BEST RACE EVER... The Thread.
 

Watching 2007 Tampa Bay Derby inspired the idea to start this thread: Best race(s) you've seen in person. Went to TBD with Cajungator that St. Patrick's Day for the Street Sense-Any Given Saturday throwdown that is as terrific now as it was then. Watching it, a few forgotten elements are jarred including Any Given Saturday being 3-5 (!) v. Street Sense at 6-5 and Velazquez losing all that ground on the turn. An outstanding call by Grunder too..

2007 TAMPA BAY DERBY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOdODLV8QUw

Post your Best Race(s) Ever Attended -- with video if possible -- and your recollections..

Rachel Alexandra's Woodward.

http://youtu.be/ysO_Fhc8Fpw

I was on the fence, midstretch. You can't hear it on this video, but the noise was like nothing I had ever heard. Used to have a great video on my old phone, I'd play it to my non-racing fans just so they could hear the crowd. It was incredible.

The Rachel Alexandra Woodward was spectacular but my favorite is Goldikova taking her 3rd straight BC Mile in 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7dxPSOhbDU

Enjoyed that one so much it threw me off my game and I missed one of the easiest exactas of all time in the Classic

2007 Belmont
 

Funny the first 2 postss were both races which i attended and while th TBD derby was eciting , the Rachel alexandraWoodward was ear shattering with all rising from their seats to applaud her as she came back to the winners circle.

BUT 2 races stand oout to me, the first being the 2007 Belmont Stakes where Rags To Riches beat Curlin and the Belmont stands shook; and that takes some doing ! Enjoy Tom Durkins marvelous call d:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xhrOk7jjTI

The 2007 Belmont. Rags to Riches over Curlin.

Byk had just introduced us to some regular caller to ATRAB who wouldn't shut up going on and on about Holy Bull and as the race before the Belmont ended announces we should leave and go over to his house to watch the Belmont on his 'flat screen'. We explained we came all the way from Chicago for this race and preferred to watch this live standing at the finish line but I don't think he ever got that. It also helped that we were all over Rags.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xhrOk7jjTI

The most exciting race that I attended was the 2010 BC Classic. Really the entire day was great, including being blown away by Uncle Mo's performance in the juvey and finally seeing in person one of my all time faves Gio Ponti, who unfortunately fell short in the mile to Goldikova but I was glad to see her in the flesh, too.

The Classic had been so hyped and the crowd was electric. As the race unfolded we thought that Zenyatta was toast, but her rally and the accompanying roar from the stands was awe inspiring, followed by a mass deflation as Blame held on. That oscillation in the crowd, from low to high to low again, was a sensation that I'll never forget. My own low was eased as I realized that, thanks to my doubling up on the trifecta box that an old friend had given me to bet for him, I had a nice ticket to cash. Thanks, John. :)

The 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Et15M6wsPo

Was that really 7 years ago? :eek: Greatest race I've ever attended, hands down.

Game on Dude - 2013 Pacific Classic

We got to meet him the morning before which made it extra special. To see the laid back, cool as a cucumber gelding go out and dominate like he did the next day was amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwzzHt0s3ao

If you FF to the 4:00 mark you can see me highfive the Mrs :D

Carson Hollow / You 2002 Test Stakes
 

This race was the most exciting racee EVER !!! Maybe because i was live on small pick 6 ticket , I had Carson Hollow singled and my buddy had You singled and we both ended up with 5 of 6. Another outstanding call by the incomparable Tom Durkin. and jerry Bailey riding the hair off you in tight.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u03E155wcIE

Afleet Alex
 

I was there for his Preakness win - simply amazing.
The race itself wasn't close, but what happened (and almost happened) at the top of the lane was storybook.

Blame/Zenyatta in the BC Classic

Rachel Alexandra - Haskell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwBVd4R5Les

Tail end of a long trip for me that included my first visit to Saratoga, trudging through pouring rain 3 times, and many failed wagering opportunities. But, she was unbelievable. Made the whole thing easily worth it.

1985 Strub

Precisionist, Greinton and Gate Dancer. All three of them could have won.

Also, Melair slaughtering Southern Halo and Snow Chief in the Silver Screen that same year.

That's the only race I've ever seen where the non favorite got a standing ovation afterwards. It might be the only race in which I've seen the winner get one.

I'll third that.
1981 gotham stakes is another favorite of mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZUyqf6B0hM

the martha washington at oaklawn the first time i went. the horse who won (explosive beauty) hadn't won in a year (since last racing at oaklawn) but her finishing on top gave me my first pick three win. private emblem ran a race or two before, an allowance/optional claimer.
it was also the first pick three i ever bet. on top of that, first time i'd ever been to live races. kelly was with me, and we had a blast.

