yes! i love to see Tiznow continue to show up on these lists. A truly great horse still getting props years later shows me that everyone still has the image of him very fresh in their minds.

Tiznow's two Breeders Cup finishes are heartstopping, but my number one vote goes to You and Carson Hollow. Every time I watch that race it brings tears to my eyes. Tom Durkin called it right, it is a race that doesn't deserve a winner! If you haven't seen it, you can watch it on You tube.

I'll remember Tiznow's battles for years and years to come, but Rags to Riches will never be forgotten by me. I would have had her up top, but agree other then that

I would have put Rags to Riches/Curlin first, but how can can you argue against the other three races at the top of the list?  We had quite a few terrific stretch battles this decade.

Curlin getting headed by Street sense in the Preakness & then fighting back in only the 5th start of his life and equaling the stakes record to win by a nostril was one of the best races I ever saw.

Rags and Curlin's Belmont great race between two beautiful horses. Curlin was my fovorite but I liked Rags alot to.

The Tiznow races held higher importance, but I think the best battle was You-C Hollow. Tom Durkin made a great call. I think Carson Hollow was euthanized shortly after that race.

Too bad the list was missing these two: Curlin and Street Sense in the Preakness and Colonel John and Mambo in Seattle in the Travers. Definitely thrilling on both accounts!

MK, Your right, You was awesome, Great race ! Hard to choose which of these would rate number one. When I think of great stretch duels I still think of the old great match ups of Sunday Silence & Easy Goer, Affirmed and ALYDAR..the good old days.

Tiznow and Giants Causeway gets #1 in my book, followed by Hard Spun's King's Bishop win. I really love that horse and the ALYDAR on his dam's side. He impressed me more in losing the derby then Street Sense did in winning. The dual Street Sense impressed me with was his Travers Dual with Grasshopper. That was intense.  The Toccet/Kafwain dual was a great one too, I am a Huge fan Of Kafwain. Anyone know anything about The Pamplemousse ? Will he ever be back from those lesions on his tendons? Like his filly Kaffiend too.

I didn't see the 2 Tiznow Classics, but DVR'd them when HRTV was doing the reruns leading up to this year,s Breeders Cup. What a tough horse and it's obvious he is passing that on (Well Armed). Do you keep a personal list of races you like as you see them or have you gone back and researched each of these lists? It's very impressive.

Yes,I totally agree.For Tiznow to produce two efforts like that in a

race like the Breeders Cup Classic

against some of the best horses racing had to offer was truly an amazing feat.

I won't pick the best duel, nor rank them, because I didn't see all of them; however, one that  stands out for me is the 2007 Belmont Stakes. Two remarkable horses, one male, one female, giving their all, eyeball to eyeball to the wire. Neither flinched.

Curlin had known the sting of battle in the two previous Triple Crown races, emerging victorious in the "middle jewel". By the third contest, he was far from being a fresh horse.

Rags To Riches had her own pressures to overcome as well. She was behind the 8-ball right from the start, stumbling at the break, from the outside post, and now she had to try and run down six males. Maybe going 12 furlongs made it a little easier or maybe it was harder. I don't know.

Curlin and Rags overcome the fatigue and adversity, and both demonstrated the essence of the Thoroughbred: speed, stamina, perseverance, and courage. The filly, who became that year's three-year-old divisional champion, prevailed to become the first of her gender to win since Tanya in 1905. And for Curlin, his reputation remained intact, validated with future conquests and two eventual Horse of the Year titles.

That edition of the Belmont Stakes was in the truest and purest sense, "the Test of the Champion".

Booklet and Harlan's Holiday

I think think that a factor in these stretch battles is the call.

Trevor has never been good at "amping up" the call in a desperate stretch battle.

It's no surprise that Stauffer's calls make Steve's list - he and Durkin have a great sense and great terms for getting the action just right.

"These two are nip and tuck"

"And these two throw it down"

Etc.

The Lava Man Gold Cup and Curlin/Lawyer Ron battle would not be so memorable if we had to watch these races on mute.

I don't wanna put myself in Steve's head too much ...

But I venture if either Vic Stauffer or Tom Durkin called the Congaree/Brew Big 'Cap - it would be higher rated by him.

