National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 1955, the museum moved to its current location on Union Avenue near Saratoga Race Course, at which time inductions into the hall of fame began. Each spring, following the tabulation of the final votes, the announcement of new inductees is made, usually during Kentucky Derby Week in early May. The actual inductions are held in mid-August during the Saratoga race meeting.
The Hall of Fame's nominating committee selects eight to ten candidates from among the four Contemporary categories to be presented to the voters. Changes in voting procedures that commenced with the 2010 candidates allow the voters to choose multiple candidates from a single Contemporary category, instead of a single candidate from each of the four Contemporary categories. For example, in 2016, two mares were inducted at the same time.
The museum also houses a large collection of art, artifacts, and memorabilia that document the history of horse racing from the eighteenth century to the present.
History
The National Museum of Racing was founded in 1950, led by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and a group of people interested in thoroughbred racing. The museum first opened its doors in 1951, at which time it occupied a single room in Saratoga's Canfield Casino. The establishment was supported by the city of Saratoga Springs, which donated $2,500, the Saratoga Racing Association, which donated $5,000, and various patrons of the sport, who also donated various pieces of art and memorabilia. The first item in the museum's collection was a horseshoe worn by the great Lexington.In 1955, the museum relocated to its current location on Union Avenue, across the street from the main entrance of the historic Saratoga Race Course. The museum was relocated to a newly reconstructed building and a thoroughbred racing Hall of Fame was included. Since then, the museum has expanded several times to allow for the display of its extensive art collection and more multimedia displays on the history of the sport.
Horses in the Hall of Fame
In the early years, inductions to the hall of fame were based on the evaluation of a panel of racing historians. In 1955, a group of nine horses from the earliest years of the American turf were inducted. The 1956 class included 11 horses that raced around the turn of the century, while the 1957 class included 10 horses that raced up to the mid-thirties. Since then, the classes have been significantly smaller as the inductions shifted to more contemporary horses. Under current rules, a horse must have been retired for a minimum of five full calendar years to be eligible for the hall of fame. Thoroughbreds remain eligible in the contemporary category between five and 25 calendar years following their final racing year.After that point, the Historic Review Committee will consider horses, jockeys, and trainers on a triennial basis based on eras in a format similar to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committees, on an alternating basis based on eras.
- Pre-20th Century
- 20th Century, Pre-1960
- Post-1960
| Photo | Name | Inducted | Career years | Starts | Wins |
| A.P. Indy | 2000 | 1991β1992 | 11 | 8 | |
| Ack Ack | 1986 | 1968β1971 | 27 | 19 | |
| Affectionately | 1989 | 1962β1965 | 52 | 28 | |
| Affirmed | 1980 | 1977β1979 | 29 | 22 | |
