The Greatest/Your Favourite race of All Time

Colonel Sanders

Well lads, was just looking at a DVD of the greatest races of all time but it only came as far as Cheltenham 04. Just wondering what your in everyone's opinions was the greatest race or your favourite race of all time (jumps and flat). Here a re my selections:

Jumps:

1. Tingle Creek 2004 - Moscow puts Azertyioup in his place. I was at sandown this day and its without a doubt the best day of my sports following life. Simon Holt gives a masterclass of a commentary on the race. Myself and one of my friends were like 2 demented lunatics roaring after moscow went on after jumping the pond fence. the secong Azertyioup came off the bit my mate turned to me and said 'all over!". He was right. What a day and what an SP!!!
2. King George 2000 - Florida Pearl floors Best Mate. Florida pearl was a great horse who never got the credit he deserved across the water because he never won a gold cup. Some people say had best mate been ridden closer to the pace then he'd have beaten Florida, nonsense I say he's close enough if good enough 2 out.
3. Champion Chase 2000 - What a finish. 3 in a line jumping the last where Flagship cries enough. Two horses and jockeys giving it their all in one the closest most exciting finsihes ever!

Flat:

1. Nassau Stakes 2006 - Two of my favourite fillies battled it out up the straight at goodwood. The finsh went the wrong way as far as my bank balance was concerned but a fantastic race nevertheless.
2. Breeders Cup Classic 2003 - High Chapparal was one of my favourite flat horses and was unlucky to only dead heat under what must have been one of Kinane's greatest rides ever, mosr certainly left ballydoyle in a blaze of glory. Was unlucky at the line that his head was coming back as Johar's was going forward.
3. Breeders Cup Juvinile 2001 - The best 2yo I have seen in my limited years makes bob baffert eat his pre race words with a great display to beat the americans in their own back yard.

fade2black

Champion Hurdle 2005...In the months leading up to the race I campaigned Hardy's chances against followers of Back in Front, Brave Inca, and most notably Harchibald. It was one of the best finishes I've ever seen and Hardy sticking his neck out on the line still gives me the shivers.

Colonel Sanders

fade2black wrote:

Champion Hurdle 2005...In the months leading up to the race I campaigned Hardy's chances against followers of Back in Front, Brave Inca, and most notably Harchibald. It was one of the best finishes I've ever seen and Hardy sticking his neck out on the line still gives me the shivers.

Very memorable race indeed, both for the fact that I'd backed hardy and the antics of good old harchibald. As dramatic a finish as you'd ever see. I think criticism of carberry was wrong in that he went for harchibald in plenty of time but the horse found absolutely nothing. No matter which way he'd riden that horse he wouldn't have got by hardy.

decies

Rathgar Beau V Moscow Flyer

26-4-05 Puchestown

Flyer mistake at the last photo finish on the line.
I waited on course with my ten euro win docket.
English blokes beside me were ringing their friends on the mobiles asking who won??
About 12 mins later the race was called Rathgar Beau.

Postscript to that the tramore racecourse manager got a copy of the photo finish when we got back on the bus.
I got it framed for the bedroom wall and every time i look at that photo i say DEAD HEAT.
Just looked at it ten seconds ago

knighted_1

decies wrote:

Rathgar Beau V Moscow Flyer

26-4-05 Puchestown

Flyer mistake at the last photo finish on the line.
I waited on course with my ten euro win docket.
English blokes beside me were ringing their friends on the mobiles asking who won??
About 12 mins later the race was called Rathgar Beau.

Postscript to that the tramore racecourse manager got a copy of the photo finish when we got back on the bus.
I got it framed for the bedroom wall and every time i look at that photo i say DEAD HEAT.
Just looked at it ten seconds ago

yeah was looking at the photo printed in jessica harringtons book on moscow flyer-it was a close one too call wouldnt have liked to be a judge in that room -think the caption is which horse won -great picture to have for memories

scojones

The only "image" I could find of it online is this one. Not a very good quality image it has to be said, and you'd need to see both sides of it but I do remember seeing the photo finish on the day and thinking it's as close as it comes but the result was the right one. Looking at this image I have my doubts.

knighted_1

does look like moscow won it there but no reverse as u say -would like to give the official print to ten non racing people and see what there conclusions would be -or it should have been on test the nation last nite lol

kincsem

Your "all time" favourite six races all happened in the last seven years.

