Greatest Derby Finishes

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Charlie — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:28:05 GMT

Carry Back - another vote for his thrilling stretch run from 13 lengths behind with a quarter mile to go, catching Crozier to win the 1961 Derby.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

BornToGraze — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:53:07 GMT

Spokane, 1883, at a mile and a half is clearly and indisputably the best of all Derbys for those in the know. At the wire Spokane defeated the wild-running, allegedly hopped favorite Proctor Knott. Spokane is the only Montana bred to win the Derby (so far)

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Old Timer — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:33:27 GMT

Considering that I had Cavonnier to go all the way in 96 (although cashed a nice exacta with Grindstone) and then put Silver Charm to win the next (Baffert had to win one after that bad beat in 96) and again cashed the exacta, I have to make those 2 the top pair.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Linda — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:49:21 GMT

BARBARO of Course

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Greg J. — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:40:28 GMT

I know it doesn't meet your criteria, But for me, My two Favorite Derby's by far are...

Barbaro's and Secretariat's, No other two Derby compares, For me...

Here are the stretch runs of the last 40 years of the Kentucky Derby:

1968-1986

www.youtube.com/watch

1987-2006

www.youtube.com/watch

Enjoy...

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

maryann727 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:19:02 GMT

Carry Back!! What a storied race horse he was.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Max E — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:44:03 GMT

Grindstone by far.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Susan Nunes — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:56:58 GMT

I know you are looking at "close finishes," but really and truly Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby win was perhaps the most notable in history for the fact he ran each quarter faster than the previous one. Absolutely unheard of in a 1 1/4 race and proved beyond doubt he was something of a genetic freak.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Sister — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:21:38 GMT

GIACOMO!!!!!

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Jim San — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:11:36 GMT

Hmmm---These guys must have been on a fishing trip in May 2001. Monarchos came out of nowhere after halfway, and at a steady pace overtook ten horses and won by 4 or 5 lenghts. Just because he didn't win by a nose doesn't make it hohum. Check it out on youtube.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Pedigree Shelly — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:56:50 GMT

Dark Star over Native Dancer of course!! Alysheba would be my second choice !

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Giacomo — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:26:01 GMT

what about Giacomo running down evey horse in the field going wide on both turns and doing in with style and perfect timing. What a perfect ride by Mike Smith.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Whatever — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:52:13 GMT

WINNING COLORS all the way. This filly faced males four times in a row in the span of 7 weeks at distances from a mile and an eigth to a mile and a half. Name a 3 year old filly today or in the past 20 years who could do that...........I'm listening..

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

wista — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:38:21 GMT

Clearly your list has little use for the history of the Derby! Your list contains one race from 1874 to 1952! Was racing boring then! Actually, in the 40's racing and baseball were the most popular sports in the United States. Your lack of respect for the history of this great sport is evident.

With that aside, Carry Back's finish was

absoluty thrilling; Bold Venture's tenacity held off Brevity(who may have been best); Hartack's ride on Northern Dancer was the edge in 1964; Tim Tam catching Lincoln Road was quite memorable; and the finish in 1959 Tomy Lee and Sword Dancer was as good as it gets. Bill Boland who was up on sword Dancer claimed foul against Willie Shoemaker aboard Tomy Lee. It was disallowed.

Don't diminish the rich history of this great sport!

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Tootsie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:09:14 GMT

Secretariat & Sham rank above all of them for a great Derby race. But based on your criteria.

1. Dark Star,

2. Grindstone (because all of the analysts spent their time talking about Editor's Note even after the owner said something to the effect of, My other horse is pretty nice too),

3. Majestic Prince,

4. Winning Colors,

5. Charismatic (I can't wait for the same poll on the Belmont!)

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Northwind — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:45:20 GMT

All terrific finishes, but for me, Northern Dancer's Derby got my heart pumping the most, and still does. Such a little horse, holding off the towering Hill Rise the length of that long stretch, fighting with all he had, refusing to quit, winning in record time, just blew me away. I so admire and respect the heart and courage he showed, the true indomitable spirit of a great thoroughbred. I was lucky to see him in person, he had alot of character as well. I can't imagine if he had been a bigger horse, but he sure had a big heart!

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Mary — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:17:16 GMT

Secretariat has my vote! The greatest race horse.....EVER!

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Robin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:33:00 GMT

Brokers Tip over Head Play all the way, especially considering that this was the infamous "Fighting Finish". (In fact a front on huge picture of that race hangs in the jocks room at Churchill just in front of the scales). Dark Star couldn't even stand up the week before the derby, it's amazing how he ever ran! However, maybe the greatest Derby finish should go to Secretariat-I believe his time still stands as the fastest.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Anna — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:15:36 GMT

btw Broker's Tip and Silver Charm for me.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

cjl — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:37:27 GMT

#1 should be Grindstone. Closest Derby finish ever, shockingly close and getting up in the LAST stride! How can it not be Grindstone? Second should be Dark Star over Native Dancer. Who'd a thunk that the great Dancer would lose?

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:02:59 GMT

Thanks for all the suggestions of races/horses that were left off the list. Please note that when this list was compiled, we chose races where the top two finishers were within a length of each other.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

Barbara — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:34:21 GMT

I do not know who compiles lists

here, but it seems to me that

Secretariat gets ignored - why??

He has the Ky Derby record - no

one has beaten it in 36 years.

So if he runs in his time and all

others theirs, who wins?? do the math, folks.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

elkwoman — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:50:31 GMT

How could you possibly leave out

perhaps the greatest horse to ever

look thru a bridle, Secretariat???

He wins, in a time still to be

bettered...shame on you.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

DroppedTheBall — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:47:58 GMT

Where the heck are Affirmed and Alydar?? Did someone fall asleep at the wheel compiling this list?? ;)

Obviously you can't pick them all, as you noted, but come ON, this one was a "have to have" on a list such as this, IMO

Without those two, I can't even find reason to make placements for the rest of these.

re: Greatest Derby Finishes

bluegrass spotter — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:27:05 GMT

Charismatic,The big fat horse that loved to run.