| All Along | 1990 | 1981β1984 | 21 | 9 | |
| Alsab | 1976 | 1941β1944 | 51 | 25 | |
| Alydar | 1989 | 1977β1979 | 26 | 14 | |
| Alysheba | 1993 | 1986β1988 | 26 | 11 | |
| American Eclipse | 1970 | 1818β1823 | 8 | 8 | |
| American Pharoah | 2021 | 2014β2015 | 11 | 9 | |
| Ancient Title | 2008 | 1972β1978 | 57 | 24 | |
| Aristides | 2024 | 1874β1878 | 21 | 9 | |
| Armed | 1963 | 1944β1950 | 81 | 41 | |
| Arrogate | 2023 | 2016β2017 | 11 | 7 | |
| Artful | 1956 | 1904β1905 | 8 | 6 | |
| Arts and Letters | 1994 | 1968β1970 | 23 | 11 | |
| Ashado | 2014 | 2003β2005 | 21 | 12 | |
| Assault | 1964 | 1945β1950 | 42 | 18 | |
| Azeri | 2010 | 2001β2004 | 24 | 17 | |
| Battleship | 1969 | 1929β1938 | 55 | 24 | |
| Bayakoa | 1998 | 1986β1991 | 39 | 21 | |
| Bed O' Roses | 1976 | 1949β1952 | 46 | 18 | |
| Beholder | 2022 | 2012β2016 | 26 | 18 | |
| Beldame | 1956 | 1903β1905 | 31 | 17 | |
| Ben Brush | 1955 | 1895β1897 | 40 | 25 | |
| Ben Nevis II | 2009 | 1976β1980 | 21 | 9 | |
| Best Pal | 2010 | 1990β1996 | 47 | 18 | |
| Bewitch | 1977 | 1947β1951 | 55 | 20 | |
| Billy Kelly | 2015 | 1918β1923 | 69 | 39 | |
| Bimelech | 1990 | 1939β1941 | 15 | 11 | |
| Black Gold | 1989 | 1923-4 1927-8 | 35 | 18 | |
| Black Helen | 1991 | 1934β1935 | 22 | 15 | |
| Blue Larkspur | 1957 | 1928β1930 | 16 | 10 | |
| Bold 'n Determined | 1997 | 1979β1981 | 20 | 16 | |
| Bold Ruler | 1973 | 1956β1958 | 33 | 23 | |
| Bon Nouvel | 1976 | 1963β1968 | 51 | 16 | |
| Boston | 1955 | 1836β1843 | 45 | 40 | |
| Bowl of Flowers | 2004 | 1960β1961 | 16 | 10 | |
| Broomstick | 1956 | 1903β1905 | 39 | 14 | |
| Buckpasser | 1970 | 1965β1967 | 31 | 25 | |
| Busher | 1964 | 1944β1947 | 21 | 15 | |
| Bushranger | 1967 | 1932β1936 | 21 | 11 | |
| Cafe Prince | 1985 | 1972β1980 | 52 | 18 | |
| California Chrome | 2023 | 2013β2017 | 27 | 16 | |
| Carry Back | 1975 | 1960β1963 | 61 | 21 | |
| Cavalcade | 1993 | 1933β1936 | 22 | 8 | |
| Challedon | 1977 | 1938β1942 | 44 | 20 | |
| Chris Evert | 1988 | 1973β1975 | 15 | 10 | |
| Cicada | 1967 | 1961β1964 | 42 | 23 | |
| Cigar | 2002 | 1993β1996 | 33 | 19 | |
| Citation | 1959 | 1947β1951 | 45 | 32 | |
| Clifford | 2014 | 1892β1897 | 62 | 42 | |
| Coaltown | 1983 | 1948β1951 | 39 | 23 | |
| Colin | 1956 | 1907β1908 | 15 | 15 | |
| Commando | 1956 | 1900β1901 | 9 | 7 | |
| Cougar II | 2006 | 1968β1973 | 50 | 20 | |
| Count Fleet | 1961 | 1942β1943 | 21 | 16 | |
| Crusader | 1995 | 1925β1928 | 42 | 18 | |
| Curlin | 2014 | 2007β2008 | 16 | 11 | |
| Dahlia | 1981 | 1972β1976 | 48 | 15 | |
| Damascus | 1974 | 1966β1968 | 32 | 21 | |
| Dance Smartly | 2003 | 1990β1992 | 17 | 12 | |
| Dark Mirage | 1974 | 1967β1969 | 27 | 12 | |
| Davona Dale | 1985 | 1978β1980 | 18 | 11 | |
| Decathlon | 2025 | 1955-1957 | 42 | 25 | |
| Desert Vixen | 1979 | 1972β1975 | 28 | 13 | |
| Devil Diver | 1980 | 1941β1945 | 47 | 22 | |
| Discovery | 1969 | 1933β1936 | 63 | 27 | |
| Domino | 1955 | 1893β1895 | 25 | 19 | |
| Dr. Fager | 1971 | 1966β1968 | 22 | 18 | |
| Duke of Magenta | 2011 | 1877β1878 | 19 | 15 | |
| Easy Goer | 1997 | 1988β1990 | 20 | 14 | |
| Eight Thirty | 1994 | 1938β1941 | 27 | 16 | |
| Elkridge | 1966 | 1941β1951 | 123 | 31 | |
| Emperor of Norfolk | 1988 | 1887β1888 | 29 | 21 | |
| Equipoise | 1957 | 1930β1935 | 51 | 29 | |
| Exceller | 1999 | 1975β1979 | 33 | 15 | |
| Exterminator | 1957 | 1917β1924 | 100 | 50 | |
| Fair Play | 1956 | 1907β1909 | 32 | 10 | |
