Fabulous and Fast: the female horses of the Hall of Fame

Fabulous and Fast: the female horses of the Hall of Fame, Contemporary Racing Gallery.  

On display from April 3, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

The phrase "run like a girl" began as a condescending put-down, however, it became a rallying cry when two superstar Thoroughbreds took to the track in the 21st century. Hall of Fame members Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta made "running like a girl" cool, inspiring thousands of racing fans, women and young girls across the nation by proving that despite their gender, these female horses could best their male counterparts in some of the most prestigious racing events in history.

Of the 210 Thoroughbreds inducted into the Hall of Fame (through the Class of 2018), only 66 – or approximately 31.4 percent – are female. From Affectionately to Zenyatta, Fabulous and Fast shines a spotlight on some of their most outstanding achievements with photographs, art, artifacts and multimedia from the Museum Collection on display. A movie loop featuring race footage and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and a comprehensive chart listing their lineage and accomplishments provide additional insight into their Hall of Fame careers.