The 100 Most Successful Racehorses in the World

Q: Which horse has won the richest race?

Ka Ying Rising took The Everest, worth £10,582,011, which is the biggest single race any horse on this list has won.

The fifteen best records

Wins in the 997 races on this site

Kingston Town 17 Phar Lap 16 Tulloch 16 High Caste 16 Hydrogen 16 Cirrus des Aigles 15 Lonhro 15 Sunline 14 Chatham 14 Winx 14 Kauto Star 14 Lombard 14 Goldikova 13 Limerick 13 Super Elegant 13

The hundred

Ranked on wins in the world's richest races

1,028 wins between them

#	Horse	Wins	Span	Countries	Biggest win	Worth
1	Kingston Town	17	1979 to 1982	Australia	Australian Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
2	Phar Lap	16	1929 to 1931	Australia	Melbourne Cup	£5,291,005£5.3m
3	Tulloch	16	1956 to 1961	Australia	Australian Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
4	High Caste	16	1939 to 1942	Australia	Coolmore Stud Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
5	Hydrogen	16	1951 to 2003	Canada, Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
6	Cirrus des Aigles	15	2009 to 2015	France, United Arab Emirates	Dubai Sheema Classic	£4,511,278£4.5m
7	Lonhro	15	2001 to 2004	Australia	Arrowfield 3YO Sprint	£529,101
8	Sunline	14	1998 to 2002	Australia, Hong Kong	Hong Kong Mile	£3,040,000£3.0m
9	Chatham	14	1931 to 1969	Great Britain, Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
10	Winx	14	2014 to 2019	Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
11	Kauto Star	14	2005 to 2011	Great Britain	Cheltenham Gold Cup	£646,880
12	Lombard	14	1912 to 1973	Germany, South Africa	Durban July Handicap	£427,000
13	Goldikova	13	2008 to 2011	France, United States	Breeders' Cup Mile	£1,503,759£1.5m
14	Limerick	13	1926 to 1929	Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
15	Super Elegant	13	2000 to 2005	Australia	Australia Stakes	£185,185
16	Acatenango	12	1985 to 1987	Germany, France	Deutsches Derby	£555,556
17	Juggler	12	1901 to 1997	Australia	Caulfield Stakes	£529,101
18	Skalleti	12	2019 to 2023	Italy, France, Germany	Prix Aga Khan IV (Prix d'Ispahan)	£213,675
19	Rebel's Romance	11	2021 to 2026	United Arab Emirates, Germany, United States, Hong Kong	Dubai Sheema Classic	£4,511,278£4.5m
20	Beauty Generation	11	2017 to 2020	Hong Kong	Hong Kong Mile	£3,040,000£3.0m
21	Sky High	11	1946 to 1962	Australia, Great Britain	Golden Slipper Stakes	£2,645,503£2.6m
22	Kelso	11	1960 to 1965	United States	Jockey Club Gold Cup	£751,880
23	Wakeful	11	1901 to 1903	Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
24	Rough Habit	11	1990 to 1995	Australia, New Zealand	All Aged Stakes	£793,651
25	Amounis	11	1925 to 1930	Australia	All Aged Stakes	£793,651
26	Hot Danish	11	2007 to 2010	Australia	All Aged Stakes	£793,651
27	Big Buck's	11	2009 to 2012	Great Britain	Stayers' Hurdle	£325,000
28	Gold Edition	11	2006 to 2007	Australia	Coolmore Stud Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
29	Catkins	11	2013 to 2015	Australia	Breeders Classic	£264,550
30	Golden Sixty	10	2020 to 2023	Hong Kong	Hong Kong Mile	£3,040,000£3.0m
31	Zenyatta	10	2008 to 2010	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic	£5,263,158£5.3m
32	Affirmed	10	1977 to 1979	United States	Kentucky Derby	£3,759,399£3.8m
33	Wise Dan	10	2012 to 2014	United States	Breeders' Cup Mile	£1,503,759£1.5m
34	Allez France	10	1972 to 2001	Australia, France	Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe	£4,273,504£4.3m
35	Emancipation	10	1982 to 1984	Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
36	Gold Rod	10	1935 to 1970	Great Britain, Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
37	Native Dancer	10	1952 to 1954	United States	Belmont Stakes	£1,503,759£1.5m
38	Mahogany	10	1993 to 1997	Australia	Australian Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
39	Winfreux	10	1965 to 1968	Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
40	More Joyous	10	2009 to 2012	Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
41	Moonlight Cloud	10	2011 to 2013	France	Prix Jacques Le Marois	£854,701
42	Joanne	10	1990 to 1992	Australia	Concorde Stakes	£529,101
43	Melody Belle 54.5	10	2017 to 2021	New Zealand	Karaka Million	£440,900
44	Vazirabad	10	2015 to 2018	France	Prix Vicomtesse Vigier	£341,880
45	Altior	10	2015 to 2019	Great Britain	Queen Mother Champion Chase	£400,000