I wonder what emphasis Steve Haskin puts on a race-caller explaining the stretch duel?

oahunick:

I would love to have heard how Tom Durkin would have called Zenyatta's 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic. I wish he could come back for the BC.

Round Pond vs. Happy Ticket 2006 Azeri Stakes.

The entire race they were never more than a half length apart.

Made tragic now that Happy Ticket is no longer with us.

Ah I can still hear Tom Durkin shouting "And Rags to Riches is coming with a four wide sweep!" Just thinking about how he called the 2007 Belmont gives me chills. He's not the perfect race-caller but there's something about the way he's so excitable that translates well when there's a dramatic duel in the stretch.

ROUND POND - HAPPY TICKET at Oaklawn in the 2006 G3 Azeri Breeders Cup Stakes. A brillant dual - it is worth digging up video and watching the replay. That same year ROUND POND went on the win the Breeders Cup Distaff and Happy Ticket was in the money as well.

Best duel is You and Carson Hollow by far. They were neck to neck for many furlongs in a very fast race.

The second best is Rags to Riches and Curlin.

Another note - Mr Durkin has a contract with another TV network and when the Breeders' Cup was moved from NBC - they also gave up Mr Durkin.

Just a horrible ripple effect since Trevor Denmon  has lost his originality the last few years and uses the same catch phrases over and over. His race calls don't hold a candle to Mr Durkins ...

I must say that they all gave me chills but I was moved  with the Proud Spell and Music Note duel.  Proud Spell was a gutsy little girl!  And I do agree with hoofprintsandhorseplay about Trevor and his "catch phrases" I much prefer Tom Durkin.  Tho, I do like "They will have to sprout wings to catch ---- today".  Happy New Year to all!!

Tiznow's BC Classics definitely belong at the top, but I thought the 2001 effort was the more exceptional of the two. I agree with da3hoss that Curlin's battle to catch Street Sense in the 2007 Preakness was one of the best races ever.

The 2002 Test is definitely my favorite.  It helps that Durkin couldn't have been more on his game with that call.  My only problem with it is that there WAS a loser, and it was the horse I'd have preferred to be the winner.  But truly, it was a photo finish that didn't deserve a loser.

Wow, Steve!  You remembered that incredible duel between Read the Footnotes and Second of June!  That race was INCREDIBLE! Thanks for bringing back a really nice racing memory!

I imagine the best stretch battle as being the one we never got to see. 2006 Preakness Bernardini vs. Barbaro

It didn't even dawn on me that Curlin - Street Sense wasn't on here.  

Interesting that only two horses appear on this list twice, and Curlin very well could have been on here three times.

And they would have all been in the same year in a four race span.

hoofprintsandhorseplay:

Re Tom Durkin and the BC: I had read that business about network contracts when the BC moved from NBC to ESPN, but Tom Durkin still calls the Belmont Stakes and it's now on ABC. What's the difference?

I would have put the 2007 Tampa Bay Derby up higher on the list.

Ghostzapper vs. St. Liam would be tops on my list. But what about You and Carson Hollow in the Test Stakes. Those girls where something else that day.

The Belmont is over Mr Durkins home track - NYRA doesn't allow anyone to call its races for TV other than Tom Durkin. Have you ever heard a race call on TV from NY that didn't use the NYRA track announcer?

I also rank the You - Carson Hollow battle way above the others.  I have always wondered if Carson Hollow would have come down if she had prevailed. ("You's in SO TIGHT!")

That incredible duel between Read the Footnotes and Second of June! Still gives me a little frisson just thinking about it. I'm so glad Steve remembered it as well.

But the one where my heart was in my throat was Rags/Curlin.

Howzabout a "Most Memorable Race Call" list?  Some doozies were really out there, even if they weren't top stakes races.  Who could forget "Arrrr"?

hoofprintsandhorseplay:

Then what will happen if the BC is held at Belmont Park? Assume that Trevor Denman is still under contract with ESPN for the BC. Will NYRA allow him to announce the races?

Ummm...You/Carson Hollow over Rags to Riches/Curlin? That makes your entire list meaningless right there.

I always thought the St. Liam/Ghostzapper deul never got its props  -   Two BC Classic winners & HOY winners  going at it //  great stuff