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02 Jun 15
13:10
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18 Feb 07
We probably all have one, whether it's because you won a shedload of money on the winner, had a good day out, or simply enjoyed seeing a great 3-y-o talent.
The one I think about more than most is Golden Fleece in 1982. Unbeaten in three starts prior to Epsom, the Derby was his last race as he became ill and died shortly afterwards. Call me sentimental but it really does niggle me that he could have been one of the 20th century's great horses and never had the chance to show his potential. He was a horse I'd followed even before he raced as I watched him in the paddock as a yearling at Wimbledon Farm in Kentucky, where he was raised. The farm's owner, Hilary Boone (a charming man who knew a thing or too about raising good horses) said that even then he had a special quality.
The one I think about more than most is Golden Fleece in 1982. Unbeaten in three starts prior to Epsom, the Derby was his last race as he became ill and died shortly afterwards. Call me sentimental but it really does niggle me that he could have been one of the 20th century's great horses and never had the chance to show his potential. He was a horse I'd followed even before he raced as I watched him in the paddock as a yearling at Wimbledon Farm in Kentucky, where he was raised. The farm's owner, Hilary Boone (a charming man who knew a thing or too about raising good horses) said that even then he had a special quality.
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Golden Fleece for me as well, although I did like teenoso, thought it was an absolute certainty once the rains came and it turned Heavy.
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Golden Fleece I don't need to expand do I?
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Dr Devious
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Why Dr Devious Kincsem?
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Which one of the first three posters on the thread wrote this book...?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Fleece-Forgotten-Legacy-Racehorse/dp/1492804525 If the unbeaten Golden Fleece, effortless winner of the 1982 Derby in record time had not suffered from illness he would have gone on to be the greatest racehorse of all time. That is my opinion, and that of many others. If he had not tragically succumbed to his grave illness so early in his career at stud he would certainly have also become the greatest dual purpose sire of all time. This has now proved certain, borne out over time by the remarkable successes of his descendants.  Shergar, for me, although the answer should really be El Gran Senor! Honourable mentions to 50/1 AP winners Quest For Fame and New Approach. |
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Not me Mikael, I would never use the phrase dual purpose. They are either good flat or jumps sires and nothing in between. Usually if a sire is described as dual purpose he's an accident waiting to happen.
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Johnny_Mustang
Why Dr Devious Kincsem? £300 at 12/1 |
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high rise was my fav, only because i knew it was going to win the race
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Lovely Kincsem. I was there, thought Silver Hawk might get him at one point.
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I was at Epsom for a lot of derby meetings,couldn't believe my eyes with the great El Gran Senor.
The best derby for me punting wise was Galileo,although I have nailed a lot of derby winners,it is one of the less difficult puzzles to solve. |
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Indeed JM. Being the 'greatest dual purpose sire of all time' sounds a bit like winning the shiniest turd competition. I'd imagine the book is fairly sh1te tbh. Still, cracking 'oss.
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My favourite Derby winner was the 1977 winner The Minstrel who beat Hot Grove in a finish that still excites me. I was at the Derby that year and subsequently bought a Richard Stone Reeves print which still hangs in my hall.
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hard choice I have always felt sinndar and troy were vastly under rated,sinndar I am sure would have made an exceptional 4 year old troy smashed to bits a top class field in 79,shergar of course was an incredible sight doing it the way he did,nashwan for the major and the fact he had won the 2,000 guineas as well was very satisfying.from a punting point of view it would be commander in chief but funningly enough the derby that stands out in my mind when I think back to them all was the fact el gran senor didn't win those who like to bet the 1.01 in running nowadays would have suffered.
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Posy, I had a good lunch with Richard Stone-Reeves once over at Keeneland.
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roadrunner46
high rise was my fav, only because i knew it was going to win the race High-Rise my least favourite £50 win double Shahtoush 20/1 (Oaks won), City Honours 11/1 (Derby 2nd btn a head) Olivier Peslier got six days for his ride on High-Rise. |
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It has to be Sea Bird the brilliant 1965 winner and the best horse I ever saw. Despite the fact that I backed the 3rd horse I Say at 33/1 you just had to admire the winner.
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hello posy
that was the first derby I took any interest in great finish great race cant really remember what hot grove did next I know the minstrel went on to win the king George. |
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I think Sea Bird might win in a landslide if most of us were old enough to remember him. The supercentenarians among us must surely have a soft spot for 1921 winner, Humorist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorist_%28horse%29 |
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I knew I would forget one sea the stars a wonderful racehorse.
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Slip Anchor was also very impressive.. rode by the guy with the clock in his head..
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Empery on the TV and Lammtarra in the flesh - considering he only ran (and won) in 4 races but 3 were Derby, KG and Arc, a much under-rated winner
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Troy destroying a quality field in 1979 by 7 lengths with an astounding turn of pace.
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and should add in this modern day obsessed by going, Lammtarra won Derby on GF in time 2 secs below standard and Arc on V Soft in time only 1.3 secs above standard...
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Sea Bird was certainly the best 12f horse I've seen. Won the Derby without really trying but it was his form in the Arc which was really the tops.
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Johnny...he was considered one of the best painters of horses in the 20th century.
Hi foxy I can't remember what happened to Hot Grove either although i'm sure onlooker will read this thread and tell us. |
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Posy - there's a great hard-back book by Stone-Reeves too, has some of his best paintings featured. It's called Crown Jewels of Thoroughbred Racing.
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the minstral didn't run in the arc due to an out break of metritis.
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not sure about my fav,but i definitely know my worst,sharastani.
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Generous
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My favourite one was Crepello unfortunately retired with leg trouble before running in the King George when I was prepared to my all on him to double my house deposit money.
He never had the credit he deserved for beating Ballymoss that year and going on to sire Busted and Mysterious because he evidently passed his tendon trouble on to many of his other offspring |
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Has to be Nijinsky for me.
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My introduction to racing was seeing my mother getting excited listening to Blue Peter winning the 1939 Derby.
Another memory was being on a packed train full of troops on the day Airborne won the 1946 Derby. When we came to a station somewhere in the Highlands they shouted out the windows asking who had won and a massive cheer went up when they heard the result. |
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Dead heat between Mill Reef and Grundy.
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Sea Bird II was the best I have seen but Mill Reef was a hero and will always be a favourite of mine.
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New Approach, obviously.
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That's a great Airborne story...not many people know he was the sire of flyingbolt.
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Commander in Chief.
Not the most popular of winners, but I will always remember this horse with fondness. I went to Newmarket in the April to the evening meeting. I saw C in C in the ring and to be honest, I fell in love with him there and then. I got on at evens but then asked one of the majors what price the Derby and got 33/1 As he galloped along I always felt he had real power and was unsurprised when he trounced the field. On the day of the Derby (by this time I had backed him every race with diminishing returns as his price got so tight) I was in a London taxi with friends. The Driver asked who would win and I said, put everything on C in C he will do it. My friends all scoffed and thought I was mad.....they were all on Tenby. That was a weird Derby with C in C winning and two big outsiders placing. Not a vintage Derby for the purists, but a vintage Derby for me that I shall never forget. |
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I'm surprise that Shergar has only had one mention
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i will give the minstrel a mention
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