BEST RACE EVER... The Thread.

Port Conway Lane · #1 03-06-2014, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDog

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

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

Danzig · #2 03-06-2014, 09:27 AM

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.

blackthroatedwind · #3 03-06-2014, 09:44 AM

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.

Indian Charlie · #4 03-06-2014, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

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.

Alabama Stakes · #5 03-06-2014, 10:03 AM

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.

#6 03-06-2014, 10:06 AM

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

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

MaTH716 · #7 03-06-2014, 10:21 AM

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

Indian Charlie · #8 03-06-2014, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

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

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

JFC, you are old!

FATPIANO · #9 03-06-2014, 10:55 AM

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

Hickory Hill Hoff · #10 03-06-2014, 11:37 AM

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!

Clip-Clop · #11 03-06-2014, 12:47 PM

Rags and Curlin in the Belmont
Ghostzapper and St. Liam in the Woodward

kp319 · #12 03-06-2014, 05:04 PM

73 Belmont Stakes

richard burch · #13 03-16-2014, 10:34 PM

almost picked one of rachels races but i'm going with Rags to Riches-Curlin.... Belmont.

rachel was the favorite in most if not all her races...rags wasnt...

.....a filly in the belmont!!!!

Sightseek · #14 03-06-2014, 10:10 AM

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

GenuineRisk · #15 03-06-2014, 10:02 AM

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?

Danzig · #16 03-06-2014, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

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.

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.

Payson Dave · #17 03-06-2014, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

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.

I wasn't at the Belmont that year but I was at the Travers where Alydar and Affirmed dueled it out again...

robfla · #18 03-06-2014, 02:27 PM

Fraise nips Sky Classic at Gulfstream 1992

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU6zSaBRN4k

alysheba4 · #19 03-06-2014, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

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.

.....Easy goer and Sunday S. Preakness was close.........

joeydb · #20 03-07-2014, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alysheba4

.....Easy goer and Sunday S. Preakness was close.........

That's one of my favorites. Could not believe how close it was and the TV coverage of the stretch run was great. One of the best races I have seen.

That is drawing a distinction between "best race" and "the best individual performance put in by any horse" which I would say is obviously Secretariat's Belmont in 1973. There's a reason that Beyer said his speed rating was 139 - may never be topped.