1. 1975 The King George & Queen Elizabeth II stakes between Grundy and Bustino. It was war on turf. Full pace from start to finish.

2. 1965 The great Sea-Bird winning the 1965 Epsom Derby effortlessly.

3. 1964 Arkle beating Mill House in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a display of high-speed jumping.

4. The 2006 Derby was also special for me as it was the closest finish since 1913, and I backed the winner at 16/1.

fade2black

kincsem wrote:

Your "all time" favourite six races all happened in the last seven years.

1. 1975 The King George & Queen Elizabeth II stakes between Grundy and Bustino. It was war on turf. Full pace from start to finish.

2. 1965 The great Sea-Bird winning the 1965 Epsom Derby effortlessly.

3. 1964 Arkle beating Mill House in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a display of high-speed jumping.

4. The 2006 Derby was also special for me as it was the closest finish since 1913, and I backed the winner at 16/1.

Most people will treasure the memories of the races that they were alive to see.

The jock

I was right on the line that day at Punchestown and I definatly thought Moscow Flyer won it.Its so hard to pick favourite race that ive seen.My favourite race to watch every year is the Aintree Grand National.Some of my favourite races where: Danoli wining at Cheltenham under Charlie Swan,Istabraq winning his third Champion Hurdle,One man wining the Queen mother Chase(nobody believed he could go up that hill) Black Queen wining the Galway hurlde(Family conection with the horse),My own first winner as a jockey at Clonmel in a point to point race.Brave Inca getting the better of Royal Shakespere at Punchestown Dorans Pride wining the Stayers Hurdle.But i think the greatest race of all time was Sea Biscuit beating War Admiral at Pimlico in 1938.Ive seen and witnessed tons more of good races,I could go on all day but i wont.

Healio

Hows about linking to some of your favourites (for the people who might not have seen them!!)
Here are some that have already been posted:
King George 2000(Closing Stages)FLorida Pearl
2006 Nassau Stakes
2005 Champion Hurdle - Hardy Eustace second time
Rathgar Beau "beats???" Moscow Flyer
1965 - Sea Bird II wins the Epsom Derby
2006 Epsom Derby - Sir Percy

Some of my favourites(not really that great) :
Joes Edge getting up to beat Cornish Rebel in Scottish National.
Jodami winning the 1993 Gold cup, the Fellow coming back the next year to beat Jodami.
Kicking King's Gold Cup and King George's.
Arazi wins 1991 Breeders Cup Juvenile

Giant's Causeway just can't get past Tiznow in the Breeders Cup Classic 2000

scojones

If someone could find me a link to the video footage of cheltenham bumper in 2004 I'd nearly marry them! It's not on ATR unfortunately.

The jock

sjones wrote:

If someone could find me a link to the video footage of cheltenham bumper in 2004 I'd nearly marry them! It's not on ATR unfortunately.

Total Enjoyments Win?

I think I still have the Star newspaper 2005 cheltenham dvd which will have that race on it.If I find the DVD I will send it on too you.Im nearly sure I have it at home.

scojones

The jock wrote:

Total Enjoyments Win?

I think I still have the Star newspaper 2005 cheltenham dvd which will have that race on it.If I find the DVD I will send it on too you.Im nearly sure I have it at home.

Legend! I'll make it worth your while if ya do

Colonel Sanders

kincsem wrote:

Your "all time" favourite six races all happened in the last seven years.

1. 1975 The King George & Queen Elizabeth II stakes between Grundy and Bustino. It was war on turf. Full pace from start to finish.

2. 1965 The great Sea-Bird winning the 1965 Epsom Derby effortlessly.

