Horse Antepost
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
12 Jan 15
19:01
Joined:
Date Joined:
12 Jun 05
Im old enough now to have seen 4 of these live..just warming the cockles with a trip down memory lane while building up to Cheltenham...my top 5
1 Secretariat ....Belmont stakes...without doubt in my mind the greatest equine performance of all time. still takes the breath away and hard to argue he s not the best of all time " he s moving like a tremendous machine " sums it up perfectly
2 Arazi......breeders cup juv...even now it reminds me of some over stated film with an impossible mid race move.I remember just sitting there open mouthed not being able to believe what just happened. clearly the commentator couldn't get his head round it. Looked so special, such a shame it never happened as a 3yo.
3 Carvills Hill....welsh national..i was lucky enough to be there. The perfect performance of relentless, weight carrying, sustained galloping ive ever seen. carrying top weight over that trip and ground and running the likes of party politics ( national winner ) esha ness ( non national winner ) bonanza boy ( welsh nat winner ) zetas lad, aqulifier, twin oaks into the ground...incredible. What an engine, such a shame the body couldn't carry it. On that day a total and absolute monster
4 Frankel..no list would be complete without this beautiful horse. I was there at ascot and York for the juddmonte too. Both incredible and hard to split but at ascot I doubt no british horse in history would of beaten him that day. Just total perfection
5 Master minded...queen mother champion chase. Maybe not in everyones list and failed to really build on this day but on that day for such a young horse that was some show. if you get chance watch it again and tell me theres ever been a more impressive winner of this great race. Pure silk from start to finish and another race that gave me that WOW factor..what have I just seen there feeling.
All the best and happy punting.
1 Secretariat ....Belmont stakes...without doubt in my mind the greatest equine performance of all time. still takes the breath away and hard to argue he s not the best of all time " he s moving like a tremendous machine " sums it up perfectly
2 Arazi......breeders cup juv...even now it reminds me of some over stated film with an impossible mid race move.I remember just sitting there open mouthed not being able to believe what just happened. clearly the commentator couldn't get his head round it. Looked so special, such a shame it never happened as a 3yo.
3 Carvills Hill....welsh national..i was lucky enough to be there. The perfect performance of relentless, weight carrying, sustained galloping ive ever seen. carrying top weight over that trip and ground and running the likes of party politics ( national winner ) esha ness ( non national winner ) bonanza boy ( welsh nat winner ) zetas lad, aqulifier, twin oaks into the ground...incredible. What an engine, such a shame the body couldn't carry it. On that day a total and absolute monster
4 Frankel..no list would be complete without this beautiful horse. I was there at ascot and York for the juddmonte too. Both incredible and hard to split but at ascot I doubt no british horse in history would of beaten him that day. Just total perfection
5 Master minded...queen mother champion chase. Maybe not in everyones list and failed to really build on this day but on that day for such a young horse that was some show. if you get chance watch it again and tell me theres ever been a more impressive winner of this great race. Pure silk from start to finish and another race that gave me that WOW factor..what have I just seen there feeling.
All the best and happy punting.
sort by:
Show
per page
Replies: 69
|
By:
Dancing Brave's Arc
Pebbles in the Breeders' Cup Desert Orchid's Gold Cup Frankel - any of his races, but it was the 2000 that made me gasp - what a stride Sprinter Sacre 2013 QMCC - that's the way to remember him. I hope and pray that they don't kill him. Maybe he'll be OK and win it this year. |
|
By:
Sea-Bird in the 1965 English Derby.
Montjeu in the 2000 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Choisir in the 2003 King's Stand. Ribot in the 1956 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Treve in the 2013 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. |
|
By:
Who was reading the racingpost 50 stunning moments
 I just watched Secretariat Belmont Stakes. Utterly stunning. I don't like the flat, but enjoyed that and Frakels 2000gns Crisp failing to give all that weight to Red Run in the National. Blinding performance. Every time I watch it I still hope he'll get home... he never does :( Kauto Star showing the level he could achieve round Kempton when a grade 1 winner Nacarat goes off too quick to get home, it allowed Kauto to go a pace he liked. His jumping was perfection. Sprinter Sacre, Tingle Creek. "Well well, what kind of ridiculous unthinkable monster is this". Only horse over jumps who has made a total mockery of the sport. Denmans 2nd Hennessy, simply because it's the all time best race I've ever seen. Goosebumps. |
|
By:
Does anyone have the full RP list? Or has it not been revealed yet?