| Fairmount | 1985 | 1923β1931 | 22 | 12 | |
| Fashion | 1980 | 1840β1848 | 36 | 32 | |
| Firenze | 1981 | 1886β1891 | 82 | 47 | |
| Flatterer | 1994 | 1982β1987 | 51 | 24 | |
| Flawlessly | 2004 | 1990β1994 | 28 | 16 | |
| Foolish Pleasure | 1995 | 1974β1976 | 26 | 16 | |
| Forego | 1979 | 1973β1978 | 57 | 34 | |
| Fort Marcy | 1998 | 1966β1971 | 75 | 21 | |
| Gallant Bloom | 1977 | 1968β1970 | 22 | 16 | |
| Gallant Fox | 1957 | 1929β1930 | 17 | 11 | |
| Gallant Man | 1987 | 1956β1958 | 26 | 14 | |
| Gallorette | 1962 | 1944β1948 | 72 | 21 | |
| Gamely | 1980 | 1967β1969 | 41 | 16 | |
| Genuine Risk | 1986 | 1979β1981 | 15 | 10 | |
| Ghostzapper | 2012 | 2002β2005 | 11 | 9 | |
| Go For Wand | 1996 | 1989β1990 | 13 | 10 | |
| Goldikova | 2017 | 2007β2011 | 27 | 17 | |
| Good and Plenty | 1956 | 1904β1907 | 21 | 14 | |
| Good Night Shirt | 2017 | 2004β2009 | 33 | 14 | |
| Granville | 1997 | 1935β1936 | 18 | 8 | |
| Grey Lag | 1957 | 1920-3, 1927-8, 1931 | 47 | 25 | |
| Gun Bow | 1999 | 1963β1965 | 42 | 17 | |
| Gun Runner | 2024 | 2015β17 | 19 | 12 | |
| Hamburg | 1986 | 1897β1898 | 21 | 16 | |
| Hanover | 1955 | 1886β1889 | 50 | 32 | |
| Harry Bassett | 2010 | 1870β1874 | 36 | 23 | |
| Heavenly Prize | 2018 | 1993β1996 | 18 | 9 | |
| Henry of Navarre | 1985 | 1893β1896 | 42 | 29 | |
| Hermis | 2025 | 1901-1905 | 55 | 28 | |
| Hill Prince | 1991 | 1949β1952 | 30 | 17 | |
| Hillsdale | 2022 | 1957β1959 | 41 | 23 | |
| Hindoo | 1955 | 1880β1882 | 35 | 30 | |
| Holy Bull | 2001 | 1993β1995 | 16 | 13 | |
| Housebuster | 2013 | 1989β1991 | 22 | 15 | |
| Imp | 1965 | 1896β1901 | 171 | 62 | |
| Inside Information | 2008 | 1993β1995 | 17 | 14 | |
| Invasor | 2013 | 2005β2007 | 12 | 11 | |
| Jay Trump | 1971 | 1959β1966 | 26 | 12 | |
| John Henry | 1990 | 1977β1984 | 83 | 39 | |
| Johnstown | 1992 | 1938β1939 | 21 | 14 | |
| Jolly Roger | 1965 | 1924β1930 | 49 | 18 | |
| Justify | 2024 | 2018 | 6 | 5 | |
| Kelso | 1967 | 1959β1966 | 63 | 39 | |
| Kentucky | 1983 | 1863β1866 | 23 | 21 | |
| Kingston | 1955 | 1886β1894 | 138 | 89 | |
| L'Escargot | 1977 | 1968β1975 | 53 | 12 | |
| La Prevoyante | 1995 | 1972β1974 | 39 | 25 | |
| Lady's Secret | 1992 | 1984β1987 | 45 | 25 | |
| Lava Man | 2015 | 2003β2009 | 47 | 17 | |
| Lecomte | 2024 | 1852β1856 | 17 | 11 | |
| Lexington | 1955 | 1853β1854 | 7 | 6 | |
| Lonesome Glory | 2005 | 1991β1999 | 42 | 23 | |
| Longfellow | 1971 | 1870β1872 | 16 | 13 | |
| Luke Blackburn | 1956 | 1879β1881 | 39 | 25 | |
| Lure | 2013 | 1991β1994 | 25 | 14 | |
| Majestic Prince | 1988 | 1968β1969 | 10 | 9 | |
| Man o' War | 1957 | 1919β1920 | 21 | 20 | |
| Manila | 2008 | 1985β1987 | 18 | 12 | |
| Maskette | 2001 | 1908β1910 | 17 | 12 | |
| McDynamo | 2013 | 2000β2007 | 34 | 17 | |
| Miesque | 1999 | 1986β1988 | 16 | 12 | |
| Miss Woodford | 1967 | 1882β1886 | 48 | 37 | |
| Mom's Command | 2007 | 1984β1985 | 16 | 11 | |
| My Juliet | 2019 | 1974β1977 | 36 | 24 | |
| Myrtlewood | 1979 | 1934β1936 | 22 | 15 | |
| Nashua | 1965 | 1954β1956 | 30 | 22 | |
| Native Dancer | 1963 | 1952β1954 | 22 | 21 | |
| Native Diver | 1978 | 1961β1967 | 81 | 37 | |
| Needles | 2000 | 1955β1957 | 21 | 11 | |
| Neji | 1966 | 1953β1960 | 49 | 17 | |
| Noor | 2002 | 1947β1950 | 31 | 12 | |
| Northern Dancer | 1976 | 1963β1964 | 18 | 14 | |
| Oedipus | 1978 | 1948β1952 | 58 | 14 | |
| Old Rosebud | 1968 | 1913-4, 1917, 1919β22 | 80 | 40 | |
