The Top 5 Races You Ever Saw and Why

[Still Dreaming]

Invasor's Classic and Smarty Jones' Preakness both had me on my feet and screaming like a recently escaped mental patient. (The Classic from joy, the Preakness from amazement) Street Sense's Derby is one of my absolute favorites, probably because he is the only horse I have ever correctly picked to win the Kentucky Derby, and the only horse I've ever liked for more than a few months without them going sour. Up until Curlin crossed the line first, I was utterly convinced that Street Sense was going to win at Monmouth. Damn that "big red lobster."

There are very few races that I've ever seen while at the racetrack. Two in particular stand out, from my first excursion to Belmont Park in 2005. It was the day of the Suburban Handicap. All of my bets were show bets (except for one ill-fated win ticket on Funny Cide), but when Dixie Bourbon just barely nosed out the second place horse after a truly furious stretch duel I cheered him like he'd won me a million rather than $17. There was a brief inquiry, but it was dropped. I had also put $2 on Favre in a later race, and when I actually looked through the Form I regretted it. He seemed about as fast as a fat man on valium. It didn't at all surprise me when he dropped way the hell out of it at the break. I resigned myself to a worthless ticket and smiled bemusedly. Then, rounding the final turn, a horse on the outside was made an explosive run into fourth place. It was Favre. In the instant that I looked from the toteboard, to the track, to the Form again, time stood still. I've never screamed so loud in my life. Favre never made it past fourth place, but it was still one of the most exciting races I've seen. If I wasn't hooked before, I was certainly hooked then.

Oh, and the 1973 Belmont Stakes makes me cry like a child, for obvious reasons.

[Barn 31 T-breds]

'73 Belmont - Only race that ever gave me goosebumps (and I've seen more than 50,000)

'78 Belmont - Only race I can remember two horses hooking up a mile from the finish in a marathon and winding up separated by a head bob at the wire.

'88 Distaff - Personal Ensign looked hopelessly beaten but refused to lose; one of the gamest victories I can remember.

'87 Haskell - Bet Twice, Alysheba and Lost Code provided the most thrilling three-horse stretch run I have ever seen.

'96 Derby - You couldn't have sold me a $100 win ticket on Grindstone for ten cents going into the last turn, but Bailey and his mount made all the right moves and scored the closest Derby win I ever saw; also personally satisfying as I was the only pro handicapper in the country to pick him and not Editors Note.

[TJ]

'73 Belmont - Only race that ever gave me goosebumps (and I've seen more than 50,000)

'78 Belmont - Only race I can remember two horses hooking up a mile from the finish in a marathon and winding up separated by a head bob at the wire.

'88 Distaff - Personal Ensign looked hopelessly beaten but refused to lose; one of the gamest victories I can remember.

'87 Haskell - Bet Twice, Alysheba and Lost Code provided the most thrilling three-horse stretch run I have ever seen.

'96 Derby - You couldn't have sold me a $100 win ticket on Grindstone for ten cents going into the last turn, but Bailey and his mount made all the right moves and scored the closest Derby win I ever saw; also personally satisfying as I was the only pro handicapper in the country to pick him and not Editors Note.

Hi Barn 31,
I shared those goosebumps with ya in '73. But in 2008 we can use you on the handicapping forum :>) TJ

[madelyn]

This year's Belmont!! Seeing Rags to Riches show all those colts her tail was indescribable.

[imnumberjuan]

I read through everyones and after having seen the youtube races (the Grand National in particular) I can see why these are the favorites.

Some of my personal favorites are more regional, but here goes - in no particualr order.

1. Halo Steven winning the BC derby - he set the fractions and held onto win by a nostral after a poor showing in the Canadian Derby, a bit of a vindication for the jockey as the previous trainer bad mouthed him in the papers (my sentiments on that trainer are he couldn't train a dog to shit...)

2. Kariyokijo (not sure on the spelling) - he/she/it was the first ticket I cashed that paid more than $100 on a $2 win bet ($106.20 or something like that. He/She/It dropped in from running in Maiden Special Weights to maiden bottoms at Northlands park after a three month lay off... the favorite was a 0 - 20 lifetime starts... as the post parade went on my table of associates at the OTB bad mouthed he/she/it - I responded with "last time I checked horses generally don't read the tote-board. I bought supper to show I was a good sport... one of my closest friends has offered to track he/she/it down and get it stuffed so I can relive the moment anytime I want

3. Invasor winning the Donn - got in trouble as he was wont to do out of the starting gate than won it like he had it planned out.