|
|
By:
Only started yesterday. So will run for another couple of weeks I think
|
|
By:
Arkle made a mockery cv
|
|
By:
Secretariat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfCMtaNiMDM Trying to make all and give Red Rum 23lbs. Crisp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxYPKcJM9vE King Kauto 36l mashing of King George field http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh0BKgmx0VM Spellbinding Sprinter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4QtHB53iRA and Denman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkZIUiasUqs Enjoy  |
|
By:
Arkle made a mockery cv
Yeah. They do say he was good Not many on here remember him now, I suppose. You'd need to be at least 65+ really. |
|
By:
Frankel's 2000 Guineas
I was there that day and everyone thought he'd gone off way too fast. Then they got to half way and everything else was rowing away like the boat race with Queally sat like a statue on Frankel about 10 lengths clear and the hairs on the back of your neck suddenly went up and you thought 'These buggers aren't going to catch him!' Master Minded's first QM Champion Chase What the OP said. Just destroyed the 'not-too-shabby' field Persian Punch Jockey Club Stakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Dpessb3m-nA Fourth (and beaten) in the Dip - a nose in front on the line. People crack on about the Cheltenham Roar but the loudest noise I've ever heard on a racecourse was when the judge called him the winner after the photo finish. Pure guts! One Man QM Champion Chase Win Because of the molten horsesh1t that was spoken and written about what this horse could and couldn't do at Cheltenham. Took it all and stuffed it right back down his critics throats that day. Denman's Gold Cup Sam Thomas let out a couple of inches of rein going out into the second circuit and within about a half a furlong he was 6 lengths clear and cruising and you just knew..... Was there for all five of them! What a great sport this is!! |
|
By:
Bubbling under.....
Long Run's Gold Cup, purely for the way it developed like everyone wanted. The best 3 (and some of the greatest ever) 3 m chasers going at it hammer and tongs over the final three flights, everything else beaten. |
|
By:
Harbingers King George must get a look in
|
|
By:
Frankel - 2011 2000 Guineas
Badsworth Boy - 1983 Champion Chase Bula - 1971 Champion Hurdle Tied Cottage - 1980 Gold Cup Kauto Star - 2009 King George |
|
By:
Nice thread.
Agree with the Belmont Stakes and Frankel. I remember the great chaser Pendil very fondly. He was the most fluent jumper I ever saw, incredibly quick over a fenece. Most footage is lost seemingly - http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrRAojZIAc is still nice to watch. Mill Reef's win in the Gimcrack is quite astonishing - www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH1hn8aBDJY http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eYwWxp-eMPA Is the link to the best ever performance by steeplechaser probably ever, not many course récords stand for half a century or so. Of course the amazing win in the Chevely Park Stakes by the great 2yo filly, Cry of Truth is still pretty memorable. |
|
By:
Most goose pimpling commentary- still gets to me all these many years later.
"This is it now, this is the big 2.....and its Arkle's if he jumps it.....and Arkle's going away......this is the champion....this is the best we've seen for a long time". http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eYwWxp-eMPA |
|
By:
While the three Gold Cups will always head his list of achievements - as well as demand direct comparisons with Best Mate - a proper measure of Arkle's supremacy is better found in his efforts in handicaps, when he regularly conceded huge amounts of weight to his opponents and still galloped them into the ground. His greatest performance was in the 1965 Gallaher Gold Cup, a handicap chase run at Sandown Park 40 years ago tomorrow.