| Omaha | 1965 | 1934β1936 | 22 | 9 | |
| Open Mind | 2011 | 1988β1990 | 19 | 12 | |
| Pan Zareta | 1972 | 1912β1917 | 151 | 76 | |
| Parole | 1984 | 1875β1885 | 138 | 59 | |
| Paseana | 2001 | 1990β1985 | 36 | 19 | |
| Personal Ensign | 1993 | 1986β1988 | 13 | 13 | |
| Peter Pan | 1956 | 1906β1907 | 17 | 10 | |
| Planet | 2012 | 1858β1860 | 31 | 27 | |
| Point Given | 2010 | 2000β2001 | 13 | 9 | |
| Preakness | 2018 | 1870β1876 | 39 | 18 | |
| Precisionist | 2003 | 1983β1988 | 46 | 20 | |
| Princess Doreen | 1982 | 1923β1927 | 94 | 34 | |
| Princess Rooney | 1991 | 1982β1984 | 21 | 17 | |
| Rachel Alexandra | 2016 | 2008β2010 | 19 | 13 | |
| Real Delight | 1987 | 1952β1953 | 15 | 12 | |
| Regret | 1957 | 1914β1917 | 11 | 9 | |
| Reigh Count | 1978 | 1927β1929 | 27 | 12 | |
| Riva Ridge | 1998 | 1971β1973 | 30 | 17 | |
| Roamer | 1981 | 1913β1919 | 98 | 39 | |
| Roseben | 1956 | 1903β1909 | 111 | 52 | |
| Royal Delta | 2019 | 2010β2013 | 22 | 12 | |
| Royal Heroine | 2022 | 1982β1984 | 21 | 10 | |
| Round Table | 1972 | 1956β1959 | 66 | 43 | |
| Ruffian | 1976 | 1974β1975 | 11 | 10 | |
| Ruthless | 1975 | 1866β1867 | 11 | 7 | |
| Safely Kept | 2011 | 1988β1991 | 31 | 24 | |
| Salvator | 1955 | 1888β1890 | 19 | 16 | |
| Sarazen | 1957 | 1923β1928 | 55 | 27 | |
| Seabiscuit | 1958 | 1935β1940 | 89 | 33 | |
| Searching | 1978 | 1954β1958 | 89 | 25 | |
| Seattle Slew | 1981 | 1976β1978 | 17 | 14 | |
| Secretariat | 1974 | 1972β1973 | 21 | 16 | |
| Serena's Song | 2002 | 1994β1996 | 38 | 18 | |
| Shuvee | 1975 | 1968β1971 | 44 | 16 | |
| Silver Charm | 2007 | 1996β1999 | 24 | 12 | |
| Silver Spoon | 1978 | 1958β1960 | 27 | 13 | |
| Silverbulletday | 2009 | 1998β2000 | 23 | 15 | |
| Sir Archy | 1955 | 1808β1809 | 7 | 4 | |
| Sir Barton | 1957 | 1918β1920 | 31 | 13 | |
| Skip Away | 2004 | 1995β1998 | 38 | 18 | |
| Sky Beauty | 2011 | 1992β1995 | 21 | 15 | |
| Slew o' Gold | 1992 | 1982β1984 | 20 | 12 | |
| Smarty Jones | 2025 | 2003-2004 | 9 | 8 | |
| Songbird | 2023 | 2015β2017 | 15 | 13 | |
| Spectacular Bid | 1982 | 1978β1980 | 30 | 26 | |
| Stymie | 1975 | 1943β1949 | 131 | 35 | |
| Sun Beau | 1996 | 1927β1931 | 74 | 33 | |
| Sunday Silence | 1996 | 1988β1990 | 14 | 9 | |
| Susan's Girl | 1976 | 1971β1975 | 63 | 29 | |
| Swaps | 1966 | 1954β1956 | 25 | 19 | |
| Swoon's Son | 2007 | 1955β1958 | 51 | 30 | |
| Sword Dancer | 1977 | 1958β1960 | 39 | 15 | |
| Sysonby | 1956 | 1904β1905 | 15 | 14 | |
| Ta Wee | 1994 | 1968β1970 | 21 | 15 | |
| Ten Broeck | 1982 | 1874β1878 | 30 | 23 | |
| Tepin | 2022 | 2013β2016 | 23 | 13 | |
| Tim Tam | 1985 | 1957β1958 | 14 | 10 | |
| Tiznow | 2009 | 2000β2001 | 15 | 8 | |
| Tom Fool | 1960 | 1951β1953 | 30 | 21 | |
| Tom Ochiltree | 2016 | 1875β1877 | 33 | 21 | |
| Tom Bowling | 2020 | 1872β1874 | 17 | 14 | |
| Top Flight | 1966 | 1931β1932 | 16 | 12 | |
| Tosmah | 1984 | 1963β1966 | 39 | 23 | |
| Tuscalee | 2013 | 1963β1972 | 89 | 39 | |
| Twenty Grand | 1957 | 1930β1935 | 25 | 14 | |
| Twilight Tear | 1963 | 1943β1945 | 24 | 18 | |
| Two Lea | 1982 | 1948β1952 | 26 | 15 | |
| War Admiral | 1958 | 1936β1939 | 26 | 21 | |
| Waya | 2019 | 1977β1979 | 29 | 14 | |
| Whirlaway | 1959 | 1940β1943 | 60 | 32 | |
| Whisk Broom II | 1979 | 1909β1913 | 26 | 10 | |
| Wise Dan | 2020 | 2010β2014 | 31 | 23 | |
| Winning Colors | 2000 | 1987β1989 | 19 | 8 | |
| Xtra Heat | 2015 | 2000β2003 | 35 | 26 | |
