In the male-dominated world of National Hunt racing, a select few mares have broken the mould—etching their names into folklore. From record-breaking achievements and upsets when making a bet on horse racing, these mares have won the hearts of fans and set the standards for future generations.
Dawn Run’s legacy is unmatched. Trained by Paddy Mullins, she remains the only horse in history to win both the Champion Hurdle (1984) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (1986).
Her victory in the Gold Cup was the stuff of legend, as she fought up the hill to defeat the gallant Wayward Lad.
Dawn Run’s versatility, courage, and partnership with jockey Jonjo O’Neill secured her a place in racing history. Her on-track death aged just eight was tragic, but her memory lives on at Cheltenham.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Anaglogs Daughter became a household name. Trained by Frank McGrath, this mare dominated the 2-mile chasing division, including a stunning victory in the 1980 Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.
She regularly took on and defeated top-class geldings, earning widespread admiration. Her thrilling, front-running style made her a fan favourite and cemented her as one of the greatest chasers of her era.
Few horses have experienced the highs and lows of Annie Power. Known initially for her heartbreaking fall in the 2015 Mares’ Hurdle, she bounced back spectacularly to win the Champion Hurdle in 2016, becoming only the fourth mare in history to achieve the feat.
Trained by Willie Mullins and often ridden by Ruby Walsh, Annie Power was a versatile and consistent performer, her brilliance encapsulated by her Cheltenham victories and dominant displays across Ireland and the UK.
While never a prolific winner, Dubacilla earned her place among the greats through her consistency and tenacity—finishing in the first three in 16 of her 22 chases.
While trained by David Nicholson toward the end of her career, she finished an admirable second in the 1994 Cheltenham Gold Cup behind The Fellow and was fourth in the 1995 Grand National.
A stayer through and through, Dubacilla frequently raced against geldings and gave her all on every occasion, earning immense respect from racing purists.
The 1990s saw Flakey Dove emerge as a top-class hurdler. Trained by Richard Price, she achieved her crowning glory in the 1994 Champion Hurdle, defeating some of the best geldings in a fiercely competitive renewal.
Her ability to perform at the highest level across multiple seasons made her a standout mare, and her victory remains one of the sport’s most cherished moments.
Arguably the greatest mare of the modern era, Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore took National Hunt racing by storm over a glittering five-year career.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare is perhaps best known for her dual Champion Hurdle successes, as well as her 16-race unbeaten streak.
While she failed to go without a loss her entire career, Honeysuckle’s victory in the Mares’ Hurdle on her final start was particularly poignant, and there were very few dry eyes in Cheltenham.
