Good evening all. 2011 has almost passed us by. It might mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Whatever that might mean to us all individually, I would like to wish each and every one of you a prosperous and healthy 2012, and thank you for the outstanding passion and contributions throughout the year. ****RON: Thankyou on behalf of everyone for maintaining this site. You have done a marvellous job and this is the best racing forum bar NONE. Seriously. I challenge anyone to find a better one.****** Much applies to the horse racing fraternity, a year of fine margins, wonderful celebrations, and plenty of 'what might have been'. Here's a trip through the year to remember fondly... The 'Long Run' through 2011 Begins please log in to view this image Long Run began 2011 all that time ago by de-throning the King himself, Kauto Star, at Kempton in good style. He would later confirm his class by outstaying the heroic Denman and Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Almost unbelievably however, the story did not end there, and in many ways, it had hardly even begun. 'The year of the Hurricane' http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/9425550.stm please log in to view this image Hurricane Fly banished all demons of previous years by not only making it to Cheltenham, but also getting the better of Peddlers Cross in a classic battle up the Cheltenham Hill to score by a length and a quarter. He later certified his claim as Undisputed Champion by slamming Binocular, who missed the Cheltenham event, by a wide margin to score in the Irish equivalent. From a Hurricane to an Earthquake: Frankel shakes the world please log in to view this image Frankel not only justified the antepost hype but in fact obliterated it when slamming the Guineas field by 6 lengths. He would later crown himself tyhe best miler in the world by powering clear of Canford Cliffs in the famous 'Duel on the Downs' at Goodwood. An absolutely staggering year, wonderful for Sir Henry Cecil, and now will step up to try 10 furlongs in 2012. A brand new superstar. A French Invasion at Epsom please log in to view this image Pour Moi completed a famous French victory at Epsom in astonishing fashion, sweeping by the field with his jockey stood erect in the stirrups. A finish fit to suit the horses flamboyance, although we would not see him again after being retired due to serious injury. A great shame he could not take his place as favourite in the Prix L'Arc De Triomphe. 'Wild Thing' Bursts an Aussie Bubble at Ascot please log in to view this image Rewilding Re-jigged the middle distance pecking order after a wonderfully brave victory at Royal Ascot to deny a strong odds-on So You Think. It would be a wonderful way to remember the horse, who we tragically lost during the King George at the same venue just weeks later in a freak accident. It was something that tugged on the heart strings of racing fans, and highlighed the sharp swings from agony to ecstacy for connections in this game. A real champion of a horse. Germans in Dream-Land in Prix L'Arc please log in to view this image Dandream stunned the Paris crowd with a stunning 5 length win in Europe's greatest flat-race. A high class field were left trailing as So You Think, Sarafina, Galikova were beaten, as Workforce bid his farewell to racing. The Star Still Shines please log in to view this image Kauto Star rolled back the years with two sensational jumping displays as he counts down to his 12th birthday. He defeated Long Run twice to land the Betfair Chase and a history-making 5th King George. There will not be another like him, and it still hasn't sunk in just what he achieved that day. Sensational, absolutely sensational scenes. Friends Will Be Friends please log in to view this image We bid farewell to the racecourse for legend Denman, one of the greatest weight-carrying machines of the modern era, and a stunning 2008 Gold Cup winner. He will remain with Paul Nicholls, next door to his old mate Kauto Star, as they prepare him for one final hurrah at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. The two will forever be in the racing history books, what a pair of horses. Chalk and Cheese, but two pure champions. And that is it from me for 2011- what a season, and how fitting it should end with a Star. A new era will start to unravel in 2012, and some new heroes will be crowned. Please feel free to discuss your own personal favourite moments of the season, be it a big winner or a great racing moment, as we wind into 2012. As ever, a pleasure. -Top
- Fantastic article Toppy- Thoroughly enjoyed it!! My best and worst moments are: Best- There are so many- Carruthers winning the Hennessy- you could not have made the story up please log in to view this image King Kauto winning his 5th King George has got to be one of the best moments ever to be in the winning enclosure! please log in to view this image Frankel showing his class in the guineas and more so at ascot pulling away from canford cliffs (unfortunately was CC last race!) please log in to view this image Then you have the legend that is The Tatling winning his last ever race and showing just what a class horse he is and was please log in to view this image Then the most sentimental best of 2011 has got to be MONETS GARDENreturn to Greystoke- after fighting off a life threatning infection- I could have cried please log in to view this image
This looks like a suitable time to remeber some of the great horses we have unfortunately lost this year doing something they love- Erics Charm please log in to view this image Joe Lively please log in to view this image Pride Of Dulcote please log in to view this image Dooneys Gate please log in to view this image Ornais please log in to view this image Rewilding please log in to view this image Golden Silver please log in to view this image Im sorry to any horse I have left off the list you are still remebered and thanked for giving us pleasure in a sport we all love TO ALL RIP!!