His principal opponent in a field of seven was his old rival Mill House, who had seemed to be on the decline since losing to Arkle in the fabled 1964 Gold Cup but was reported back to his best for their fifth meeting. Mill House had won the first after Arkle had slipped, but although the score was now 3-1 in the Irishman's favour, Mill House was carrying 16lb less weight than Arkle and seemed to have a real chance of getting one back. Then, for spectators to applaud before a race was as unheard of as applauding in church. But the sight of Arkle and Mill House about to take each other on in the crisp autumnal sunshine around one of the sport's finest arenas was simply too much. As the two principals left the Sandown Park paddock - nowadays the pre-parade ring on the Esher course - a few could no longer contain themselves. Their clapping encouraged others, and as the runners turned near the final fence to canter back to the three-mile start the whole stand erupted in a crescendo of cheering. Nothing like this had ever been experienced on a British racecourse, and in those few minutes the racegoing community threw off its stays - and, more or less, has left them off ever since. Mill House went into the lead, and as the pair attacked the fences down the back straight the crowd went into further raptures. Round the far turn Mill House still led but, on the approach to the stands, with another whole circuit to race, Arkle pulled his way to the front - a manoeuvre which had John Lawrence (now Lord Oaksey) observing: "I can't remember a more obvious display of understanding in a racehorse. No one had told Arkle the distance of the Gallaher Gold Cup, but he knew Sandown - and would tolerate no leader up the well remembered hill." Having realised that there was more running to do, Arkle let Mill House regain the lead. The key stage of a steeplechase at Sandown Park is the succession of three closely positioned Railway Fences at the end of the back straight and, as Mill House hurled himself over each one, Arkle, scampering along in his wake, looked out of it. Round the far turn Mill House maintained his gallop and his advantage over Arkle. Now surely the weight concession would bite - but instead Arkle produced the most staggering display of sheer class ever seen in a steeplechase. Whoosh! Without any apparent effort or any visible pressure from his jockey Pat Taaffe, Arkle engaged another gear and swept past Mill House in about five strides. It was ridiculously easy, and it added a new dimension to its sport. It was Arkle's defining moment. The surge of power sent Arkle swinging merrily over the last three fences to win by 20 lengths from Rondetto, who had passed the toiling Mill House in the closing stages. The time of the race underlined the quality of Arkle's performance: he had beaten the course record by 17 seconds. No one was in any doubt that they had witnessed something very special. The Sporting Life Guide declared that "there never was such a day and no one present will ever forget the experience", while the Sporting Chronicle went further: "Races may come and go, but the Gallaher Gold Cup of 1965 will be talked about as long as the men and women of this country take pleasure from the spectacle of great horses battling it out over fences on a winter's day." Lord Oaksey still recalls "the overwhelming sense of greatness" that day. Every Sandown racegoer felt the same. In the unsaddling enclosure, the rapturous reception accorded to Arkle mixed awe and affection, an emotional cocktail which by then was served up every time he ran. But within 14 months of that extraordinary afternoon he had run his last race, hobbling over the Kempton line after being caught in the dying strides of the King George by Dormant, a horse whom a fit Arkle would have picked up and carried. |
|
By:
As it turned out, not even the handicapper could limit Arkle’s brilliance, a fact perhaps best demonstrated by reference to his performance in the 1965 Gallaher Gold Cup at Sandown. Having added that year’s Gold Cup to his portfolio, he now faced his stiffest task yet, once more carrying 12-7 but this time conceding 16 lb to Mill House, the biggest pull in the weights that that rival ever received. Arkle surged to a twenty-length victory, securing the lead from Mill House at the Pond fence before storming clear. At the death he had lowered the course record by some eleven seconds, establishing a time which has to this day not been bettered over the trip at Sandown. Precious few horses could even get into the handicap proper against Arkle, such was his superiority. Instead they were forced to carry the fixed minimum weight of 10-0, in effect giving them no hope of challenging him. The few that could race in handicaps against him off their properly allotted weight still fared little better. For instance Rondetto, the second home in the Gallaher off 10-9, would clearly have needed far more than 9 lb off his back to give him an equal chance with Arkle. It is in performances such as this that Arkle’s legacy is most clearly cemented. Runs in big handicaps conceding lumps of weight to most of his rivals allowed Arkle to establish, and then confirm, a level of form unmatched by any other staying chaser in history. Such events offer more potential than weight-for-age championship races to find out how good the top horses really are. With a few notable exceptions, the top chasers of the modern era are generally kept to non-handicaps and as such are less likely to achieve stratospheric ratings. In light of this, the outstanding merit of Kauto Star is brought into sharp focus, given that he achieved his rating of 191 racing outside of handicap company.
