BEST RACE EVER... The Thread.

[Kasept]

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..

[herkhorse]

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.

[OTM Al]

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

[Benny]

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

[dellinger63]

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

[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

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Kasept

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..

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

[South Beach Luv]

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

[Benny]

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

[Conrad]

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.

[Travis Stone]

Blame/Zenyatta in the BC Classic

[NTamm1215]

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.

[Indian Charlie]

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.

[Port Conway Lane]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[GenuineRisk]

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?

[Alabama Stakes]

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