The Top 5 Races You Ever Saw and Why

[TJ]

This isn't a debate over what was the top 5 greatest races in racing history, we can do that in another thread. This is the top 5 greatest races you ever saw either live or on TV as the race was actually being run. Thereby limiting your anwers to your years on earth, actual presence during the "real time" running and your own personal feelings and experiences in racing that make these races your top 5 picks. No one is right or wrong so hopefully that will limit a debate that would hijack the thread. This is simply the 5 races that have influenced you the most since getting introduced to racing and your reasons for choosing them. Considering the various ages, locations and backgrounds of our many posters, I thought this might be an interesting thread which hopefully will get responses from many of our favorite posters:>) Here's my 5 favorite races and why I chose them:

1. Secretariat's 1973 Belmont Stakes win. Why: It was the race that hooked me forever, I have never watched a race before or since that sent chills up and down my spine the way Secretariat's performance did that day!

2. Red Rum's 1973 Grand National win. Why: It was one of the most amazing performances ever. Red Rum was so far behind in that race he looked like he would never be able to win, but he did.

3. Personal Ensign's 1988 BC Distaff win. Why: After coming back off an injury, she gets an off track which she didn't like yet she dug in thru the lane to be up in the final strides to beat the Kentucky Derby winning filly Winning Colors. This great racemare retired undefeated!

4. Forego's 1976 Marlboro Cup win. Why: Forego, carrying 137lbs. and running over an off track which he too wasn't fond of looked like a frieght train storming through the lane to beat the 1975 Kentucky Derby winner Honest Pleasure at the wire.

5. Go for Wand 1990 BC Distaff. Why: Although Go For Wand didn't win this race it was one of the most amazing races I ever witnessed. This race had such an impact on me, moreso than any other winning horses race I ever saw. She was locked in a prolonged dual with Bayakoa, she held the advantage as that fateful moment in racing history suddenly played out. It was so unexpected, everyone rooting for their favorite and many of her fans could see Go For Wand and Randy Romero were measuring their opponent, then it happened. She went down hard and the racetrack stood still, no one made a sound after the shocking gasp that left the mouths of all those in attendance. I was there when Ruffian broke down, but that wasn't nearly as traumatic or dramatic as this. One moment the entire track was cheering, the next total silence and devastation--an amazing gamut of unexpected emotion which is the essence of horse racing. When she went down she didn't stay down. Go For Wand got to her feet and still tried to go on, Go For Wand taught me about the heart, courage, pride and soul of a great race horse. She was truly one of them!
All these 5 races played an important part in my undying love and affection for the race horse and the sport of racing. All these races (and countless others) taught me so much about life as well as the racehorse and horseracing, that I know I never would have learned otherwise. TJ

[winds]

I agree with 4 of your races and whould have posted them ( and pretty much the same reasons ), I didn't see Red Rums race so I have to pass on that one.

I have to think about the 5th one for my selection, will get back to you on that one.

winds

[Ill-bred]

My top three are:

Personal Ensign's BC Distaff -- already mentioned.

Holy Bull's Travers -- sets a hot pace while battling a rabbit and then shows the determination of a champion to hold off Concern.

Dehere's Saratoga Special -- walled off in the stretch so E. Maple yanks him outside and he runs by them with an incredible burst.

I caught this year's Tampa Bay Derby live and that was a fantastic stretch duel, as was this year's Preakness and Belmont.

[Rokeby Forever]

You hit three of my favorites, TJ.

Here's one, for obvious reasons:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whSnWqAGH8o

Here's a "WOW!" performance that I'll never forget:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SMQUzR7H_A

[Tucumcari]

The first 5 I ever won. Noname horses at no name track. But hot dog they were great races!

