All-time Favourite Racehorse - Australian Horse & Greyhound Racing Forum

hussler2912 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-19-2008, 04:02 PM

I thought it would be interesting to ask people who their all-time favourite racehorse was and why and if it was the best horse you have ever seen?

My personal favourite would be Kingston Town. Being there that day seeing him win his third Cox plate was probably what got me into racing, even though I was quite young at the time.

I'd say the best I've ever seen would be Octagonal. Obviously just a phenominal horse, one who I have great memories of.

YUTHAPINABOY · #2 (**permalink**) 12-19-2008, 07:46 PM

I emphasise that the following are my nominated favourites and not necessarily who I think are the best, that's a bit too hard. Nevertheless, obviously some of them could very well be the best.
2YOs :- Luskin Star and Todman
1000-1200: Takeover Target and Scillachi
1400: Wenona Girl and Manikato
1600: Sunline and Super Impose
>1600 - 2000: Kingston Town and Northerly
>2000 - 2400: Tulloch and Might and Power
>2400: Makybe Diva and Rain Lover.

There have been so many good ones, some that I can remember at the time of writing and so many others that just don't readily come to mind but probably should. How about just this few: Sky High, Time and Tide, Fine and Dandy, Kilshery, Dhaughligiri, Rising Fast, Redcraze, Vain, Gallilee, Light Fingers, Let's Elope, Placid Ark, Miss Andretti, Tobin Bronze, Lohnro, Octagonal, Rubiton, Choisir, Falvelon, Dulcify, Better Loosen Up, Vo Rogue, Myocard, Red Anchor, Imagele, Naturalism, Strawberry Road, Rough Habit, Gunsynd and 2YYs like Rancher, Eskimo Prince, Resling, Eye Liner and on and on and on and on. Not surprisingly other peoples' choices are likely to be quite different to mine. Let's have them.

hussler2912 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-19-2008, 08:18 PM

Too hard to just mention a few ey? Schillaci was definately my favourite sprinter and probably the best ive ever seen, but youre old enough to remember horses like Tobin Bronze and Rain Lover good on ya. Mate I'd be suprised if somebody mentioned one that you havent named because you have pretty much covered them all.

Funny though my father (who was friends with some big names in the industry around the 70's) who knew enough about racing always told me how Galilee was the best he'd ever seen the way he could win sprint races and of course the great staying races by going past champions of the time like Light Fingers and Tobin Bronze like they werent even there, but I too find it hard to name just one or two as my favourites.

YUTHAPINABOY · #4 (**permalink**) 12-19-2008, 09:15 PM

Do you know what Hussler I originally put Gallilee in but changed only because I have a soft spot for Rain Lover in view of his two Melbourne Cups, at least one of which he won by a big margin and also a record breaking run. If someone pinned me down and said "come on which of those two horses had the most ability", I think I would have to acknowledge that it would be Gallilee. I am trying to think of that filly/mare who is featured in the race call by Bert Bryant when he says something like "go you beautiful little thing" (actually have subsequently thought of it, Surround, she should also be in the possibles list). Hey that's another idea to try and stimulate some comment, that is, 'favourite racecallers' and although I don't particularly like getting into the area of criticism, most 'disliked racecallers'. However, wasn't Bert a beauty, he was very entertaining. I am originally a Sydney person until I was married to my present wife at 24 years old (only had one) and therefore of course had the usual NSW v Vic prejudice (my brother taught me to call them "Viccos", probably just to stir up my mother who was originally a Melbourne person) but it was people like Bert Bryant who probably instilled in me a preference for Melbourne Racing. I think that preference continues today. Sorry NSW that I am such a turncoat. Did you know that there was a Sydney horse once named Turncoat (late 60s???) - chestnut I think. I had a very nice "last race get out" on him one day at Randwick (20/1 or similar). Anyway I better get going before I start thinking of other great horses like Ripa, Storm Queen, Beau Zam, Apollo Eleven, Bonecrusher, Our Waverley Star, Zephyr Bay and who was that Brisbane horse who won all of his races bar one, at Doomben, was it Chief de Beers (I am sure he is a favourite of many).
Hussler you should also think about doing something similar with the dogs but maybe break it down into categories and do one category at a time. However, not everybody is a long time racing in general lunatic like me. The dogs are my true passion. Could be categories like but not only: Best greyhound up to 400ms, 450ms (big track), 500ms (WP, Sandown style track), 600 and 720. We've already done something on the Harness horses, that's where I nominated Cardigan Bay and James Scott who went to America for special international races and did Australasia proud by being victorious.

grot · #5 (**permalink**) 12-20-2008, 10:55 AM

The greatest in my mind is without a doubt Kingston Town.

hussler2912 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-20-2008, 12:28 PM

Nah mate I'll leave the greyhound chat to somebody else, like yourself. I don't know a thing about greyhound racing and obviously don't follow it, but mate if you want to start up a thread about that your more than welcome to and I'm sure it would attract interest.