The word "great" is tossed around much too lightly. I only use it for horses who were either champions each year they raced ... or who lost a championship to another great race horse ... and raced at least two full years.

I've been following the game since 1958 ... here's my list of great male dirt horses since then ...

1958: Three greats in one year ... Bold Ruler, Round Table, and Gallant Man.
1959: Sword Dancer ... one the the best 3YOS ever ... but not champion at 2, 4 ... margin of greatness ... but not quite.
1960: Kelso was HOTY five times ... can't do better than that.
1961: Carry Back was champion 3YO and outstanding at 2, 4 & 5. Another marginal great.
1966: Buckpasser ... champion at 2, 3, and 4.
1967: Another banner year with three greats ... Damascus, Dr. Fa-ger, In Reality.
1969: Arts And Letters ... another super 3YO and marginal great.
1973: Another banner year ... Secretariat and Forego ... five straight HOTY between them.
1977: Seattle Slew ... champion at 2, 3, and 4.
1978: The great duo of Affirmed and Alydar.
1979: Spectacular Bid ... runaway champion at 2, 3, & 4.

That's it ... there hasn't been a truly great male dirt race horse since then.

Those who have come close ... Spend A Buck, Slew O' Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, Holy Bull, Cigar, Skip Away, Silver Charm, Point Given.

Of those ... Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, and Skip Away were the best.