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© History Oasis / Created via Midjourney
A list of famous horses in history, from war to racing.
Bucephalus, “ox-head,” was Alexander the Great’s warhorse. Tamed at age 12 when Alexander noticed the horse feared its own shadow. The horse carried Alexander through his conquests from Macedonia to India. The horse died in 326 BCE at the Battle of Hydaspes (modern Pakistan). Alexander then founded the city Bucephala in the horse’s honor.
Seabiscuit was an American thoroughbred who started his career losing his first 17 races. He raced from 1935 to 1940, winning 33 of 89 races and earning $437,730. A lot of money in those days. Seabiscuit defeated Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a 1938 match race at Pimlico.
Secretariat was a racehorse with a heart that weighed 22 pounds—about three times the normal size. He was the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years (1973). Setting records in all three races that still stand. He earned $1,316,808 during his lifetime.
Man o’ War won 20 of 21 races (1919-1920) and sired 396 foals. He only lost to a horse named Upset at Saratoga. But set five world records. When he died, over 200,000 people came to his funeral.
Originally named Golden Cloud, Trigger the horse appeared in 88 films and 100 TV episodes. He was able to perform 150 tricks, including counting to 25. He was so valuable that he was insured for $100,000 in the 1950s.
Duke of Wellington’s charger Copenhagen (1815) carried Wellington for 16 hours during the Battle of Waterloo. After the battle, Wellington rode him in a victory parade through London. The horse lived to age 28.
Comanche, the horse, was the only U.S. Army survivor found at the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876). He was owned by Captain Myles Keogh of the 7th Cavalry. Two days after the battle, Comanche was found wounded but alive and retired with full military honors, never to be ridden again.
Marengo was Napoleon’s gray Arabian stallion, named after the Battle of Marengo (1800). Marengo carried Napoleon at Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram, and Waterloo. He was wounded eight times in battle but captured by the British after Waterloo. His skeleton is now displayed at the National Army Museum, London.
War Admiral was a horse of the famous Son of Man o’ War. He was a 1937 Triple Crown winner, winning 21 of 26 races. He’s most famous for losing a race to Seabiscuit (1938).
Citation was a racehorse and the 1948 Triple Crown winner. He won 16 consecutive races and was the first horse ever to earn $1 million.
Purchased for only $17,500 as a yearling, Seattle Slew was a 1977 Triple Crown winner. He is also the only Triple Crown winner to finish his career undefeated. Seattle Slew would go on to sire 102 winners in the future.
Affirmed was the last Triple Crown winner for 37 years. He defeated his rival Alydar in all three Triple Crown races by a total margin of less than 2 lengths.
Phar Lap was a New Zealand-bred champion of Australia. Winning 37 of 51 races. But he died mysteriously in California after winning the Agua Caliente Handicap (1932), possibly caused by arsenic poisoning.
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred horse with a stud fee that reached $1 million. He won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (1964). He became the most successful sire of the 20th century with 146 stakes winners from his offspring.
Traveller, “Confederate gray,” was Robert E. Lee’s gray American Saddlebred. Originally named Jeff Davis, he carried Lee throughout the Civil War. Traveller survived the war uninjured and outlived Lee by one year.
Reckless was a Mongolian mare who served with the U.S. Marines in the Korean War and ate everything from scrambled eggs to beer. He carried ammunition and wounded soldiers. He made 51 solo trips in a single day at the Battle of Outpost Vegas (1953) and was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service.
Kingston was an American racehorse with 89 wins—the most in U.S. history.
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