by SHARON KAPLAN There are a number of people that can remember the sounds and smells of the horse track. Perhaps it was one of the your first memories as a young and innocent child; the day you held your grandfather’s hand while looking up at the creatures that were supposed to make your old man rich. Through the years, horse racing has changed the way betting is done and as the pure adrenaline of watching the show unfold is addictive, why would one not want to place a bet?
Put together, here is a list of some of the best horse racing moments in history that can still make one’s skin crawl with excitement!
Ascot Gold Cup 1936 – Quashed and Omaha
Those final few seconds of watching Quashed and Omaha, two champion horses from different parts of the world, race down the lane were gut wrenching. Quashed won the race by a small head and although there were no pictures taken to confirm the win, it still remains a split second in time that could have changed history.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes 1975 – Grundy and Bustino
Grundy and Bustino, being one-of-a-kind racehorses, wouldn’t give in without a fight. The race between Bustino and Grundy was described as the race of the century and to watch the horses battle out their winning ability on the track. Grundy won by a mere inch or two and, to this day, will be remembered for his pure determination and will to win.
Cheltenham Gold Cup 1964 – Arkle and Mill House
When looking at the best Cheltenham 2017 odds before making an online horse race bet, one can’t help but think of the race between Arkle and Mill House. Although Mill House won, the fight for victory between these two steeplechasers was feverishly extravagant. It was such a legendary moment that Dominic Behan wrote a ballad in honour of the event
Breeders’ Cup Distaff 1990 – Bayakoa and Go For Wand
It was said that Bayakoa and Go For Wand were going to give the crowd something to swoon over for decades to come. The two horses ran as if being chased by an invisible force while the crowd watched in awe. They stayed next to each other for almost the entire race before the unthinkable happened. Go For Wand had an unexpected incident where her foreleg gave way. What had to be one of the most memorable races now became of the worst. As Go For Wand’s leg was irretrievably damaged, she will always be remembered for her fighting spirit.
There is no such sport offering as much exhilaration than that of watching horses race down a track while placing bets on which one will cross the finish line first. Go on try it.
Nice post Sharon.
I love racing history, and for what it’s worth, I would like to add my two penny worth. I know that I have left many great races out, but here goes, in no particular order:
Eclipse Stakes 1903.
The 1902 Derby winner Ard Patrick won from ‘wonder filly’ Sceptre, who had won the other four 1902 classics, with 1903 Triple Crown winner Rock Sand well beaten in third.
Belmont Stakes 1973.
Secretariat, the horse that ‘wouldn’t stay’ the mile and a half of the last Classic, led all the way, broke the track record to win by thirty one lengths and complete the Triple Crown. Absolutely awesome. See You Tube.
Gallagher Gold Cup, Sandown, 1965.
Arkle, the greatest steeple chaser of all time, bar none, carried 12st 7lb to beat Rondetto twenty lengths with old rival, 1963 Gold Cup winner Mill House, in receipt of 16 lb’s, back in third. Arkle broke the course record by an astonishing seventeen seconds. You Tube definately beckons!
Whitbread Gold Cup 1967.
Mill House, finally free of Arkle, led all the way under top weight of 11st 11lb to see off good chaser Kapeno for his swan song. Without a doubt the most emotional horse race that I have ever seen. There was not a dry eye at Sandown. See You Tube.
Champion Hurdle 1970
Persian War’s third Champion. It was the only race that he won that year, possibly due to declining health. Still started favourite and battled on to beat good hurdlers Major Rose and Escalus one and a half lengths and the same. As for Mill House, great emotion. Confounded us all the next year by winning the Sweeps Hurdle at Fairyhouse ny eight lengths and finshing runner up at Cheltenham to unbeaten ‘new boy’ Bula in the Champion. See You Tube
Arc De Triomphe 1965.
Sea Bird winning by six lengths (despite wandering across the course to his left) from unbeaten French Derby winner Reliance, with Diatome (Washington Int. next time) five further lengths away in third, Free Ride was fourth Unplaced were Meadow Court, Anilin, Oncidium, Tom Rolfe and a host of other good horses. One of the greatest flat races I have ever seen, and possibly the best. You Tube.
Eclipse Stakes 1968.
1967 Derby and Guineas winner Royal Palace got up on the line to catch French challenger Taj Dewan on the line, with 1968 Guineas and Derby winner Sir Ivor three quarters of a length away third. A brilliant race! His next race was his last, breaking down a hundred yards from the finish, he sill battled back to win the King George from Felicio ( Grand Prix de Saint Cloud) and Topyo (Arc. Ribero (Irish Derby, St Leger)was fourth. Often under-rated, Royal Palace was unplaced on his debut (Coventry Stakes, Ascot)but won nine of his other ten races. A great champion. You Tube.
Royal Lodge Stakes 2010.
Frankel winning by ten lengths from the next Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach. He just ran right away. This was the race that let us know how good he would be, a glimpse of the future. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
Derby 1938.
Bois Roussel, slowly away on only the second race of his career, demolished a high class field to win the Derby. If you watch the Pathe News You Tube film of this race,(no commentary, run it a couple of times!)you will see Bois Rousell with about eight or ten horses ahead of him with just over a furlong left to run. He swept through to win by four lengths from Scottish Union ( St James’s Palace and St Leger) in second with favourite Pasch (2000 Guineas, Eclipse)in third. Bois Roussell only ran once more, when third to undefeated Italian champion Nearco in the Grand Prix De Paris. Bois Rousell became a great sire.
Finally, not individual races but do watch on You Tube some brilliant duels between Le Moss and Ardross, Affirmed and Alydar. One series you should not miss is the four races between one of the fastest US horses of all time, Dr Fager, and Damascus. These two were great. Some of the beaten runners behind them included Buckpasser and In Reality. Dr Fager, in particular, was so fast when not having to make all his own running, that some of his records still stand today.
Hope you like the above, cheers!