Arkle continued his dominance both in and out of handicaps as his career progressed, adding a second Hennessy to his record along with a King George in which he had no trouble keeping up with a searing pace set by champion two-miler Dunkirk, coming home in splendid isolation after that rival’s fatal fall. A third Gold Cup followed, this time by thirty lengths at 1/10. Arkle would race only three more times after that. In the 1966 Hennessy he suffered a half-length defeat to Stalbridge Colonist, who was receiving 35 lb. Incidentally, Stalbridge Colonist’s jockey, Stan Mellor, once said that Arkle ‘could have won the race by twenty-five lengths’ and put his defeat down to the fact that he delivered Stalbridge Colonist fast, late and unseen by Arkle’s jockey Pat Taaffe, denying him the chance to get his horse balanced as he seemed to be ‘happily winning the race in a canter’. Stalbridge Colonist went on to be beaten only three quarters of a length in the next spring’s Gold Cup, whilst What A Myth, beaten a length and a half in the Hennessy in receipt of 33 lb, went on to win the 1969 Gold Cup. It is worth noting also that Mill House, so utterly dominated by Arkle in all but their first meeting, came back to win the 1967 Whitbread Gold Cup under top weight, adding further substance, as if it were needed, to Arkle’s form. Arkle made his final racecourse appearance in the 1966 King George in which he suffered a career-ending injury. He was still in his prime at the time, just nine years old and looking as if he could go on to equal, or even surpass, the mighty Golden Miller’s record five victories in the Gold Cup. All told he had been beaten only four times in twenty-six steeplechases, including that ill-fated final appearance, boasting an unmatched record that included three Cheltenham Gold Cups, three Leopardstown Handicap Chases (under 12-0 and 12-7 twice), two Hennessy Gold Cups (under 12-7), the King George IV Chase, the Irish Grand National (12-0), the Gallaher Gold Cup (12-7) and the SGB Handicap Chase (12-7). Arkle’s form stands up to the closest scrutiny substantiating the impression of a phenomenon, ‘as close to unbeatable as any horse is ever likely to be.’ |
|
By:
What a Myth .....Gold Cup 1969 , as a 12 year old given the most glorious ride by Paul Kellaway ,probably due to the winter's hunting prescribed by the genius that was Ryan price . Was at college and threw my lighter at the tv in celebration .
One Man .......Champion Chase 1998 for coming back and burying the doubters , not to mention the 1999 race where I was the only spectator at the start (allowed then ) as wanted to see Or Royal's start (or not) and still cant believe the pace that they started at , Call Equiname's year. Big Bucks .....World Hurdle 2009 , for proving what a great decision it was putting him back over hurdles , and giving me my best Cheltemham ever . Arkle ........Any ....I was there for the Dunkirk race and have had the signed ' Writings on the wall ' print on mine for yonks .Can you believe that his owner rode him bareback in the summer holidays. Frankel .....2000gns 2011 .... Just for the acceleration . |
|
By:
Zenyatta winning the Breeders Cup
Arazi winning the juvenile. Fantastic Light vs Galileo in Irish Champion. Danoli winning the Sun Alliance Hurdle. Frankel in the Queen Anne. |
|
By:
Harbinger winning at Ascot(12f) blew me away,Treve(12f) winning the 2013 Arc from a poor draw in such style was fantastic but a predictable result,Frankel over the mile ,yes excellent, Secretariat winning races like that is just hard too do in the states,and Brigadier maybe not the stylish victories,but quality rivals.
All fantastic, Harbinger an improver, we probably never witnessed the best?,Frankel did have three trips and I think 12f would have just been within range? but some questions about those behind?. Brigadier no questions about those behind(they were class) the only question would be horse population at that time? of which I am unaware?. Secretariat my gut feeling was he was beating dogs,but American racing just not that easy? Who was the best(I don't know) |
|
By:
haven't read all the posts so forgive me if this one has been posted! if not then watch it on youtoob and enjoy .......golden cygnets supreme anhihilation and other races ! if only !
|
|
By:
Sea the Stars' win in the Arc certainly up there for me.
