There have been many outstanding Kentucky Derby winners throughout history, and different people may have varying opinions on their greatness. Accordingly, here’s our list of the greatest Kentucky Derby winners.

Greatest Kentucky Derby Winners

• Affirmed (1978)
  Affirmed won fourteen Grade One stakes races over his career and was a champion in each of the three years he raced. Additionally, fans remember Affirmed for his famous rivalry with Alydar. In fact, the two met ten times, including the three 1978 Triple Crown races; Affirmed won seven of the races. In 29 starts, he posted 22 firsts, five seconds, and one third.
• Alysheba (1984)
  As a three-year-old, he under-performed in his preparatory races for the Derby until they discovered he had an entrapped epiglottis. After successful surgery, the offspring of Alydar did his sire proud, winning the 1987 Derby. In 26 starts, he posted 14 firsts, nine seconds, and one third.
• American Pharoah (2015)
  American Pharoah is a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, and in winning all four races, became the first horse to win the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing. Out of 11 career races, he finished first in nine and second in one.
• Citation (1948)
  Citation was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the eighth winner of the American Triple Crown. Additionally, he won 16 consecutive stakes races and was the first horse in history to win US $1 million. He posted 32 firsts, 10 seconds, and two thirds in 45 races.
• Count Fleet (1943)
  Count Fleet was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the sixth winner of the American Triple Crown. He died in 1973 at the age of 33 as the longest-lived Kentucky Derby winner ever. In fact, he finished in the money in all of his 21 races, posting 16 firsts, four seconds, and one third.

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Greatest Kentucky Derby Winners

• Northern Dancer (1964)
  Northern Dancer was a Thoroughbred who in 1964 became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. His career record in 18 starts is 14 firsts, two seconds, and two thirds.
• Seattle Slew (1977)
  Seattle Slew was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who became the 10th winner of the American Triple Crown, in 1977. In addition, he was the first of only two horses to have won the Triple Crown while being undefeated in any previous race (Justify was the second). Seattle Slew owns a career record of 14 firsts and two seconds in 17 races.
• Secretariat (1973)
  Secretariat was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse who is the ninth winner of the American Triple Crown, still holding the fastest time record in all three races. During his Kentucky Derby win, Secretariat ran each quarter-mile segment faster than the one before it. Many consider Secretariat the greatest racehorse of all time. In 21 races, he has 16 firsts, three seconds, and one third.
• Spectacular Bid (1979)
  Spectacular Bid was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Additionally, he holds the world record for the fastest 1 1/4 miles on the dirt. He won 26 of his 30 races and earned a then-record $2,781,607.
• War Admiral (1937)
  War Admiral was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the fourth winner of the American Triple Crown. After his career ended, his record stood at 21 firsts, three seconds, and one third in 26 races.

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