Greatest TB Fillies

[imissvixen]

If you were to make a list of the greatest TB fillies/mares of the past 100 years, who would be on it? So far, I have Rags to Riches, Regret, Ruffian, the other two who won the Derby...

[Linny]

Despite having won the Derby, Winning Colors was overshadowed later in the year by the unbeaten filly Personal Ensign.

Several that I consider "All Time Greats" are:
Beldame
Twilight Tear
Shuvee
Personal Ensign
Busher
Gallorette (who mostly raced males)
Two Lea (very underrated filly)
Primonetta
Ruffian
Go For Wand
My Juliet (exceptional sprinter)
Bold 'n Determined (who was the same year as Genuine Risk, and may have been better)
Bayakoa
Inside Information
Sky Beauty
Azeri

A note on criteria: I am focused mainly on US based fillies and mostly on dirt runners as it's (somewhat) easier to compare horses of diferent era when you can at least compare the quality of races they ran. I also leaned toward mares with a long record of consistency rather that those that blossomed and we exceptional "for a time."

[Mali]

If you were to make a list of the greatest TB fillies/mares of the past 100 years, who would be on it? So far, I have Rags to Riches, Regret, Ruffian, the other two who won the Derby...

Those two would be Genuine Risk and Winning Colors.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

All these fillies beat the boys at the highest level...

Ouija Board (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouija_Board_%28horse%29)
Pride
Pebbles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebbles_%28horse%29)
All Along (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Along)
Allez France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allez_France)
Miesque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miesque)
Oh so Sharp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_So_Sharp)
Lochsong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lochsong)
And the queen of them all, $10m earner and 3 time Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makybe_Diva).

For National Hunt racing....
Dawn Run (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Run)
Registana
Princesse d'Anjou

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Possibly the greatest of them all was Sceptre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sceptre_%28horse%29).
She ran in all five English classics, winning four of them. Beat the boys in the 2000 Guineas, then won the 1000 Guineas a couple of days later against the girls. Ran in the Derby, finished 4th. Then came out two days later and won the Oaks over the same course and distance, 12f at Epsom (and people say you can run a horse twice in a week!). She then capped the year off by beating the boys in the final English classic, the St Leger.
That's a racehorse.

[Wilco]

I would add Lady's Secret, Althea (and my own personal favorite, Mandy's Gold, because I used to gallop her and she ran against Azeri) to the list.

[Carol Ames]

Flor Bowl

[Drvmb1ggl3]

I guess no list would be complete without Kincsem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kincsem).

[JER]

Dahlia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlia_%28horse%29)

Fantastic racehorse and broodmare.

[fish]

Mumtaz Mahal, Moccasin, Landaluce, Terlingua, Safely Kept. Kincsem is outside the 100 time frame, but it's a shame she is not better remembered: undefeated in 54 starts. Why is she not spoken of with the same reverence as Man O'War, Eclipse or, at least, Colin?

[findeight]

Always liked Lady's Secret. And, of course, Personal Ensign who, I believe, put some good babies on the ground.

[LaurieB]

A personal favorite: Flanders

[findeight]

A personal favorite: Flanders

Gosh, I still get chills remembering Flanders in the Breeders Cup-had money on that too;). She went on to have a couple of good babies as well, didn't she?

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Affectionately

[fish]

Not as a racehorse, but certainly a great TB mare: Touch of Class :)

[dreamswept]

Sightseek
Silverbulletday

And for great fillies and mares who've beaten the boys:
Ipi Tombe
Serena's Song
Six Perfections

[JHUshoer20]

Sightseek
Silverbulletday

And for great fillies and mares who've beaten the boys:
Ipi Tombe
Serena's Song
Six Perfections
Wow dreamswept. You're first after all these posts. What took so long before somebody said Silverbulletday?
George

[dreamswept]

Wow dreamswept. You're first after all these posts. What took so long before somebody said Silverbulletday?
George

I dunno.

[Xctrygirl]

My own emotions...

Maxzene

Manistique

Round Pond


~Emily

[horselips]

Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Begam

[Cherry]

For me it will always be my very own little TB mare, Cherry Run (Northern Dancer great grand-daughter)!!! :yes: :lol:

She's twenty-three years old, has big knee syndrome and is soldiering on despite it. I know her days are numbered but her attitude is good, she's not cranky and not letting that darn knee slow her down. She was really, really bad in the early Spring and I thought I'd have to put her down on the spot but with the vet's help and a few drugs and she is bright, alert and ready to take on the world--still.... Never won a race on the track but she is surely winning at the game of Life! :yes: :)

The other day I walked her down to graze in the pasture--she did a little rear and pulled the lead rope out of my hand (she's "crippled" so I didn't think I needed to have a tight grip on it) and went for a gallop in the pasture!!!! :eek: :yes: Two months ago she could barely put one foot in front of the other.... :eek: She sure can pick up that leg when she thinks she needs to.... No ill effects from her antics the next day either..... :eek: But I don't encourage her.... :(

Thoroughbreds (mares especially) just know when they can do something and just do it!!!! :winkgrin: :yes: :lol: :)

[imissvixen]

Do you all think this is a topic worthy of a book? I finished my last one -- not horsey -- and was getting geared up for the next one -- not horsey -- and all of a sudden got this inspiration instead. Problem is that I am not Laura Hillenbrand.