I'd add Kauto's last King George win too. His last betfair chase was pretty good too My favourite Frankel victory is definitely the guineas. I don't think I could put it better than Rogerthebutler. "He can't keep this up" after about 3 furlongs then realising the race was over in a matter of seconds when the camera pans to the other runners Ravens Pass in the classic another of my favourites. Notnowcato in the Eclipse probably the best of the lot though! |
|
By:
Sprinter Sacre QMCC 2 years ago (you could put any of his first 9 runs up really, but that one and Aintree stand out)
Kauto's 2nd Gold Cup, ina tie with his last King George - that was amazing, when everyone had written him off the year before. Desert Orchid in the Racing Post Chase, hosing up under 12 st 3, conceding 31lb to the horse that was 2nd in the previous Martell Cup Rooster Booster winning the Champion Hurdle. It was a weak renewal, but I backed him at 16-1 AP and I've never seen a horse pulling for his head like that on the home turn in a Championship race in my 30+ years of loving the sport. Carvills Hill in the Welsh National Can I have 6? Mr Frisk in the National, just because I told everyone I knew to back him @33-1 and got a round of applause when I got in to work on Monday. |
|
By:
It's turning into The top 5 individual/take your breath away/wow aftertimes
|
|
By:
The one above you Peter if you have not nabbed him already.
Frankel- Guineas Crisp- jumping the National fences Red Rum's third National |
|
By:
Five when I was present, and still spine-tingling to me.
OUR CONOR - Triumph Hurdle MASTER MINDED - Queen Mother No 1 EL GRAN SENOR - 2000 Guineas FRANKEL - 2000 Guineas ZAFONIC - Dewhurst |
|
By:
It's interesting (to me, at least) that so many pick Frankel's 2000gns and not one of his other amazing wins.
The realisation that he was brilliant, not just good. That the classics mean more than other group 1 races. The raw talent and exuberance making your hair prickle. Great stuff. I just love knowing that other people feel it too :) |
|
By:
I'd have to stick in Red Marauder's national simply for the theatrical attritional nature of how it played out.
|
|
By:
Well Chief winning the rearranged Victor Chandler at Cheltenham as a 6yo under 11-12. Gave some very smart horses a sound beating. There were plenty of non-believers as it started around 5/1.
|
|
By:
dancing brave arc
dayjur nunthorpe frankel 2000 mill reef derby sea bird '65 arc |
|
By:
Some great calls above that I can't argue with, but I'd add
Edredon Bleu champion chase 3 way photo over Direct Route and Edredon Bleu Morley Street 4th Aintree hurdle. Proberley the coolest ride ever seen Blazing Walker annihilation in the Melling Chase. |
|
By:
Sorry over Flagship Uberalles
|
|
By:
For sheer "wow" effect, ie instant explosive acceleration, these 2 still are vivid in my memory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7vl0jx0L2k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUfkhUYd2Sk |
|
By:
Just watched Arazi in the BC Juvenile. Amazing, brilliant win.
|
|
By:
Twonky, three way photo?????
Think your memory is playing tricks on you mate |
|
By:
I'll put in three wow "looking" performances from horses who we thought may be at the start of something good but ultimately weren't..relative to what we thought at the time after these particular performances.
1. Tatatiano... Maghull Novice Chase Aintree 2.Celtic Son..novice chase at Wincanton 3. Mon Parrain...handicap chase Sandown |
|
By:
Brandy, you are correct. It was a 2 way photo, had to check up on that. Memorable for me because that was my first tricast win, paid about 21 quid ims. I think the memory tends to exaggerate as we get older and reminisce.
|
|
By:
Just watched a YouTube of the champ chase and tried to freeze it on the line. The best I could get was a dead heat, a split second after the line Direct Route was in front, but the official photo showed different. Williamsons reaction after the line and the camera panning on Direct Route suggested he'd won...great finish.
Incidently, Simon Holt was expecting a course record from that race. How times and watering policies have changed. |
|
By:
Twonkey, had forgot about Blazing Walker, was awesome that day
|
|
By:
Denman & Frankel for me just pure wow.
Both Denman's Hennessy wins were extraordinary rounds of jumping as just took lengths out of the field with each jump. But his 2nd win when i've never seen a horse look so good and healthy in the paddock and the way he was hammered in the betting from 4/1 into 11/4 just sticks in the memory. PFN had him so good that day. |