46	Red Tracer	10	2011 to 2014	Australia	Premiere Stakes	£529,101
47	Bomber Bill	10	1998 to 2006	Australia	Challenge Stakes	£264,550
48	Redelva	10	1988 to 1991	Australia	The Damien Oliver	£264,550
49	Elle Danzig	10	1998 to 2000	Germany, Italy	Preis der Diana	£427,350
50	Orofino	10	1981 to 1983	Germany	Deutsches Derby	£555,556
51	Soldier Hollow	10	2003 to 2007	Germany, France, Italy	Premio Roma	£206,838
52	Ka Ying Rising	9	2024 to 2026	Hong Kong, Australia	The Everest	£10,582,011£10.6m
53	Redzel	9	2016 to 2019	Australia	The Everest	£10,582,011£10.6m
54	California Chrome	9	2014 to 2016	United Arab Emirates, United States	Dubai World Cup	£9,022,556£9.0m
55	American Pharoah	9	2014 to 2015	United States	Breeders' Cup Classic	£5,263,158£5.3m
56	River Verdon	9	1991 to 1994	Hong Kong	Hong Kong Cup	£3,800,000£3.8m
57	Viva Pataca	9	2006 to 2010	Hong Kong	Queen Elizabeth II Cup	£2,850,000£2.9m
58	Whirlaway	9	1940 to 1942	United States	Kentucky Derby	£3,759,399£3.8m
59	Spectacular Bid	9	1978 to 1980	United States	Kentucky Derby	£3,759,399£3.8m
60	Nashua	9	1954 to 1956	United States	Belmont Stakes	£1,503,759£1.5m
61	Azeri	9	2002 to 2004	United States	Breeders' Cup Distaff	£1,503,759£1.5m
62	Miesque	9	1986 to 1988	United States, France	Breeders' Cup Mile	£1,503,759£1.5m
63	Yaralla	9	1940 to 1944	Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
64	Ajax	9	1937 to 1940	Australia	Newmarket Handicap	£1,058,201£1.1m
65	Redcraze	9	1955 to 1957	Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
66	Shuvee	9	1968 to 1971	United States	Cotillion Handicap	£751,880
67	Mountain King	9	1907 to 1908	Australia	Australian Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
68	Prince Cortauld	9	1954 to 1955	Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
69	San Domenico	9	1948 to 1952	Australia	Hill Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
70	Campaign King	9	1985 to 1988	Australia	Coolmore Stud Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
71	Poseidon	9	1906 to 2000	Italy, Australia	Australian Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
72	Eurythmic	9	1918 to 1922	Australia	Caulfield Stakes	£529,101
73	Durbridge	9	1990 to 1995	Australia	Australian Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
74	Delta	9	1949 to 1952	Australia	Victoria Derby	£1,058,201£1.1m
75	Wenona Girl	9	1959 to 1964	Australia	All Aged Stakes	£793,651
76	Shogun Lodge	9	1998 to 2003	Australia	Sydney Stakes	£1,058,201£1.1m
77	Desert Orchid	9	1985 to 1990	Great Britain	Cheltenham Gold Cup	£646,880
78	Tails	9	1968 to 1972	Australia	Eagle Farm Cup	£634,921
79	Triscay	9	1989 to 1991	Australia	Australian Guineas	£529,101
80	Show County	9	1988 to 1990	Australia	Stan Fox Stakes	£529,101
81	Comedy of Errors	9	1972 to 1976	Great Britain	Champion Hurdle	£450,000
82	Western Empire	9	2021 to 2026	Australia	The Gold Rush	£793,651
83	Cue Card	9	2010 to 2016	Great Britain	Ryanair Chase	£375,000
84	Silviniaco Conti	9	2010 to 2015	Great Britain	Aintree Bowl	£250,000
85	Marchand d'Or	9	2006 to 2011	France	Prix Maurice de Gheest	£324,786
86	Jonbon	9	2021 to 2025	Great Britain	Melling Chase	£250,000
87	Flavour	9	1995 to 2001	Australia	Australia Stakes	£185,185
88	Windwurf	9	1975 to 1977	Germany	Grosser Preis von Baden	£341,880
89	Nebos	9	1978 to 1980	Germany	Grosser Preis von Baden	£341,880
90	Turfkönig	9	1988 to 1991	Germany	Bayerisches Zuchtrennen	£132,479
91	Curlin	8	2007 to 2008	United Arab Emirates, United States	Dubai World Cup	£9,022,556£9.0m
92	Jim and Tonic	8	1997 to 2001	United Arab Emirates, France, Hong Kong	Dubai Turf	£4,511,278£4.5m
93	Romantic Warrior	8	2022 to 2026	Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates	Hong Kong Cup	£3,800,000£3.8m
94	Forever Young	8	2023 to 2026	Saudi Arabia, United States, Japan, United Arab Emirates	Breeders' Cup Classic	£5,263,158£5.3m
95	Wellington	8	1878 to 2022	Hong Kong, Australia	Hong Kong Sprint	£2,470,000£2.5m
96	Comic Court	8	1948 to 1951	Australia	Melbourne Cup	£5,291,005£5.3m
97	Lando	8	1992 to 1995	Italy, Germany, Japan	Japan Cup	£5,493,600£5.5m
98	Montjeu	8	1998 to 2000	France, Ireland	Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe	£4,273,504£4.3m
99	Super Impose	8	1988 to 1991	Australia	Doncaster Handicap	£2,116,402£2.1m
100	Benbatl	8	2017 to 2020	United Arab Emirates, Germany, Australia, Great Britain	Dubai Turf	£4,511,278£4.5m

