Desert Orchid.

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Cyclonic

Cyclonic

Well Hung Member
Mar 4, 2011
13,975
3,995
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Yes I have one of these. I'm there now.
What's in a name? When it comes to Desert Orchid, it says a lot. His stats show him to be a top class race horse. Winner of the King George VI on four occasion, a win in the Irish Grand National and a three time winner of the Gainsborough. Throw in a Tingle Creek, Victor Chandler, a Whitbread, Martell Cup, the Racing Post under a massive 12s 3p and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and you get the picture. He was more than just this though, he was adored as few others are. They saw in "Dessie" something we all admire in any athlete, courage, stamina and a fighting spirit that lifts them to levels the likes of which are rarely reached. Desert Orchid was loved. The roar from the 60,000 strong crowd on that memorable day at Cheltenham when he ground his way through the mire to run down the mud loving Yahoo, nearly lifted the roof off the grandstand. Time and again, he fought off defeat until in the shadows of the post, Yahoo finally hoisted the surrender flag. Enough was enough. After the race, Simon Sherwood said of the horse. "I've never known a horse so brave. He hated every step of the way in the ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go". Richard Dunwoody would go on to say. "He was a fantastic horse to ride and without doubt the best horse I ever rode in my entire career." And Colin Brown. "He was a different class. It was like driving a Ferrari rather than a Cortina."

In a poll taken some time around 2004, Racing Post voters elected Desert Orchid the most loved racehorse of all time, beating out the wonderful Red Rum. The beloved grey passed away in 2006 aged 27 years. The clip below says it all.

[video=youtube;Hsau32l_vYI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsau32l_vYI[/video]
 
Dessie's greatest asset was his versatility. His Gold Cup victory, in March 1989, was all about stamina, resolution, bravery and heart. But in the months prior to the Gold Cup he had beaten the best 2-milers around in both the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chases. Those 2 races, which are now both Grade 1 events, were limited handicaps in Dessie's day. In the Tingle Creek Chase in December 1988, Dessie carried 12 stone and beat Jim Thorpe (rated 152 later the following year) by 12 lengths. Jim Thorpe was receiving 20lbs in weight. Perhaps more famously, Dessie beat Panto Prince in the Victor Chandler Chase in January 1989 by a head. Again, Dessie carried top weight of 12 stone and Panto Prince just 10 stone 6. Panto Prince had a Chase rating of 159. But as if to underline his versatility, between those 2 top class 2 mile chase performances, Dessie went to Kempton Park on Boxing Day 1988 and won the King George at odds of 1/2, beating Kildimo an easy 4 lengths for his second success of the race. We will never see his like again because, quite simply, racing just isn't the same sport as it was in those days, with today's top horses almost exclusively campaigned in level-weight Grade 1s. Only Kauto Star has, to my mind, ever been able to show the same versatility at the highest level.
 
I have watched that race so many times and I still can't sit still as I urge Dessie up the hill, glasses steaming up. It's as though I don't know the result. The most amazing horse ever in my opinion.

There was another amazing horse who doesn't get the widespread credit he deserved, due to the presence of Red Rum, and that was of course the brilliant 2 miler who almost gave upwards of 2 stone to Red Rum in the GN. If only that race had been run at Wetherby.
 
You know Ron, I can still remember Crisp's bold front running style. On hard fast tracks here, the big black cut a dashing figure as he bowled along in front. He's even inducted into the Hall of Fame here. The same year as Black Caviar.
 
The Crisp/Red Rum Grand National was the first one I remember watching

2 years later the family were watching and we decided to put 5p coins on the table. The only rule being if your horse placed you got the money.

I picked L'Escargot
My younger brother picked Red Rum
My mum picked Spanish Steps
My big brother picked Money Market

Wish we had taken a trip to the bookies and put on a forecast...
 
OddDog said:
Dessie's greatest asset was his versatility. His Gold Cup victory, in March 1989, was all about stamina, resolution, bravery and heart. But in the months prior to the Gold Cup he had beaten the best 2-milers around in both the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chases. Those 2 races, which are now both Grade 1 events, were limited handicaps in Dessie's day. In the Tingle Creek Chase in December 1988, Dessie carried 12 stone and beat Jim Thorpe (rated 152 later the following year) by 12 lengths. Jim Thorpe was receiving 20lbs in weight. Perhaps more famously, Dessie beat Panto Prince in the Victor Chandler Chase in January 1989 by a head. Again, Dessie carried top weight of 12 stone and Panto Prince just 10 stone 6. Panto Prince had a Chase rating of 159. But as if to underline his versatility, between those 2 top class 2 mile chase performances, Dessie went to Kempton Park on Boxing Day 1988 and won the King George at odds of 1/2, beating Kildimo an easy 4 lengths for his second success of the race. We will never see his like again because, quite simply, racing just isn't the same sport as it was in those days, with today's top horses almost exclusively campaigned in level-weight Grade 1s. Only Kauto Star has, to my mind, ever been able to show the same versatility at the highest level.
Click to expand...

Two great horses Oddy.

I'm sure fans of Flyingbolt could legitimately argue that he was even more versatile and more classy.

As a snapshot he won the 1966 Champion 'Chase by an easy 15L before turning out 24 hours later to finish a close third in the Champion Hurdle,beaten 3L after a mistake cost him any chance..(just like TNO :emoticon-0105-wink:)

He finished that season by carrying 12st7lb to victory in the Irish National over 3m2f.

Quite a C.V.
 
Yes Dex he was another exceptional horse that didn't get anything near the credit he deserved. Flyingbolt and Crisp were alike in that respect in that, Arkle and Red Rum, although undoubtedly deserving the credit they got, in terms of achievement and ability the amount of credit given to Flyingbolt and Red Rum respectively was/is totally disproportional.

I am one of the biggest Kauto fans but to be fair I think he did actually get the credit he so much deserved
 
Flyingbolt was before my time Dex, so I don't feel qualified to comment. The history books tell that he was pretty bloody special though <ok>
 
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