| Zaccio | 1990 | 1979β1984 | 42 | 22 | |
| Zenyatta | 2016 | 2007β2010 | 20 | 19 | |
| Zev | 1983 | 1922β1924 | 43 | 23 |
Source: National Museum of Racing and Hall
Jockeys in the Hall of Fame
Contemporary jockeys become eligible for the Hall of Fame after they have been licensed for at least 20 years, and remain eligible until 25 years after retirement. A five year waiting period is required for jockeys whose body of work would be eligible for the Hall of Fame, but was not licensed for 15 years. A jockey who was licensed from 16-19 years before retirement will be eligible once 20 years from the first year of license or the five year retirement is waived by vote.Source: National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Legend:
* Still active
** Wins in North America only
Trainers in the Hall of Fame
Contemporary trainers become eligible for the Hall of Fame after they have been licensed for at least 25 years, and remain eligible until 25 years after retirement. In special circumstances such as fragile health, the 25 year requirement may be waived though there is usually a five-year waiting period after retirement in such cases.Exemplars of Racing
| Name | Year awarded |
| George D. Widener Jr. | 1971 |
| Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 1973 |
| John W. Hanes | 1982 |
| Paul Mellon | 1989 |
| Martha F. Gerry | 2007 |
Pillars of the Turf
Established in 2013, the Hall of Fame states that the Pillars of the Turf category honors those "who have made extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing in a leadership or pioneering capacity at the highest national level."Museum Exhibits
In addition to the Hall of Fame, the museum houses numerous exhibits. These include:- The Link Gallery, which features a bronze statue, Seasick, and a rotating selection of paintings
- The Sculpture Gallery, which features work by June Harrah, Herbert Haseltine, Marilyn Newmark, Jim Reno, John Skeaping and Eleanor Iselin Wade, among others. The gallery looks out onto the inner courtyard, which features a life-size bronze of Secretariat by Skeaping
- The Colonial Gallery, which covers the ocean transportation of horses and the foundations of American racing
- The Pre-Civil War Gallery, covering the expansion of racing during the early 19th century
- The Post-Civil War Gallery, covering the continued expansion of racing after the Civil War until a backlash to gambling in the early 20th century led to the closure of many tracks
- The 20th Century Gallery, which covers more recent topics
- The Eclipse Gallery, featuring award-winning entries from the Eclipse Award photography competition
- The Racing Day Gallery, which features displays about jockeys, odds and the Breeders' Cup
- The Anatomy Room, covering the breeding and biology of the Thoroughbred
- The Triple Crown Gallery, including information and artifacts related to Triple Crown history
- The Steeplechase Gallery, covering the history of steeplechase racing in America
- The von Stade Gallery, which displays a selection of paintings, works on paper, or photographic prints from the Museum Collection
- The Peter McBean Gallery, which houses temporary exhibitions, a semi-permanent Hall of Fame Heroes exhibition and seasonal exhibitions. It also houses a collection bequeathed by John Nerud, including trophies and paintings of the Hall of Fame horses he trained, Gallant Man and Dr. Fager