Most brilliant jockey decision in a race you've seen

[Jorge]

Please describe in full detail and share with us the most brilliant jockey decision in a race you've seen in your life ----which you will never forget!

Never mind if the race was within the claiming ranks.

[petersd]

Shoemaker, '86 Derby on Ferdinand. Found a hole on the rail and slipped the field. Took everybody by surprise, including the announcer who didn't make the call until the horse was a length clear and drawing away.

[Rokeby Forever]

How about two?

1. 1976 Kentucky Derby. Cordero on Bold Forbes totally outrode Baeza and Honest pleasure to the lead...no way was Honest Pleasure going to close on Bold Forbes.

2. 1989 BC Classic: Chris McCarran knew that Sunday Silence was more "push button" than Easy Goer, so he put Sunday Silence's head down at the 3/8th pole and opened 3 or 4 lengths on Easy Goer. By the time Easy Goer came flying, it was too late.

[Jorge]

Thank you so much Petersd.

Many years ago, Eddie Belmonte was running a 5 furlongs race at the old El Comandante and he was outside the field in the farthest box. When the race unfolded he began dueling with another horse but the other horse was positioned near the inside rail while he was completely outside. Both dueled during the entire race but surreptitiously Belmonte steadily moved his mount in a perfect arc in such a manner that when both finally left the last turn Belmonte's mount had completely overcome and covered the other horse. At the end Belmonte's mount was near the rail in a very neat and clean fashion and saved enough ground to win the race. The manneuvre was praised and remembered by many witnesses.

[Jorge]

Dear Rokeby Forever,

Thank you so much for your two recollections. I also remember the 1970 Belmont Stakes won by High Echelon in a very sloppy track. He never stayed too far back during the race and did managed, lame as he was, to come from behind and prevail because he was a bona fide stayer. No other horse in the field was able to challenge him from behind because the track was very very slow and sloppy. In fact the final time was 1:34 flat for 12 furlongs. John L. Rotz was the rider.

[Rokeby Forever]

Jorge,

No need to thank me...thank you for posting all those wonderful Sabino pictures. I don't comment on those threads, but I always look at the pictures and enjoy them very much.

Best,
Rokeby Forever

[yukidragon]

Heres a thread for you.
http://www.pedigreequery.com/forum/view ... niest+race

The one I saw with Sir Ray is the best I've seen.

[wilf]

1972 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York England. Braulio Baeza flew over to ride Roberto against the mighty Brigadier Gerard with Joe Mercer up. Baeza sent him from the start and ran the legs off the previously unbeaten Brigadier going a mile and a quarter. Two great Horses and riders but a huge upset on the day!

[Denise]

Feats of the most extraordinary and incredible jockey athleticism I have ever witnessed in the flesh:
1) Jeremy Rose, somehow not falling off Afleet Alex in the Preakness stretch
2) Horacio Karamanos, some years ago in a turf stakes race at Colonial Downs, got popped out of the irons at the break, almost fell off the horse, was immediately 15-20 lengths back of the field, but miraculously got himself back in the irons after the first turn and made a Herculean run up the backstretch to get into contention and ultimately win the race.

[skeenan]

Oooooh (age setting in) who was the jockey that slipped off and was hanging onto the horse's neck as they went over the finish line? I seem to remember that they either won and/or were not disqualified because his feet never touched the ground...

That was pretty incredible, as I recall...

[Toccet02]

I think that was NY and I was there...Migliore? don't think he held on at wire tho so these could be two sep. events.

[petersd]

Years ago, I remember seeing a photo in which the jockey had apparently slipped off the horse just strides before the wire. Somehow, he landed on his feet, reins in hand, and led the horse across the wire. His former mount did cross the wire first by about a head, with him a step in front. The phot finish was classic. Wish I could remember more details.

[Alibhai's Alibar]

Years ago, I remember seeing a photo in which the jockey had apparently slipped off the horse just strides before the wire. Somehow, he landed on his feet, reins in hand, and led the horse across the wire. His former mount did cross the wire first by about a head, with him a step in front. The phot finish was classic. Wish I could remember more details.

Something similar happened to that at Monmouth Park within the past year or two. I'll see if I can find out more details.

[majxmom]

There was one at GGF with Sweetwater Oak. The horse tripped a bit just before the wire, and he slipped off onto her neck. I think the jockey was Nate Hubbard. He was inside of the sixteenth pole, so he grabbed her neck and hung on past the wire, then dropped to the ground. The stewards ruled that she had carried his weight over the wire, so her win was upheld.

[CA Michael]

I think Pat Valenzuela's savvy ride on Sunday Silence in the Preakness Stakes was one one of the most brilliant rides. While keeping SS on a straight course, he used his right hand to keep him leaning on Easy Goer the entire length of the stretch without causing interference. Pat Day on EG was pinned on the rail and unable to switch sticks, thereby allowing SS to pull off the narrow victory. Riders less brazen than Pat V. would have been beaten that day.