The figure is the purse of that one race, published where the race is run and converted here so the column sorts. It is not a career total and it is not the horse's: the prize goes to the owner, and the horse is paid in oats.

When they ran

How many of the hundred were winning these races in each decade

Peak: the 2000s, 26 of them

1

0s

1

0s

1

0s

5

00

5

10

8

20

10

30

14

40

17

50

14

60

15

70

19

80

24

90

26

00

26

10

12

20

A record like this needs a horse kept in training. The median career here spans 4 seasons from first big win to last, which is why the hundred cluster where they do rather than spreading evenly across a century.

The travellers

Horses that won these races in more than one country

27 of the hundred

#	Horse	Countries	Wins	Where	Biggest win
1	Rebel's Romance	4	11	United Arab Emirates, Germany, United States, Hong Kong	£4,511,278£4.5m
2	Forever Young	4	8	Saudi Arabia, United States, Japan, United Arab Emirates	£5,263,158£5.3m
3	Benbatl	4	8	United Arab Emirates, Germany, Australia, Great Britain	£4,511,278£4.5m
4	Skalleti	3	12	Italy, France, Germany	£213,675
5	Soldier Hollow	3	10	Germany, France, Italy	£206,838
6	Jim and Tonic	3	8	United Arab Emirates, France, Hong Kong	£4,511,278£4.5m
7	Lando	3	8	Italy, Germany, Japan	£5,493,600£5.5m
8	Hydrogen	2	16	Canada, Australia	£1,058,201£1.1m
9	Cirrus des Aigles	2	15	France, United Arab Emirates	£4,511,278£4.5m
10	Sunline	2	14	Australia, Hong Kong	£3,040,000£3.0m
11	Chatham	2	14	Great Britain, Australia	£2,116,402£2.1m
12	Lombard	2	14	Germany, South Africa	£427,000

Shipping a horse across the world to run once is a modern thing and a rare one: only 27 of these hundred did it, and the rest built their record entirely at home.

The horses that owned one race

Six wins or more, ranked by how few different races they came from

#	Horse	Wins	Races	Span	Their race
1	Big Buck's	11	3	2009 to 2012	Liverpool Hurdle
2	Kauto Star	14	5	2005 to 2011	King George VI Chase
3	Beauty Generation	11	5	2017 to 2020	Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup
4	Kelso	11	5	1960 to 1965	Jockey Club Gold Cup
5	Zenyatta	10	5	2008 to 2010	Beholder Mile Stakes
6	Wise Dan	10	5	2012 to 2014	Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes
7	Goldikova	13	7	2008 to 2011	Prix Rothschild
8	Limerick	13	7	1926 to 1929	Winx Stakes
9	Ka Ying Rising	9	5	2024 to 2026	Centenary Sprint Cup
10	River Verdon	9	5	1991 to 1994	Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup
11	Viva Pataca	9	5	2006 to 2010	Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup
12	Azeri	9	5	2002 to 2004	Apple Blossom Handicap

Frequently asked questions

Which racehorse has won the most big races?

Kingston Town, with 17 wins in the 997 races on this site between 1979 and 1982. The biggest is the Australian Derby, worth £1,058,201.

Which horse has won the richest race?

Ka Ying Rising took The Everest, worth £10,582,011, which is the biggest single race any horse on this list has won.

Why is this different from the usual highest-earning racehorses list?

Because the usual one is North America only. A horse that won the Melbourne Cup, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Japan Cup does not appear on it at all. This list is built from 997 races in fifteen countries, so it answers the question the headline of the other one asks.

How long does a career at this level last?

The median horse here has 4 years between its first win in one of these races and its last. 43 of the hundred lasted five seasons or more.

How much prize money did these horses win?

The prize goes to the owner, not the horse. What is beside each name here is the purse of the biggest single race it took, which is one published figure for one race rather than a total swept across a century of them.

How many horses are in the data?

34,448, from 52,507 runnings of 965 races. The hundred here are the ones with the most wins; the rest appear on the roll of honour of every race they took.

Where to next

The races these horses won, and the people who won them

The 100 most successful racehorses in the world