Just seen a clip of sea the stars arc and jim McGrath sends shivers down my spine and lump in my throut . As he puts it perfection in equine form . I'm sure some off you lot will have have the races that will have experienced this through your racing life please share Mick
I think it will be worse whe. He runs at his last at Cheltenham and hopefully winning . All of these horses do it for me george Washington Sts denman peeping fawn and last of all ingils dreaver
When Dorans Pride won the RSA Hurdle/Neptune I think I was the only one at the course who didn't back him, the noise coming from the thousands around me was something I hadn't experienced too often. Dessies 4th King George I was fortunate to be at the finish line and that place just went beserk. Moscow Flyers 2nd Champion Chase provided scenes I've never witnessed in teh Cheltenham winners enclosure. Istabraq's 3rd Champion Hurdle was surreal - entirely expected but brilliant nonetheless. But nothing can ever get close to Dessies Gold cup, those words 'he's begining to get up' really do make the hairs on the neck stand up
A sad one for me was Denman coming 2nd for a 3rd consecutive time in the Gold Cup. Having been my favourite horse in training for years, I didnt realy fancy him for last years GC because of his age, so i backed Long Run instead. But when I seen Denman jump up alongside KS with 2 to jump, i was going bannanas, and I completely forgot that I had backed Long Run. For about 10 seconds, a Denman victory looked likely. When Long Run went by him I was gutted, it's the first time ive ever been gutted about backing a winner, and I would have quite happily swapped all my winnings on Long Run for a Denman victory. As far as happy emotion goes, there have been alot, Shergar winning the Derby was one, though the flat never quite does it for me emotionally. Dawn Run winning the Gold Cup, but my favourite moment was Desert Orchid in his final race getting a standing ovation at Kempton in the KG. I think he fell 2 out, he then got up with no jockey, and cantered down the track, and the whole grandstand errupted into applause, I've never seen so much love for a horse
Hello again Mick. Good thread. For me the most recent one that springs to mind is the peerless and adorable Spot Thedifference getting up safely after winning the x country at HQ aged almost 15 in late 2007.It was his seventh C and D win and after he collapsed after passing the post I feared the worst...I was so happy to see the old boy safe and sound. Others that come to mind off the top of the head are generally generated by ones memory when younger such as; Willie Wumpkins winning his third staying H'cap at the festival...(those were the days when every race was actually competitive at the meeting) Diamond Edge winning the Whitbred (sorry betfred it will never be your race) in a complete four way thriller..80's sometime i think. Dawn Run making history in the CGC Moscow Flyer,the most underrated horse since himself,winning the CC at age 11,wouldn't have seen MM in his considerable wake.He also participated in,and won, the greatest 2m chase of recent times in the 2004 Tingle Creek. Istabraq...obviously. Conversely,some wins leave one cold,such as Beat Mates CGC win in 2004,I was there for that win,and indeed the 2002 version,and drew comfort from the analysis of Hugh McIllvaney's,et al,in the subsequent weeks Times where he agreed with me in that the feat was far from historic..moderate in fact. Yeats winning four Gold Cups is also worthy of a mention,but the flat champions are largely transient in nature and engender little emotion as far as I'm concerned. Persian Punch,Double Trigger,Soba,Baronet,Vintage Crop are some worthy of a mention.
Hi Grizz, I think Dorans fell at the last in the RSA hurdle behind Danoli but did win the stayers Hurdle subsequently. So sad to see him crash out and die in the Foxhunters at age 14...he was a tremdously consistent and high class performer and was very well ridden by Shane Broderick before his unfortunate injury.
My early love for NH racing was reiforced by Bachelor's Hall winning the first three big steeplechases of the season; sorry cannot remember the year, possibly late seventies. I think the races were the Mackeson (the Paddy Power), the Hennessy and another Cheltenham pre Christmas chase. He also ran well in the King George and the Gold Cup. Arazi in the BC Juvenile was the most thrilling flat race I have ever witnessed. Prior to my retirement I always backed German horses in the big races in Europe, the USA and the far east. These tough horses were always overpriced so could be backed each way at crazy odds; witness Danedream in the Arc. If this had been an English, Irish or French horse that had just won Germany's premier all age race by six lengths the price would have been closer to 10/1 than the 25/1 available after the Baden Baden race - Marienbard!!! I agree with all the comments about Kauto Star's resurgence this season however the most spine tingling performances in the last two seasons have come from the great ZENYATTA, both in victory and defeat!!
