Ok, just tired of every post being about bashing all involved with Eight Belles. Figured I would start a happy racing post! (yes there is such a thing) My favorite moment was Seattle Slew becoming the first undefeated Triple Crown Winner with Curlin’s Dubai cup win a close second. 
Hope this gives you all something else to think about and relive. :yes:
favorite?
‘It’s Secretariat, moving like a tremendous machine’.
Stakes and track record, probably world record for Derby.
bobble with the timers in Preakeness, but one had a record.
Stakes, track and world record for Belmont.
Never ever see his like again.
That I saw after the fact: Secretariat’s Triple Crown wins.
That I saw live on TV: Barbaro and Bluegrass Cat exacta…KY Derby
That I saw nearly live: (I saw it online while in europe not knowing the outcome…and just loved it…honestly it almost tied for the TV one) Belmont 2007. Go Rags!!!
Live in person: Point Ashley, Del Mar Debutante Stakes.
On TV: Arazi winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile,
Live: Galileo’s King George win over Fantastic Light and One Man’s win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Ancient History
OK, I am old.
Favorite moment: Kelso winning the 1964 Aqueduct Handicap at the age of 7 over the younger Gun Bow. They went head to head for much of the race, with Kelso, who had been beaten by Gun Bow earlier in the season, who had not had a great season to that point, and who many racegoers thought was over the hill, winning the 3/4 length.
Gun Bow was the heavy betting favorite, but the New York crowd loved Kelso. When he came out onto the track in the post parade, he got a standing ovation that followed him all the way up the track.
After he won, the crowd went nuts cheering, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEATEN THE FAVORITE. They were cheering against their money!
I remember standing next to a hardened horseplayer who was holding losing tickets on Gun Bow, and who was crying and cheering, “Old man, old man, you did it.”
I still have an uncashed winning ticket.
Carl Nafgzar calling the Kentucky Derby for his elderly owner (whose name is escaping me) as her horse Unbridled won it. That one always brings a tear to my eye.
[QUOTE=Lady Counselor;3194285]
Carl Nafgzar calling the Kentucky Derby for his elderly owner (whose name is escaping me) as her horse Unbridled won it. That one always brings a tear to my eye.[/QUOTE]
I loved that! :yes:
Also, Personal Ensign winning the Breeders Cup Distaff over Winning Colors, to then retire undefeated.
John Henry’s win over The Bart in the first Arlington Million. :yes:
On a TV note: Watching Rags take on Curlin’ in the Belmont…
On a Personal Note: the 1st time watching one of the horses I galloped every morning cross under the wire first… I think I cried like a baby…
Definitely Secretariat’s triple crown wins. I purchased a video of them recently and was awestruck.
One of my favorites - captured here with a very clean copy of the whole race:
1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Affirmed
Life’s Hope
Seattle Slew
One Cut Above
Exceller
Great Contractor
Belmont Park at 1 1/2 miles won in 2:27 1/5 (Today the JCGC is raced at 1 1/4 mi)
Watch and enjoy - 4 min 30 sec; youtube.com
A great race call and commentary by NYRA’s Cassidy, top flight jockey work, and damn one hell of an effort to the wire.
Seen on TV: “The incomparable, invincable, unbeatable CIGAR!!!”
Honorable mention: Carl calling Unbridled’s Derby for Mrs. Genter.
Seen live: Alysheba, 1987 Kentucky Derby.
Honorable mention: Flanders and Serena’s Song, BC Juv Fillies, one hell of a battle to the wire.
Other than Secretariat’s Belmont, I think the most exciting race I ever saw was the year Olden Times won the San Juan Capistrano under Shoemaker.
I mean, really: Here was a sprinter/miler sent out to be the rabbit for Ellsworth’s other horse (was it Prove It? can’t remember) and Shoemaker got him sooooo far out in front (23 lengths at one point), then rated him so that he hung on for a nose win at 1 and 3/4 miles on the turf. Fantastic!!
I remember Mrs. Ellsworth in the Winner’s Circle holding the trophy and saying, “But he’s only supposed to go a mile…”
replay: Secretariat’s Belmont. I cry every time.
live: watching Rasor D’s last races before he was officially mine, being invited to come visit him backside pre- and post-race as if he was mine, and bringing him home when he was all done. NOTHING compares to watching a horse that you are connected to. The first time I watched him run I think I held my breath gate to wire.
Watching Charismatic win the Derby and Preakness. I fell in love with that horse the first time I saw him on television, and the back story with both him and Chris Antley was like something out of a movie. I never felt like he got the respect he deserved.
Secretariat’s Belmont, which I watched in the TV dept. at Sears, on literally dozens of screens simultaneously. Talk about overwhelming!
I have the video in “Jewels of the Triple Crown,” have no idea how many times I’ve watched it, and never stopped getting chills.
By far my best moment is when my 1st homebred won a maiden at Beverley in England. It brought tears to my eyes!
Mr. Greeley’s Breeders’ Cup 2nd to Desert Stormer was one of my favorite moments. He was just the coolest horse ever.
Many of my favorite moments were with horses that didn’t win big races, just breaking their maidens or winning allowance races were special for one reason or another. And also because these horses probably taught me more about what horses can do if you believe in them. They don’t have to be superstars to be very special.
I also love the KY Derby call with Mrs. Genter and also the moment before the Alydar’s Bluegrass when Jorge went over to the rail to talk to his very old and ailing owners. That was very cool.
Terri
Arkle’s defeat of Mill House in the 1964 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Red Rum’s third Grand National triumph in 1977.
Winning Colors’ wire to wire victory in the Kentucky Derby.
[QUOTE=Lady Counselor;3194285]
Carl Nafgzar calling the Kentucky Derby for his elderly owner (whose name is escaping me) as her horse Unbridled won it. That one always brings a tear to my eye.[/QUOTE]
You made me cry just thinking about it…
Genuine Risk winning the 1980 Kentucky Derby. It’s the first race I ever remember watching on T.V., and I vividly remember jumping up & down in my parents’ living room and screaming at the television for her. I still adore her and would do just about anything to meet her before she passes on.
