The big names are the same as yours.
I love Barbaro and I loved seeing him win the derby (and never losing any race) and I followed his recovery every day and cried for a couple weeks at his death.
I didn't understand all the fuss about Secretariat until I watched his Belmont run on You Tube... since then, I'm a believer... he really is a stunningly talented horse. He had no reason to run as strong as he did to the end of the Belmont... he did it just because he's a champion. He could have trotted the home stretch and still won. People say Man O War was better because he won every race (save the one he started facing the wrong way) and he was never fully extended, but I think the Belmont makes Secretariat better... he had no reason to be fully extended, but he pulled his lead open to an amazing 31 lengths! He won the Belmont, a longer race, faster than he won the Derby! That's a champion.
That said, I think Man O War is wonderful too. He was great at everything... he was hard to train because he was such a thoroughbred, he was an amazing runner, he was a great sire... his progeny is still successful today... and he made many champions, better than Secretariat's progeny. The 28 foot stride is amazing. His following was stronger than any other horse in history... people had the day off of work for his funeral!
Ruffian's my favorite. She was absolutely beautiful and so graceful when she trotted and ran. She never let anyone in front of her and ran hard in every race and met or beat a record in every race. She broke her leg and kept running anyway, refusing to give up the race even in extreme pain. I can't even express the way I feel about this horse... it's just such a shame that they didn't know to awake a horse in a pool at that time. Had they done so, she could have stayed with us a lot longer.
They're all my favorite, but here's a list of some more...
Afleet Alex - I'm sorry he got injured that summer... I was looking forward to his return in the Breeders, but it wasn't meant to be. But Stud is a pretty good job to have. He was cute and small, but fierce. He didn't lose the Derby by very much, but he proved he was a true champion in the Preakness when he clipped heals with Scrappy T and still went on to win, then in the Belmont where he had a good run and was simply the best horse. And the Lemonade Stand got a lot of money ;o)
Go For Wand - She's another champion filly. She ran beautifully and refused defeat. She snapped her leg in half and fell down and still got up and crossed the finish line and ran to the winners circle. She had such determination. We need more horses like her.
Charismatic - the poor guy got no attention whatsoever before the Derby. They didn't even show him go into the starting gates. Even after he won that, he still wasn't favorite at the Preakness. I was impressed by his jockey's quick response to his leg after the Belmont. Fortunately he recovered and will be stud for the rest of his life.
I feel so bad for Ferdinand - I'm truly personally offended by the Japanese. Honestly, if you don't want the horse anymore, then send him home. Just because you don't care about the animal doesn't mean that others don't care. Derby winners deserve better than that... and so do their owners.
Cigar - America's horse. Winning the Breeders Cup was a celebration for all. He's another great champion and was really cute too.
Victory Gallop - I'm sorry about Real Quiet losing the triple crown, but the end of that race was amazing. I watched them cross the finish line many times and I still can't tell who actually won. And he's one of the horses Gary rode, so he's automatically great.
Seabiscuit - it's always great to root for the underdog. and he broke down and came back and raced again. And he was so ordinary looking... he was just perfect for the time period... it's exactly what people needed to identify with. He beat War Admiral even though the Admiral ran the fastest race he'd ever run. He's one of the all time greats.
Winning Colors: another girl who beat the boys. I love any girl who gets to run the Triple Crown.
Thunder Gulch and Point Given - because they're 2 of the greatest Gary rode.
Rock Hard 10 - he was really pretty too. He gave the appearance of power like a thoroughbred racer should.
Affirmed - for being the last to win the Triple Crown - and because he makes reading my law books more entertaining... I think of him whenever the appellate affirms the lower court decision.
Seattle Slew - for bringing 3 Triple Crown wins to the 1970s
Kelso - for being 5 time Horse of the Year! No one else managed that
Gallant Fox and Omaha - for being the only sire and son to both win the Triple crown
Citation and Assualt - for also being Triple crown winners and making my law school experience just a little bit better
War Admiral - he tore away part of his hoof starting one of the Triple Crown races and ran all the way through to a victory anyway... such endurance.
Whirlaway and Count Fleet - to round out the Triple Crown winners... and because Whirlaway is such a cool name
Silver Charm - another great of the horses Gary has ridden. Won the Derby and Preakness, and the Dubai World Cup. Playing stud in Japan now, but the contract says the Japanese have to notify the owners if they don't want him anymore...
Tiznow - watch his Breeders wins... he's such an exciting horse to see.
Phar Lap - I know he's great, but that's about all. I watched part of the movie and one of my instructors loves the movie... she told me about the end and it was so unbelievable... his life sounds more like a soap opera than a thoroughbred's life. poor guy was poisoned to death :o(
Regret - 1st filly to win the Kentucky Derby - and I like her name... my favorite part of Halo2
Alydar and Sham - poor guys always finished second. Sham ran the second fastest Derby ever and gets no attention because he came second to the greatest of them all: Secretariat.
Sir Barton - for being the first to win the Triple Crown. and a few extra points because I forgot him earlier
Fair Play - for sire-ing one of the greatest
and we'll throw in Dreamer and Wildfire for fun... because you didn't say they had to be real ;o)
There's so many great race horses. the others aren't on my list just because I don't yet know who they are... Every racehorse in history is my favorite. The sport is wonderful and the athletes are the most important thing. I don't care whether they're winners or losers... they deserve all of the attention they can get.