Affirmed and Alydar in the Belmont. Two truly great horses, as great a rivalry as racing has ever seen, meeting for the ninth time, with everything on the line, literally dueling for over six furlongs, nose to nose.

I've seen a lot of great races. I hope to see many more. None will ever equal that.

That was a few years before my time, but that's how I feel about the 85 Strub. Those were some damn good horses and they fought bitterly for about the last half of the race, after Precisionist was dueled through a very swift half of the race.

Rags to Riches-Curlin's Belmont. That year NYRA sold riser seats right in front of the finish line and when I filled out the application I noted that I and my racing buddy are short (true) and could we please be as close to the front of the section as possible? They put us in the front row, right in front of the finish line. Since it wasn't crowded my friend's boyfriend was able to sit with us. They'd had a squabble earlier in the day, and hadn't been speaking to each other much but Rags winning suddenly made everything okay. Who knew a great horse race could do double duty as couples therapy? ;)

good thread....great memories
 

personal ensign impossibly nailing winning colors last jump was spellbinding. :)




honorable mention to Waquoit nosing Broad Brush in the Masscap. Jim Hannon blew his voice out calling the stretch call.

Let's get in the wayback machine. I was at the Spa for this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rKCAhELwhc

My top 2 are the 1990 Ky Derby and the 2012 BC Classic..............

I was all over Summer Squall during the prep races and was convinced he was going to help me crush the Derby. I was only in the infield but the electricity was unreal. In front of me was a full 'Southern' gentleman and his wife both decked out in vintage formal derby wear and behind me was a guy and his wife in cutoff shorts and t-shirts smoking some 'funny' cigarettes all day. I was mortified when I saw Unbridled cruise up to Summer Squall and roll by. I did feel a bit better when I saw the rebroadcast with the Natzger-Genter iso and was moved by the moment. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUGQV3Q5K50"]

At the BC Classic I had grandstand seats at the top of the stretch and remember how there was a bit of a lull in the crowd as they figured out that Game On Dude just didn't have it that day and then the roar picked back up the length of the stretch as Fort Larned and MMM dueled to the wire. I was totally convinced that MMM was going to blow by.
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXpuUZ17aQs"]

Rags To Riches and Curlin hooking up at the top of the stretch and dueling to the wire.

Rachael Alexandra's Haskell.
I know that it wasn't a monster field she beat, but it was my first Haskell and I specifically went to see her. About a quarter of the way through the card an absolute monsoon rolled through. I remember that horses went down in consecutive races. I really believe that if it wasn't Haskell day, they would have cancelled the rest of the card. I just kept waiting for the announcement of them scratching Rachael. Thankfully it never came and she ran a tremendous race. I still can feel the hairs stand up on my neck when a recall the feeling I got when I saw her head into the stretch with the lead. The roar from the crowd was deafening. That right there made up for what a crummy day (weather, betting etc..)it was up until that point. It was awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwBVd4R5Les

I thought you would say the 2013 Derby watched at Vernon Downs. :eek::D:zz:

80-1....80-1.....80-1....

JFC, you are old!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2rv7m1YYE

The 2010 Florida Derby, I had a tri box with Rule, Ice Box and Pleasant Prince, and was alive in The Magna Pick five with all three.........it was my best day ever

2OO7 Hollywood Gold Cup.

LAVA MAN

REALLY REALLY good one....

best in person was probably afleet alex in the Preakness....ill have another in the Preakness was also good

Hidden Lake @ Saratoga - Go for Wand Handicap 1997

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IIIcBxXieA

she had a GREAT year in '97 & I was there for this gutsy performance! :)

whenever the subject of great races comes up, that is the very first race i always think of.
if people ask why one is a race fan, you need do no more than show them that race. it doesn't get any better than that.

I can't split 94 Travers Holy Bull/Concern and 89 Preakness Sunday Silence/Easy Goer.

this is mine

Anything with Holy Bull at Belmont.. beating Dehere in the Futurity, crushing the Met Mile field, blowing away Twining in the Dwyer.. and especially the 1994 Woodward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqsVf9UjODE

I wish I had been at Saratoga to see his Travers..

I forgot about this.

This is the best race, I've ever had the pleasure of attending.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4rmq...ature=youtu.be

Personal Ensign v Winning Colors Belmont BC Distaff

Sunday Silence v Personal Ensign Preakness

Well ok then

All that was missing was the hiccup.

Wasted in the early afternoon?