3. 1964 Arkle beating Mill House in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a display of high-speed jumping.

4. The 2006 Derby was also special for me as it was the closest finish since 1913, and I backed the winner at 16/1.

I've only been following racing since 1998, I am only 25! How can I say arkle winning the gold cup etc were my fav races when I wasn't even thought of when they happened.

decies

The jock wrote:

But i think the greatest race of all time was Sea Biscuit beating War Admiral at Pimlico in 1938.Ive seen and witnessed tons more of good races,I could go on all day but i wont.

Jeez your getting on a bit these days you must be nearly ninety,things were tougher for jockeys back then :eek: :eek:

kincsem

Colonel Sanders wrote:

I've only been following racing since 1998, I am only 25! How can I say arkle winning the gold cup etc were my fav races when I wasn't even thought of when they happened.

You buy videos and DVDs. I have books printed in the 1820s. I didn't have to be alive in 1820 to buy them.

Although I think the most amazing race ever was one won by Silky Sullivan about fifty years ago in the USA. It was 6 1/2 furlongs, and at half way he was 15 lengths behind the field, 41 lengths off the lead, and won by three lengths. I have it on video somewhere.

Colonel Sanders

What makes a race great for me is a horse, or horses, I have know and followed throughout their career put up a performance of sheer class and/or guts. I wasn't around for arkle etc. I don't doubt for one second that he was the greatest steeplechaser of all time but looking at his races don't give me the same spine tingling sensation as the races I mentioned above amongst others.

For example I had been following beef or salmon since he won a bad hurdle race in Gowran Park in 2002, seeing that horse beat best mate in the 2004 lexus chase meant more to me than anything arkle or sea pigeon could ever mean

fade2black

Generally, emotion will play a big factor in deciding people's favourite race. It's not possible to become emotionally attached to something if you weren't even born to see it.

keepitquiet

for me my fav race would be the derby 2006 because i am young and have only been into horse racing properly for a few yrs:) the reason is tht i backed sir percy, hala bek and dragon dancer ew and sir percy won it hala bek should have if it didnt jerk at the end and dragon dancer came 2nd at 66/1 and i thought it had won it at first... wished id have done doubles now:rolleyes:

Tush

fade2black wrote:

Generally, emotion will play a big factor in deciding people's favourite race. It's not possible to become emotionally attached to something if you weren't even born to see it.

Istabraq springs to my mind sraight away when it comes to the emotional side of things,Fade.

knighted_1

For example I had been following beef or salmon since he won a bad hurdle race in Gowran Park in 2002, seeing that horse beat best mate in the 2004 lexus chase meant more to me than anything arkle or sea pigeon could ever mean[/QUOTE]

i know its each to thier own but that particular race sticks in my mind for the wrong reasons
i was sickened by carburys gesture at the end to best mate -my point on this is it wasnt very dignified or sportsman like-
the whole set up around best mate -his owner jim lewis a gentleman and a big supporter of the industry never a bad word said

his jockey jim lewis -the ultimate gentleman jockey

the trainer hen knight -we all know she is a lady

and for him to pull the piss -not one of his finer moments(and then someone gives him a lighter lol)

then he gets the ride on best mate next time and the horse dies
i know that wasnt his fault but i want to blame him anyway cause im on a rant roll lol

anyway his sister looks like surpassing his acheviements given time

rant over

fade2black

Quick knighted....EDIT EDIT!!!!!

Colonel Sanders

I feel there was a total over reaction to carberry's antics by Henrietta Knight. I was a Cheltenham preview the following march when Jim Culloty admitted the above and said all carberry was doing was taking the p!ss and it was a nothing incident.

The problem with best mate was that his connections build up this massive 'next arkle' bubble before he'd even jumped a fence in public and most race goers I know were sick of the sight and sounds of Jim Lewis and Henrietta knight. I don't remember hearing of arkle ducking any horse yet bets mate's connections subsequently ducked every decent horse who beat best mate.