Absolutely Some of Simon Holt's commentaries also send shivers down the spine - Denman's second Hennessy ("ooh you won't see scenes like this at Newbury for many a year") and Frankel winning the Sussex stake ("Oh this is a brilliant horse") - I think his enthusiasm for the game comes out in every commentary he does.
There are so many ....... picking even just a few is difficult. Vaguely Noble's Arc win in the sixties, when my older and seemingly wiser work colleagues laughed and thought they knew better Lamtarra'a Derby win; over the jump -, Teddy Bear II winning the Whitbread - I'd been convinced he would win the GN and was looking all over the winner when tipping up 2 out, so the Whitbread was a good consolation for him (and me!) The Aldaniti GN win, and the fairy tale circumstances, this year the Kauto win in the KG will live on forever, and also from this year, and because I just happened to be at home at the time was able to see it live - The Tatling coming from the back to win his last ever race before retirement. Happy Days indeed
There are so many great memories here thanks for sharing them with me much appreciated keep them coming
I have been thinking about this since my last post. A further two races, both of which I saw live and both of which cost me money, have come to mind. Dawn Run defeating Wayward Lad in the Gold Cup. Wayward Lad was one of my favourite 'chasers' but like many was found out by the hill and the last two furlongs in the Gold Cup. I was lucky to make my only trip to Chantilly for the Prix du Jockey Club in 1999. I had already backed Montjeu at 20/1 ante post for the Epsom Derby so was a bit p..... off that he was running in France. What I saw that day stayed in my mind so I followed and backed Montjeu throughout his career; I still bet on him even through his decline after injury. Great memories of trips!!
They are right up there for me also. Pebbles winning the Breeders Cup while I was in Toronto is also right up there. Not in the same league but Last Suspect when he won the National. I didn't back anything but I told everyone in the morning to back it at 66/1. Had to watch it again. [video=youtube;xoFvutyhOjc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoFvutyhOjc[/video] Thinking about it, there are so many. Grundy winning the Derby. Lots of Dessie's races. This thread certainly brings back some memories. Saddest for me (until someone jogs my memory) were Devon Loch, Gorgeous George Washington and Gloria Victis.
I remember that one well Ron .... Mr Snugfit was my bet that year - but fair do's - it's 4 miles plus for a reason and Last Suspect got up
Even over 2 miles, im sure the hill at Cheltenham found out Mr Snugfit. So I was amazed he even completed in the National, nevermind finishing 2nd. I always felt 2 miles on a flat track like Kempton or Aintree, was just about his limit
Hi Dexter, you are of course right, apologies, it was the Stayers Dorans Pride won, and win very easily I seem to remember. I remember bookies literally running scared....
The Drever was the one for me - that third world hurdle was great. Totally agree with King Shergar re last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup - "Kauto and denman rolling vback the years" spine tingling stuff. Kauto's last KG was also pretty special I was at Champion's day in october and must say that the reception for frankel was quite awe inspring especially considering hardly anyone would have been backing at those odds.
Istabraq being pulled up at Cheltenham was quite an emotional one, Espcially in the race he had made his own over the years and it ended the career of an all time great. Moscow Flyer was another favourite as gutsy as they come and his second Queen Mother was very special even on his last appearance at Cheltenham were he finished 5th in the great race but was cheered as loudly as anything before. I think Dessie's Gold Cup win would take some beating, He hated every step but got up to win the Blue Riband. Just one of those magic moments....
Found this browsing Youtube, Best Mate's second Gold Cup win. Not quite like his third but brings back good memories of a fine horse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQxf8YU85aE&feature=BFa&list=UL4OntzxEokk0&lf=mfu_in_order This member as a few good videos, Inglis Drever's Second and Third World Hurdle, Kauto's first Gold Cup win and all in the hands of Simon Holt...