[Twilight]

Lord yes - I definitely think its worthy of a book.

Not that I am an expert but my vote would go to Go for Wand.

[hype]

The thing that made Laura H's Seabiscuit so good was that it wasn't simply about a horse. It encompassed the spirit of America and never giving up. Corny I know but it was true on many different levels especially during the time period in which it took place.

My husband who hates horses really enjoyed the book. It ended up on the Bestseller's list because it spoke to more than the horsey set.

It was truly one of my all time favorite books, well written and a facinating snapshot of American history. I was sad when it was over.

So, depends on what you want to write and the audience that you want to write it for. As you can tell from the TV coverage of the Triple Crown races, most of American is more interested in the human side of the story than the horses themselves.

[rebeginner]

I would like to think that this year's good news story may yet be Pepper's Pride.

[johnnysauntie]

Won the Derby, second in the Preakness and Belmont, third in the Wood - that's a good record for a colt!

For sheer brilliance, Ruffian.

[ivy62]

May I add Pine Island to the list....and Fleet Indian...

[Barnfairy]

Don't forget Mom's Command (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mom's_Command).

[Showponymom Aefvue Mid Atlantic Division]

What a great list!

I have to say that Banquet Bell and Gay Hostess are on my list. I love the older mares in pedigrees.

[vineyridge]

Don't forget Primonetta and Bayakoa. And Gamely and Misty Morn and Tosmah. And Azeri.

Probably the greatest American mare is outside the time limit--Miss Woodford.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

Dance Smartly

[rio2]

LANDALUCE :yes::yes:

"Landaluce captured the public's heart as an undefeated two-year-old. She broke their hearts when she suddenly died, on a day meant to have marked her probable sixth victory celebration in a row. Two weeks later, on a day that might have marked her seventh, and final, victory of the season, her fans gathered at her burial at Hollywood Park to pay final tribute to the courageous filly -- one of the most memorable runners of all time.

Every superlative in the books has been used to describe the brilliant two-year-old Landaluce. In her first time on the track, Landaluce startled the racing world by breaking her maiden by seven lengths in 1:08 1/5 for the six furlongs. She raced into history with a series of stakes wins, hitting her stride with remarkable victories of 21, 6 1/2, 10, and 2 lengths in flawless execution.

No California-based two-year-old had ever won an Eclipse Award before Landaluce. A daughter of 1977 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, out of that great horse's first crop of foals, Landaluce attracted widespread attention and interest. She was a fitting daughter of the famed Seattle Slew, showing early ability and the same blazing speed that characterized her sire.

After five wins, Landaluce was clearly racing toward an outstanding destiny, but it wasn't the kind anyone could have predicted. For on Nov 28, 1982, the classy little filly died of a bacterial infection. Death took her suddenly, but not before she had crossed the line which separates merely great horses from legends. With her unbroken string of wins, Landaluce had already skyrocketed into the public's hearts and affection as one of the top performers of all time."

[Twilight]

Any thoughts on Our Mims? I think she deserves a mention.

[cloudyandcallie]

add
Genuine Risk, beautiful and fast
and
Winning Colors
and Mother Hilda (dam of my mare! and a winner on the track):winkgrin:

[Wilco]

The great and tragic Landaluce, It's in the Air, Waltz Song and Night Fax.

[Calico]

I haven't seen Alexander Goldrun, Ta Wee, or Paseana mentioned yet.

[Twilight]

Ohhh - Ta Wee - I love that one!

Forgot about her - she has some of the same bloodlines as my little Perturbed. Sort of...

[jengersnap]

Several that I consider "All Time Greats" are:

My Juliet (exceptional sprinter)



Hubby use to gallop her. Heard lots of nice stories about her too.

In my lifetime, Dance Smartly. Not just for what she did on the track, which was immense, but also for her longevity on the track and later what she passed down.

[haligator]

Hi All,
What about Susan's Girl, Desert Vixen, and Poker Night?

I, of course, have a thing for Genuine Risk....

The recently departed Eight Belles, and her stablemate Proud Spell.

And in terms of the greatest, my vote would have to go to Ta Wee. A case could be made that she is arguably the best horse of either gender of all time.

Hallie McEvoy
Racing Dreams, LLC