[Ill-bred]

Here are the youtube links for my picks:

Holy Bull's Travers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPezwDz9 ... re=related


Dehere's Saratoga Special

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0at6tTgEvNc

[zinn21]

1. Secretariat's Belmont-It was just so overpowering.

2. Secretariat's Preakness- Never seen a clubhouse turn move like it before or since; just jawdropping.

3. Silky Sullivan's 6 and a half furlong win from 40 lengths back

4. Dr. Fager's world record mile in the Washington Park Hdcp carrying 134 lbs.

5. John Henry's Arlington Million defeat of The Bart.

[casper10]

Exceller's Jockey Club Gold Cup and Affirmed's Belmont.

[TomFool]

I am going to a little more recent in adding one in Tiznow's win over Sakhee in the 2001 Classic. It was a great back & forth stretch drive & just the timing & Durkins made it very emotional as the BC that year was the first major sporting event in NY after 911.

[larrygene]

You all have already named my 5 races. But, of those named and those not named the greatest race I ever saw, and I was standing at the finish line, was
Personal Ensign---1988 BC Distaff.

To be at CD was thrilling enough but to witness probably the best horseflesh ever assembled on one day was absolutely unbelieveable!!!!! Personal Ensign's race against Winning Colors was voted the Race of the Decade. It certainly got my vote.

Larrygene

[louis finochio]

Citation, Dr. Fager, spectacular bid, Native diver were thoroughbreds that left their marks in my memory bank forever.

[bdw0617]

I dont' go back very far



5. 2007 Belmont, Rags to riches v. curlin

4. 2000 Dubai world cup- Dubai Millinum

3. 2000 BC Classic, Giant's Causeway v. Tiznow

2. I want to say the 03 (?) Fountian of Youth, read the footnotes v. Second of June

1. 2000 Breeders Cup Mile- War Chant

[Des]

Arazi's BC run was darn impressive

[UmmYeah]

So I grew up going to Saratoga and OTBs with my grandfather, as a kid in the '70s and '80s. This was my first taste of horse racing, and this is the time when I fell in love with the sport. Most of my memories, though, are more around the experiences of the track or the OTB, rather than individual horses or races. I clearly remember reading the Form taped up to the wall at the OTB (only those with money to burn would invest in their own Form), an 8-year-old kid elbowing the retirees out of the way. I clearly remember staring at the text-only OTB ticker screen while listening to a tape-delayed, audio-only replay of the race. I clearly remember sitting under the trees around the paddock at Saratoga and watching the horses go by. I clearly remember Marshall Cassidy's voice, and he still remains my favorite race caller. I remember a handful of horses with memorable names (Sidi Bou Said, Holy Mackerel Andy). I remember Cruget and Samyn were good jockeys on turf, and they offered more value than anything that Cordero rode. I remember hating Tuesdays, because Tuesdays meant Finger Lakes.

As I grew up, I followed racing a bit and still called myself a fan, but I watched very few races between the late '80s and early '00s. I got back into racing with a vengeance a few years ago, so most of the memorable races that I have witnessed in real time occured in the past three years. Of them, the ones that stick in my mind most are ones that involve a dream I've had since I was that little kid reading the Form at the OTB: owning my own racehorse. So, by far, the top three are:
My first race as an owner (which was also my first win as an owner!).
The race where I claimed my first horse.
The race where my horse fractured her knee (fortunately she was saved).

As long as I live, I don't think any horse race will match the excitement of that first race as an owner. Of the races where I did not have a personal stake (aside from a modest wager, maybe), my list would have to be:
Afleet Alex's Preakness - How much the best is he, indeed.
Rags and Curlin in the Belmont
Barbaro's breakdown

[TJ]

I agree with 4 of your races and whould have posted them ( and pretty much the same reasons ), I didn't see Red Rums race so I have to pass on that one.

I have to think about the 5th one for my selection, will get back to you on that one.

winds

Hi Winds,
It took me some time to find the entire Red Rum race on you-tube. So here it is, I hope the link will work. This horse was a legend, he had a song written about him. He raced till he was 10 years old! TJ

I had to edit this. The link I put in didn't work but if you would like to see it go to you tube and search 1973 Grand National. I was searching using Red Rum's name and under that it only had the final stretch run. You will see Grey Sombrero's name mentioned in the capsule, that is the race. TJ