I'll always remember 2011 for my first visit to the Cheltenham Festival - an amazing experience and quite unlike any other horse-racing meeting I've ever been to. Then there were the changes to the whip rules which almost led to a jockey strike on the most prestigeous days racing in the UK calender, and the much maligned but, with hindsight, successful launch of the Champions Day at Ascot. Clearly Frankel helped to add to the sparkle but it felt like we were seeing the best horses competing there and the future will show whether it has a future, especially on heavy going days. I echo everything Toppy has said about this forum, it is a wonderful place to be and each end every one of us can be proud of the place, especially so Ron who puts so much time and effort into the place and is doing a grand job. As Sir Barney Chuckles would put it, I wish you all a very, and I do mean very, happy new year
Wonderful picture of Monets Garden. Anyone from the dim dark past remember a grey, flat horse from the UK called Bunratty Castle? He was brought to Australia in the mid to late 60s. He turned out to be a top flight horse, who from memory won a couple of G races at about a mile, and ended up winning the Caulfield Cup. I think it's where my love affair of greys comes from. He was by Henry The Seventh from a Djege mare called Winter Solstice. He had a wonderful stud career here.
Toppy, and everyone else for that matter, it's been a pleasure. Frankel was fabulous on the flat and he looks a real champion. It was great to follow his development through the Dewhurst, Guineas, St James' Palace and QEII. I've only really got interested in the flat the last few years but what a horse he has been. The exploits of Kauto Star this season have been remarkable. In the context of his career it is just what we expect but I think many people forget that most owners/trainers/jockeys would give pretty much anything to have just one horse do what he has done this season, let along the preceding 6. He is remarkable and his achievements will never be equalled. It was a pleasure to be there for the King George and for Frankel's Guineas. Two defining moments in the history of horseracing. I feel lucky to say "I was there". I can only hope there is more of the same in 2012.
What a brilliant thread to end the year. Thanks Toppy and WF for those lovely images that sum up the year so well; the fantastic highs and some depressing lows. You have no idea how rewarding it has been to see this forum evolve from near cesspit level (as Nass will confirm ). So thanks to everyone for coming over and making it such a fantastic forum. Your contributions and the way you folk interact with each other is a joy to see. Happy New Year to you all.
Great review TopClass...and some stunning pictures...a lovely idea for a thread...thanks. One of my highlights of 2011 was Buena Vista winning the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham for the second year running. He's one of my favourite horses of all time. He went off at 20/1!!.. how did that happen?!! I'm going to see if I can post pics on here... please log in to view this image ..yes I can! I'll find some more.
Bravo Toppy, I would echo the comments about Ron and the moderators. Top job gents and well done for the site. My highlights have been mentioned in the main with Kauto Star, The Tatling, Monets Garden and the mighty Frankel lighting up the season. However I would like to nominate the following two images for ride of the season 1 - please log in to view this image 2 - please log in to view this image Top year with some top stories, lets not forget we have had Hayley Turner winning two Group 1 sprints and we have had Mr Fallon turning up late at Chester
RIP to all the horses who have lost their lives this past year. Glencove Marina please log in to view this image Kempes please log in to view this image
Nice article toppy and i wholeheartedly concur with the praise of Ron who has done a marvelous job. Lowlights: Rewilding, Howard Johnson, Robert Thornton's continued rotten luck with injuries, the whip fiasco. Highlights: Yet another fabulous Cheltenham festival (especially the rebirth of Sizing Europe who now looks a class apart), Henry's knighthood, the Classics being shared around a range of yards, the sheer delight on Johnny Murtagh's face everytime he wins a race, Frankel, Blue Bunting, and Pour Moi. The ultimate highlight, however, was the amazing come back from kauto - truly the king of kings.
I’m not IT savvy enough to put up images but hopeful my words will paint a thousand pictures. For me the highlights at the ‘top table’ were Sir Henry's Frankel, Long Run (at the beginning of the year) and Kauto Star (at its conclusion). The fact that all 3 remain in great heart and are set to do battle again in 2012 only heightens the enthuasim for all 3. At a slightly lower level Tataniano’s return to form at Chepstow in October was a huge highpoint for me personally. This though was short lived as a few weeks later injury ruled him out for the term. He’s still young enough though to obtain his rightful place amongst the greats. Also Advanced returning to the winner’s enclosure up at Ripon was another huge plus point for me as was Montbazon winning the rich bumper at Donny and Sprinter Sacre, last week, showing the brilliance that he is capable of. From a punting point of view Ballabriggs in the old GN was excellent as well. The low’s were Tataniano’s injury, those ‘unfortunate circumstances’ that robbed Binocular of his chance for a 2nd Champion Hurdle crown and perhaps worse of all the alarming scenes in the Eider Chase where conditions were really dire and in the closing stages the few remaining runners had to be thrashed to get over the obstacles. This race was one of the worst advertisements for the sport that I have ever seen. Meanwhile, the training performance of 2011 surely has to belong to Mr Henderson when he landed the first 3 races up at Aintree on Grand National day. This was in 2 Grade 1’s and a Grade 2 – a truly remarkable feat.
Being an IT dinosaur I'm not even remotely capable of getting photos up in here, but thanks to those that have, there are some great images...
