Top Thoroughbreds (2000 to present)

[Calzone Lord]

In 1999, Bloodhorse produced a 'List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century' rating horses who competed from 1900 through 1999.

The list was assembled by a 7 person panel made up of two racing secretaries, two stewards, and three writers (Jay Hovdey, William Nack, and Jennie Rees)

The list was so badly flawed in a lot of ways... but it could have been a lot worse.

Only 2 horses who raced at all from 1900 through 1912 made the top 93. Colin (#15) and Sysonby (#30)

Hermis was a very odd exclusion from the top 100. Hermis was the Horse of All Ages (or Horse of the Year) in both 1902 and 1903 -- and he was the retrospective champion handicap horse of 1904. He won the single most important race of his day (The Suburban Handicap) in front of over 50,000 people in stakes record time. He also won the Travers and a lot of other important races as well over a career that saw him win 28 of 55 career starts.

Historically , these ratings have come down to nothing more than impressions, press focus, win/loss records, and success in famous races.

The 3-year-old male division has always been the glamor division...and there has been nothing at all glamorous about its leaders since 2000. Other than Zenyatta, this will likely be an utterly forgotten about collection of horses when any lists are compiled in the year 2099.


Here are my current rankings for the top horses by division from 2000 to present based on North American form.


2yo Male: Uncle Mo, War Pass, Macho Uno, Stevie Wonderboy
2yo Female: Tempera, Storm Flag Flying, Halfbrideld, My Miss Aurelia
2yo Turf Male: Barbaro, Peace Rules, Interactif, Cowboy Cal
2yo Turf Female: Dreaming of Anna, J'Ray, Fantastic Filly, Winter Memories
2yo Male Sprinter: Officer, Came Home, Afleet Alex, Roman Ruler
2yo Female Sprinter: Cashier's Dream, Beholder, You, Hot Dixie Chick,

3yo Male: Smarty Jones, Tiznow, Point Given, Bernardini
3yo Female: Rachel Alexandra, Rags To Riches, Blind Luck, Royal Delta
3yo Turf Male: Kitten's Joy, Conduit, High Chaparral, Rock Of Gibraltor,
3yo Turf Female: Banks Hill, Ouija Board, Goldikova, Six Perfections
3yo Male Sprinter: Caller One, Squirtle Squirt, Lost In The Fog, Cajun Beat
3yo Female Sprinter: Xtra Heat, Indian Blessing, Madcap Escapade, Lady Tak
Older Male: Ghostzapper, Mineshaft, Medaglia D' Oro, Congaree
Older Female: Zenyatta, Azeri, Havre De Grace, Riboletta,
Older Turf Male: Fantastic Light, Leroidesanemeaux, Wise Dan, English Channel,
Older Turf Female: Godikova, Ouija Board, Golden Apples, Voodoo Dancer
Older Male Sprinter: Kona Gold, Midnight Lute, Swept Overboard, Fabulous Strike
Older Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll, Xtra Heat, Honest Lady, Informed Decision,