Royal Mail have announced that their 2017 "Special Stamp Programme" will include the theme of "Racehorse Legends" in April. The press release states: "Racehorse Legends will feature eight champion horses that achieved their greatest wins on UK race courses over the last six decades. The stamp issue features original artwork commissioned by Royal Mail of four flat racers and four national hunt horses captured in action during the course of their iconic wins. Included in the stamp issue is Desert ‘Dessie’ Orchid winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989." Anyone care to place their bets on who else will feature (going back to the 1960s)? I'm guessing Arkle and Frankel are shoe-ins, and Mill Reef and/or Brigadier Gerard are very likely. This is the Desert Orchid stamp: please log in to view this image
I guess the clue is in the words "on UK racecourses over the last 6 decades" (this disqualifies Dancing Brave I reckon) NH: Arkle, Red Rum, Desert Orchid, Kauto Star Flat: Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef, Shergar, Frankel
Mentioned this a couple of days ago on the art thread Flat - not sure but I would like to see Nijinksy on the list NH - Arkle, Red Rum, Kauto Star?
NH is the easier section, in terms of legends. Although there are plenty who could challenge Arkle, Red Rum, Desert Orchid, Kauto Star The flat is very difficult, with so many to choose from. Bearing in mind the word "legends" I think Shergar might be there. Obviously Frankel. Black Caviar could be there. Sea Bird possibly. It's the word "legends" that make it difficult to predict what they may come up with (ie as opposed to the best)
The horses I think will be on the list are. In order of how likely I think they are to be on the list. Jumps Desert Orchid (we already know) Red Rum Arkle Kauto Star Flat Shergar Frankel Nijinsky Brigadier Gerard That's how I think they will go, based on how famous, and how popular the horses in question where. However I feel horses like Sprinter Sacre, Big Bucks and Istabraq deserve a place ahead of a few of the others, but they will be denied a place, because they where not Gold Cup or Grand National horses. Despite being more dominant in there own sphere than any of the others with the exception of maybe Arkle.
I always feel that he gets forgotten about too many times. Triple Crown winner that sired 3 Derby winners etc
The wording of the communiqué states eight champions. Will that not eliminate Red Rum from contention because none of his three Grand National wins saw him end the season as champion, although he would be the most instantly recognisable famous racehorse to the general public. Given that these stamps are being issued by the Royal Mail, is it not conceivable that all of the eight champions ought to be British. That would eliminate Arkle and Nijinsky. As they stipulate that those eight champions come from the last six decades, that eliminates horses before 1960 if decades is taken literally or before 1957 if we interpret it as sixty years. Perhaps we are all a little guilty here of trying to make choices based entirely on ratings, certainly on the flat where career longevity is not generally a factor. I cannot see how Frankel will not be one of the four flat performers and Brigadier Gerard was a champion twice. It is very easy to say Mill Reef and Shergar as the other two but having ostensibly two milers and two Derby winners entirely neglects the sprinters (like Dayjur, Lochsong, Sharpo) and stayers (like Le Moss, Double Trigger, Kayf Tara). We already know Desert Orchid is one of the National Hunt quartet but there will surely be one more chaser and two hurdlers. How about Sea Pigeon or Night Nurse for a hurdler? Or triple Champion Hurdle winners Persian War and See You Then?
Can't see Dayjur, not because he is undeserving but so much importance is placed on the classic races here in Britain. That sprinters tend to get unfairly overlooked. His achievements would probably be more appreciated in Australia. Sea The Stars might have an outside chance, but I'd still be suprised if he got in. Even though his achievements are fully deserving.
Night Nurse did come to mind, being one of my favourites but the possibilities are many in the hurdling ranks (eg Istabraq and those you have mentioned). Difficult to pick one from those. I don't know why they chose 6 decades. I reckon that was so they could include one from the earliest of those decades. Should have gone back another decade to include Ribot. I haven't seen the wording; I understood it was legends to race in England. How long before we find out?