4. First race I had as an owner - I was washing out. First win as an owner rates right up there, the opening of the starting gate was like opening an unassuming box at Christmas... I had a 1:18 and 2/5 of tissue to unravel to discover I wasn't getting the racing equivalent of socks - David Neusch made his last ride on that mare.

5. I want to say it was Like Now (I am sure it is but am unwilling to look it up at the momentwinning the Gotham in '06, I had picked up the DRF the night before and liked the fact Mclaughlin had stuck with Jara, everyone else in the race had flown a "name" jockey to ride.

6. Watching Monashee and her career in western Canada, 11 straight stake wins, 10 straight races with which her regular Jockey had not used the whip in a meaningful way. I know this is cheating but it was like watching Pedro Martinez pitch a game, or Wayne Gretzky play a shift, a delight at every moment. The fact she got bounced like a bad check in her final race at Woodbine doesn't matter, she doesn't owe anyone anything.

7. Secretariat's Belmont race, I echo the notion about getting shivers watching him open up on the field.

[wilf]

1988 San Bernardino, Alysheba, Ferdinand and Good Taste.<ARG>

[Foggytrip]

Pacific Classic with Candy Ride and Medaglia d'Oro. Watching Candy Ride rip his head off like a champion should. All the milkshake in the world couldnt keep those two on even terms

[NorthStar]

Pacific Classic with Candy Ride and Medaglia d'Oro. Watching Candy Ride rip his head off like a champion should. All the milkshake in the world couldnt keep those two on even terms

[geowarrior]

It's nice to see Red Rum's races getting this recognition. There will never be another horse that wins three Grand Nationals and runs second in another two. Red Rum was giving a lot of weight to Crisp in '73, but the following year won the race as highweight. So for me a defining moment in racing was when Red Rum won his third Grand National in 1977. The finish itself isn't that exciting but the response of the crowd as they watch history being made is thrilling. The 1977 race is available on Youtube.

[wilf]

Red Rum was GETTING loads of weight from Crisp as it was his first Grand National and nobody on earth knew what a legend was lurking in his red bay frame. Crisp ran the single greatest race in Steeplechase history that day in 1973. I urge everyone here to find the full race on youtube as they will not believe it. He was carrying many pounds more weight than Red Rum, maybe 20 and going much farther than he had ever run before as he was actually the Champion 2 Mile Chaser. CRISP was from Australia and was known as "The Black Kangaroo" and his speed was so incredible for a chaser that they smashed the track record that day. At one stage he was a FENCE in front of the field and only after the final jump did he start to tire and drift away from a straight line and was only caught by the mighty Red Rum in the last 20 feet after going 4 1/2 miles. I wanted to strangle the jockey Richard Pitman for using the whip on Crisp in the last strides instead of holding him together on the bit and keeping him balanced and straight. To this day I choke up watching the replay, such magnificence should have been rewarded by a victory.

[kathya11]

Rok - Funny you mentioned Creme De La Fete. My father owned him toward the end of his career with Dick Dutrow. He won a few races for him. I believe he was a stallwalker.

I loved that horse. I followed him for several years, and it broke my heart when he retired.

[diomed]

Arazi's BC run was darn impressive

I was at Churchill that day and I was also at Hollywood Park in 1982 to see a 2yo filly win a stake by 21 lengths setting a record time. Yep. IMO Landaluce was way more impressive than Arazi and I witnessed both live.

I only wish I was old enough to remember Secretariat's Belmont live. Even on tape that is the most awe inspiring race I have ever seen.

[kathya11]

.

I only wish I was old enough to remember Secretariat's Belmont live. Even on tape that is the most awe inspiring race I have ever seen.

I remember it -- it was a month before my 18th birthday, and I called in sick to work to watch (I was a cashier in a supermarket in high school and college). It was unbelievable.

[Jorge]

For me, two races. The magnificent race Seattle Slew lost against Exceller, (The Woodward?), and the dead heat at a mile between Lure and another fine 3-year-old rival during their sophomore season (Gotham?). Perhaps now we can add the recent incredible come-back victory recently performed by Winter Memories

[Bast]

1-Secretariat's Belmont

2-Secretariat's Marlboro Cup

3-Zenyatta's BC loss, probably her most impressive race

4-Dr Fager's world record mile

5-Affirmed & Alydar/Belmont Stakes