I would have to agree with Secretariat’s Belmont if I could only pick one but my favorite race ever is Sunday’s Preakness so would love to have seen that one. I am very thankful I saw AP up close and personal at Pimlico and at Belmont.
I think I saw it in person. Buckpasser’s win in the 1967 Suburban Handicap.
I’ll be joining most of you on the rail at the wire for the '73 Belmont. Not because of the TC win, because you just don’t see a horse totally dominate like that often. Or ever.
The War Admiral-Seabiscuit race would be second choice, viewing a great and rare match race in that electrified crowd at the event of that year.
Of course, if I could bet ? Whole other ballgame.
My old OTTB’s, of course.
Findeight, I still can’t figure out how to quote but wanted to share my experience with the match race. When the Seabiscuit movie was about to come out they did a re-enactment of the match race at Pimlico. They had two horses that sort of matched PA system. I don’t remember if it was the real call or the call from the movie or what but what I do remember is the horses weren’t even close to where they were supposed to be to match the call but it was still incredibly emotional. I can’t imagine how awesome that would have been in real life.
Too many to choose from, others cited good ones, but I think I would’ve liked to have seen with my own eyes February 3, 1980 at Santa Anita the Grade I Strub Stakes at 1¼ miles. The video of Spectacular Bid going 1:57 4/5 for the distance carrying 126-lbs looks truly effortless.
Welcome back Glimmer even if only for a moment.
You bet - kick off your shoes, sit down and visit for a bit, Glimmer.
gotpaints
I was on the rail for the 2007 Belmont. I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of really historic 2000’s races in person, but Rags to Riches’ Belmont remains the one that still gives me goosebumps.
Seeing that big white face coming around the final turn at Belmont is a thrill I will never forget.
I love to hear someone else mention that race – not many do. Gritty, gritty race from a tough, classy filly. 
We were at Rag’s Belmont, it was a great race.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;8991508]
Too many to choose from, others cited good ones, but I think I would’ve liked to have seen with my own eyes February 3, 1980 at Santa Anita the Grade I Strub Stakes at 1¼ miles. The video of Spectacular Bid going 1:57 4/5 for the distance carrying 126-lbs looks truly effortless.[/QUOTE]
We KNOW that you love you some Spectacular Bid. :yes:
And welcome back…
Any Grand National where no one fell at Beechers Brook.
I have to admit…I’d probably be there with Training Cupid and I’d probably make sure I had the w/p/s, exacta, tri, and super. 144-1 is hard to pass up. Plus hearing the reaction when he zips by and wins.
I have to go with Secretariat’s Belmont like many others, but the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on June 10, 1944 or any subsequent ones would be unforgettable.
Man O’War vs John P Grier in the 1920 Dwyer Stakes.
A 2 horse race, but the only horse to ‘head’ Man O’War in a head to head contest.
Man O’War came on to win 126# vs 108# mile and a 1/16 in a then track record.
Or maybe his Lawrence Realization, basically a solo effort: beat Hoodwink by an estimated 100 lengths and came in at 2:40.4, six seconds faster than the 1 5/8 mile record for Belmont Park - under a pull.
I think I’d like to have seen some of Kelso’s races, too.
[QUOTE=Training Cupid;8984260]
1993 Breeders Cup Classic, so I can put a bunch of money on Arcangues to win![/QUOTE]
I was there. With the owners of one of the co-favorites, Marquetry. We felt pretty good we would get our picture taken. Been to a few big races with the horse’s connection. None that were the favorite.
The look on the faces on everyone in our box would have been priceless. Everyone was thinking/looking the same thing/way. Who the fork is Arcangues?
Went into the Clubhouse to cash some tickets from an earlier race. Figured the cashing tickets Windows would be pretty empty.
A guy at the window in front of me hands some tickets to the clerk. The clerk hands them back. He starts flipping out. BIG Time.
"What do you mean they’re no good!!! You sold me the wrong forking tickets!!! Tries to reach through the window and grab the guy. He was a big guy took quite a few security guards to sort it out.
Felt bad for the guy. Happened to me once. But not with a 120-1 horse. Asked for $100 across the board on the 9 horse and was given the 5 instead. Was betting at the last minute and ran back to our box without checking the tickets.
This has happened enough that all racetracks have signs that say; Check your tickets before leaving the window.
Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1962. Fred Winter wins on Mandarin despite the bridle breaking early in the race and having to race the last 3 miles around a figure of eight racecourse with no steering.
Winter talks about the race here, with some footage of the race itself about 2 minutes in… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvGns8MZhiU
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;8998450]
Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1962. Fred Winter wins on Mandarin despite the bridle breaking early in the race and having to race the last 3 miles around a figure of eight racecourse with no steering.
Winter talks about the race here, with some footage of the race itself about 2 minutes in… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvGns8MZhiU[/QUOTE]
The Mighty Fred then trained the immortal Jay Trump, and Tommy Smith, to win Aintree in 65’.
Truly awesome. :yes:
I remember a quote I read somewhere about that Fred Winter steeplechase ride sans bridle. He said something like, “What was I supposed to do, jump off in front of all those screaming Frenchmen?”
Man o’ War’s Lawrence Realization is another on my candidate list, but the match beat it out. Sir Barton, even not on his best day, was a lot better than Hoodwink. I have often wondered what people would think if the Lawrence had been televised. I fully concede that Secretariat was a great horse, one of the greatest of all time, but I think that the Belmont got a good bit of added magic because so many people saw it and still can on Youtube see it. If the TV world could have seen live Man o’ War’s world record time by 100 lengths or Count Fleet winning by 25 on a very poorly maintained track (war-time fuel rationing) in a race in which he was injured and in which the jockey admitted he had tried to pull him up, knowing he had hurt himself, I think a lot of people still would be gushing with awe about those performances and their power and impressiveness, too.
