the pattern race system was introduced in Europe in 1971, followed by the graded stakes system in North America in 1974.[139] Other countries followed suit, though the criteria and quality has not always been consistent between racing jurisdictions. The following list considers horses that won grade one / group one races that were open for International competition. Winners of local (restricted) group / grade one wins are not included.
The horses with ten or more such G1 race wins are:
22 wins – Hurricane Fly (IRE)[140] Winx (AUS)‡[81]
16 wins – John Henry (USA),[141] Kauto Star (FR)[142]
15 wins – Black Caviar (AUS)‡[143]
14 wins – Affirmed (USA), Forego (USA),[144] Goldikova (IRE)‡,[145][146] Kingston Town (AUS),[143] Istabraq (IRE)[147]
13 wins – Bayakoa (ARG)‡,[148] Moscow Flyer (IRE),[149] Spectacular Bid,[150] Sunline (NZ)‡,[143] Tie the Knot (AUS),[143] Zenyatta (USA)‡[151]
11 wins – Beholder (USA)‡,[152] Cigar (USA), Lady's Secret (USA)‡,[153] Lonhro (AUS),[143] Manikato,[143] McDynamo (USA),[154] Rough Habit (NZ),[143] Serena's Song‡ (USA), Wise Dan (USA)[155]
10 wins – Azeri (USA)‡, Beef or Salmon (IRE),[156] Big Buck's (FRA),[157] Brave Inca (IRE),[158] Dahlia (USA)‡, Faugheen[159] Frankel (GB), Miesque (USA)‡, Paseana (ARG)‡,[160] Octagonal (NZ),[143] Mufhasa (NZ), Skip Away (USA),[161] So You Think (NZ)
‡ Mare
In 1902 Sceptre became the only racehorse to win four British Classic Races outright. Previously, in 1868, Formosa won the same four races but dead-heated in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes.[162]
Successive group / grade one (G1) wins
This list shows horses who won a series of Grade/Group 1 races without a loss and without an intervening race at a lower level of competition.
10 wins - Winx‡
9 wins – Zenyatta‡, Frankel, Hurricane Fly
8 wins - Black Caviar‡
7 wins – Rock of Gibraltar, Sprinter Sacre, Miss Terrible (ARG)[163]
6 wins – Mill Reef, Invasor, Sea the Stars, Good Night Shirt
5 wins – American Pharoah, Affirmed, Cigar, Douvan,[111] Dubai Millennium, Easy Goer, Enable,[164] Go For Wand, Giant's Causeway, Gun Runner, McDynamo, Rachel Alexandra, Seattle Slew, Solow, Spectacular Bid, Skip Away, Stardom Bound, Wise Dan
Successive Stakes wins
29 wins – Winx‡
23 wins – Black Caviar‡
17 wins – Zenyatta‡
15 wins – Citation, Man o War
13 wins- Cigar, Colin, Tremont
12 wins – Brigadier Gerard, Frankel, Spectacular Bid,
11 wins – Kingston Town, Pink Lloyd, Tom Fool, Ormonde,Va Bank
10 wins – Star Guitar, Songbird, Sysonby, ,
Once-defeated horses
Below is a list of Thoroughbred racehorses who were defeated once. The list is not comprehensive for otherwise unnotable horses with less than ten wins.
Horses such as Wheel of Fortune, Barbaro, Ruffian and Vanity (1812) sustained injury or broke down in their only defeat.

* Still active
$10 million prizewinning horses

The following horses have earned over $10 million in prize money. Most of them raced (at least in part) in Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and/or Dubai due to large purse sizes.[175] Where applicable, the conversion to US$ was made at the time the horse raced so does not reflect current exchange rates.
Orfevre (Japan) 1,576,213,000 yen (US$19,005,276)[176]
Gentildonna (Japan) JPY 1,326,210,000 (US$18,468,392[177]
Arrogate (USA)  $17,422,600 USD[178]
Winx (AUS) A$22,884,920[81] (US$17,213,934)[179]
Buena Vista (Japan) JPY 1,478,869,700 (US$17,018,548)[180]
Kitasan Black 1,876,843,000 JPN yen, (US$16,572,523)
T M Opera O (Japan) JPY 1,835,189,000 (US$16,200,337)[175]
Gun Runner (USA) US$15,988,500
Gold Ship (Japan) 1,397,767,000 yen (US$15,040,217)[181]
California Chrome (USA) $14,752,650 USD[182]
Vodka 1,333,565,800 JPY (US$13,147,826)
Victoire Pisa 1,465,416,058.53 yen, US$12,891,734[183]
Deep Impact (Japan) 1,454,551,000 yen (US$12,825,285)[175]
Narita Brian (Japan) 1,026,916,000 yen (US$12,026,101)
Symboli Kris S (USA) 984,724,000 JPY (US$11,531,995)
Vermilion (Japan) 1,168,607,500 yen (US$11,139,125)
Redzel (AUS) A$15,372,000 (US$10,935,640)
Makybe Diva (GB) A$14,526,685 (US$10,767,186). Raced in Australia.[175]
Smart Falcon (JPN) (US$11,470,635)
Espoir City (JPN)  (US$11,443,812)
Enable (GB) £8,007,026 (US$10,705,631)
Hokko Tarumae  (JPN)(US$10,703,689)
Curlin (USA) US$10,501,800
Viva Pataca (GB) HKD$81,297,500 (US$10,438,864.83)
Highland Reel (IRE) £7,513,355 (US$10,057,377.00)
Most of the above horses belong to the Nearco sireline, mostly through the branches established by Sunday Silence and Northern Dancer. However, Curlin, Arrogate, Winx and Gun Runner descend instead from the Native Dancer sire line through Mr. Prospector. Both Nearco and Native Dancer were grandsons of Phalaris.[173]
North American records
In 1951, Citation became the first horse to win one million dollars. In 1979, Affirmed became the first horse to break the two million dollar barrier,[184] finishing his career with earnings of $2.3 million. Spectacular Bid broke this record in 1980, amassing career earnings of $2.8 million.[185] Purses began to increase sharply soon afterwards thanks in large part to the Breeders' Cup. The next record holders were John Henry, who earned $6.6 million by the end of his career in 1984 and Alysheba, with earnings of $6.7 million by the end of his career in 1988. Cigar was the next to hold the North American earnings title, finishing his career in 1998 with earnings just shy of $10 million ($9,999,815). That remained the North American record until Curlin in 2008, who earned $10.5 million.[186] California Chrome broke this record in 2016 with career earnings of $14.8 million, and was in turn surpassed by Arrogate when he won the 2017 Dubai World Cup to take his career earnings over $17 million.[187]
See also

List of historical horses
Repeat winners of horse races
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing