I suppose this must be mine, otherwise I wouldn't be here In flat racing Grundy v Bustino has to be the one for me, and I was there to see it live. Frankel's Champion win was a spectacle for me and I thoroughly enjoyed Harbinger waltzing up in the KG at Ascot. Unfortunately I had to witness the latter two via TV. I cherish the memory of Ribot galloping to victory in the KG at Ascot. I was a young lad and was there with my dad.
Best finish I have seen on the track is the Ouija Board Nassau Stakes, that was just some epic dual up the last few furlongs.
I think jump horses always conjure up far more emotion and passion than flat horses because of the number of years we get to follow them. Two or three years you usually get following these flat animals. Compare that with how long people get to follow the NH stars like Hurricane Fly, Kauto Star, Dessie for example. We all admired Frankel for sure, but I'm sure most would feel far more 'affection' for Kauto Star than any flat horse there's ever been.
I remember an epic duel as a youngster. My brother and I were at the night trots. Coming to the last, we had cab fare home...just. But I talked my bro into punting it up on the last. A leader dropping back from 10f to the mile. It led them until the shadows of the post. It was a ****in' long walk home.
How about that win in the Juddmonte at York? His first try, I think, at 1-/4 miles. Just strolled past the lot of them, and there were some decent horses in the race. From RP: "Dwelt, held up in rear, smooth headway on wide outside over 3f out, led over 2f out, shaken up and went clear over 1f out, impressive........."
Conversely Cyc when I was a young lad I had a couple of quid with which to take out my then girl friend. I went into a bookies and put the lot on Firegirl in a 5f sprint. I thought it was a cert at 6/4. Last away, still last entering 2f marker. Into the final furlong, still f**king last. Then Firegirl is making up ground. Firegirl coming late and fast. Photo. Long wait ....................... Here is the result of the photo. First, Firegirl. Yippee, £5. Who's the daddy?
Red Rum was a great horse in 1974 when he won the both Nationals. You just can't argue with that. But yes, Crisp must have been the greatest horse to have ever gone round THE Aintree course (hopefully there are few Golden Miller fans out there!!).
I believe he carried 12 stone Nass, but there were no official ratings in those days. Timeform had theirs but they weren't available unless you bought their publications.
In Australia, his native country, he won many important jumping races, particularly two-milers, including the Hiskens Steeplechase in 1969 and 1970. On his UK debut, after arriving from Australia, Crisp was allotted 12.7lb and won easily by 15l. I hadn't realised that Crisp (nicknamed "The Black Kangaroo") won the QM Champion Chase at Cheltenham (easily) and that, after the National, he defeated the then current 2m champion chaser before having a match against Red Rum, which he won by 8l. Wiki article here.
I still think the story of the behaviour of Fred Winter after that defeat says so much of the man. Apparently he said nothing to Pitman about the defeat. Then a year later as he was driving his jockey to a racemeeting he pulled to the side of the road and said "You know why you lost that race don't you?", to which Pitman replied "yes". And Winter said "well that's alright then" and restarted the car.
