Famous Race Horses Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Byerly Turk

The Byerly Turk was captured from the Turks, at the siege of Buda in 1688, by Capt. Robert Byerley of the 6th Dragoon Guards. His name was entered incorrectly in the General Stud Book as "Byerly" instead of "Byerley." It is said that this horse saw service at the Battle of the Boyne in 1692. All modern thoroughbreds can be traced directly through the male line, to either the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian or the Byerly Turk (who was also probably an Arabian).

These horses were brought in to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and crossed with English broodmares to create the modern thoroughbred.

Answer: Eclipse

Eclipse was bred by the Duke of Cumberland, third son of King George II (also known as "Billy the Butcher" for the unspeakable atrocities and war crimes he committed, in surpressing the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745). He first raced at age five, and won the contest by over 200 yards! He later spent 18 years at stud, siring 344 winners.

It is estimated that between 90% and 95% of all modern thoroughbreds, can be traced directly through the male line to Eclipse. The famous Eclipse Awards are named in his honor.

Answer: Bulle Rock

In 1730, James Samuel Patton imported Bulle Rock, a 21 year-old son of the Darley Arabian into Virginia. It did not take long for the breed to become established in the New World.

Answer: 1797

Kentucky is known world-wide as the home of the world's best thoroughbreds. The first Jockey Club in that state was formed in 1797; it was reorganized as the Lexington Jockey Club in 1809. In other ways, the sport in America lagged far behind Europe; it was not until 1868, that the first American Stud Book was compliled.

Answer: Diomed

Diomed was a successful racer as a three-year old, but his record declined with age. He also proved to be "a dud at stud". At the age of 21 he was purchased by American interests. The new country must have agreed with him, because he immediately became the most proficient American sire of all time, fathering such great horses as Haynie's Maria and Sir Archie.

He is also the ancestor of all American Walking Horses. When he died in 1808 at the age of 31, Diomed had become a national hero.

Answer: Kincsem

This Hungarian bred, yes, I said Hungarian, won a remarkable 54 races over 4 seasons. She won at tracks both in England and the Continent and never lost a race! Her name means "My Treasure" in Hungarian.

Answer: The Kentucky Derby

Aristides beat a field of 15 horses to become the very first Kentucky Derby winner. Did you know that both Aristides' jockey, Oliver Lewis, and his trainer, Ansel Williamson, were African-Americans? Or that Aristides wasn't supposed to win at all? He had been entered as a "rabbit", to ensure a fast pace for his much more highly regarded stablemate, Cheasapeake.

But Chesapeake faltered, and Aristides just kept going, racing his way into the history books.

Answer: Donerail

This son of McGee not only won the race, but set a new track record in doing so.

Answer: The Preakness

The Preakness is the "second jewel" in the Triple Crown. It was first run May 23, 1873, making it older than the Kentucky Derby! The first winner was a horse named Survivor. The Preakness is run at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. At a mile and 3/16, it's the shortest of the three Triple Crown races. It is named for a famous Maryland-bred horse.

Answer: Colin

Colin, who was foaled in 1905 and was 1908's "Horse of the Year," was a perfect 15 of 15 on the track. Chronic leg problems probably prevented him from having a more illustrious career, but he is still ranked as one of the top thoroughbreds of the 20th century. Secretariat won 16 of 21 races; Seattle Slew 14 of 17; and the great Man O'War 20 of 21, losing only once, to a horse named Upset!

Answer: Sir Barton

Sir Barton was the first horse to become a Triple Crown winner, doing so in 1919. No filly ever won the Triple Crown in the 20th century.

Answer: Gallant Fox and Omaha

Gallant Fox became the second Triple Crown winner 1n 1930, followed by his son, Omaha, in 1935.

Answer: Won the Kentucky Derby

The other fillies who won were Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988).

Answer: The St. Leger Stakes

It is probably more difficult to win the English Triple Crown than the American. Since 1809, only 15 horses have done it; the first was West Australian in 1853, and another was a pretty fair horse named Nijinsky II in 1970.

Answer: Dancer's Image

In 1968, Dancer's Image ran down favorite Forward Pass in the stretch, and was awarded the traditional blanket of roses. But it was later discovered that Dancer's Image's urine contained traces of phenylbutazone, or "bute," a pain killer and anti-inflammatory medication. Dancer's Image was disqualified and Forward Pass was awarded the victory.

It is still a matter of controversy how the drug got into the horse's system. Even more ironic is that bute had been legal in Kentucky in 1967, and was made legal for use again in 1969.

Answer: John Henry

The famous gelding won 25 graded stakes from 1974 to 1984, and retired with much in career earnings. Had purses been anywhere near what they were when Cigar ran, John Henry would have left him in the dust.

Answer: Standardbreds

The breed gets its name from the fact that in 1879, the National Association of Trotting Horse Breeders agreed that for a horse to be entered in the Trotting Register, it had to be able to trot a mile in 2 minutes and 30 seconds or less. This was the "standard." In almost all respects, standardbreds are much superior to thoroughbreds.

They are more intelligent, better natured, and less prone to injury.

Answer: Laterally gaited

A trotter is diagonally gaited, as it lifts its right front leg and and back left leg at the same time. Pacers are laterally gaited, as they lift both right legs and both left legs at the same time. All things being equal, pacers are a bit faster than trotters. Because their lateral gait makes them sway side-to-side while racing, pacers are sometimes called "sidewheelers." Most standardbreds are pacers, as they do not break stride when racing as often as trotters.

But trotters are the aristocrats of the sport.

Answer: Star Pointer

The standardbred continues to show improvement. Nowadays, even cheap horses can routinely trot or pace a mile in under two minutes.

Answer: Dan Patch

The movie, "The Great Dan Patch", is not exactly the greatest film ever made, but its subject is the greatest horse who ever lived. He broke the world record for pacers 14 times during his career. He never lost a race. In 1906, he paced a mile in 1:55, a record that was not tied for 32 years, and not broken for 54 years! Ironically as a foal, his legs were so crooked, his owner had to help him stand to nurse. Dan Patch died in 1916.

Answer: Greyhound

Greyhound trotted a mile in under two minutes 25 times during his career. His record mark of 1:55 1/4 for a mile stood for 31 years. He retired from racing in 1940, and died in 1965, at the ripe old age of 33.

Answer: Rambling Willie

He was certainly not the horse grooms loved. Rambling Willie was a mean horse who would try to bite you if you got too close to his stall. But on the track he was one of the best of all time. His record is all the more remarkable, when one considers he raced much of the time with two bowed tendons.

Answer: Niatross

His time shaved almost three seconds off the previous record. Niatross went on to become an outstanding sire. He died in 1999.

Answer: Cambest

This son of Cam Fella paced the mile in a wicked 1:46 1/5 seconds, and his record had not been touched in the 20th century. The record for a mile in an actual race is 1:47 3/5 seconds, set by Jenna's Beach Boy at the Meadowlands in New Jersey in 1996.

Answer: CR Kay Suzie

She was also a heavy favorite to win the Hambletonian, but unfortunately she broke stride in her qualifying race and did not make the finals.