Following the Cheltenham thread and watching videos reminded me of some of the great steeplechase horses I had the privlige of watching many years ago. For those of you who enjoy pedigrees here are links to their breeding:
http://www.pedigreequery.com/cafe+prince
[URL=“http://www.pedigreequery.com/leaping+frog”]http://www.pedigreequery.com/uncle+mustard
http://www.pedigreequery.com/zaccio
http://www.pedigreequery.com/ripon
Isn’t Lonesome Glory generally considered the most accomplished steeplechase horse in the US? The five-time Eclipse Winning horse (1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999) only retired in 1999 and unfortunately died prematurely in 2002 due to a paddock accident at the age of 14.
He was inducted in the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2005. The same year as trainer Nick Zito and steeplechase jockey Thomas Walsh and trainer Sidney Watters Jr.
Lonesome Glory’s overall career was 44 24-5-6; however within steeplechasing only he won 19 jump races (17 in the U.S. and two in England) from 35 starts and retired with steeplechase earnings of $1,352,868 [the record at the time].
He won the Colonial Cup three times, the Carolina Cup twice, and such other distinguished events as the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase at Belmont Park, Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg, Iroquois at Nashville, New York Turf Writers Cup at Saratoga, Hard Scuffle at Churchill Downs, and Royal Chase at Keeneland.
Sent to England two times three years apart, he won the Sport of Kings Challenge at historic Cheltenham and a handicap steeplechase at Sandown by 11 lengths. Lonesome Glory accepted weight assignments of up to 168 pounds and won under as much as 166. He twice had winning streaks of five races and won at distances ranging from 1 3/8 miles to three miles.
His five championships surpass only Flatterer among steeplechasers, and put him on par with Kelso’s run of five Horse of the Year titles or Forego’s string of four consecutive older male championships. Since the Eclipse Awards were created in 1971, only four other horses have won five or more (of any type). The others were Forego, John Henry, Affirmed and Secretariat.
I still think that Jay Trump is hard to beat. He won the triple crown of American Steeplechasing, went to England, and won at Aintree, and returned to win the Maryland Hunt Cup.
Pretty darn amazing.
It’s hard to imagine but there was once a big steeplechase track here in Northridge, California, called Devonshire Downs. (San Fernando Valley.)
Flatterer
Darn Tip Alarm
Elk – something – great horse from years past but my mind is not working …again!
PennyG
Darn Tipalarm was very nice, but I wouldn’t put him as one of the greats.
My recollections are more recent, but I’d have to put in there Good Night Shirt, Ironfist, Buck Jakes, McDynamo, Saluter…
Elkridge is who I was trying to remember.
PennyG
Darn Tip Alarm certainly could have been one of the greats - he unfortunately died after a schooling accident. I believe he won over hurdles, over timber as well as over the steeplethon course. A very versatile horse.
Ben Nevis 
Leaping Frog! Another from way back
Saluter
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