Ben Linfoot goes for the 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf, Matt Brocklebank a relatively recent Cheltenham Gold Cup and we want your recollections of favourite close finishes.
What are your favourite recollections of close finishes? Share your thoughts with us via racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and they will appear at the foot of the article.
Ben Linfoot - 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf
Eleven minutes and 57 seconds. That’s how long it took between commentator Tom Durkin’s PHOTO FINISH call and the result of the Breeders’ Cup Turf 2003 being announced.
High Chaparral, Johar and Falbrav, necks stretched, heads down, whips flailing.
“Those three noses on the line in a thriller!” exclaimed Durkin. Donna Brothers, on horseback, interviewed Mick Kinane on High Chaparral and he thought he’d won. “He’s never beaten this guy, his heart is so huge. Fortunately I hit the line good. It’s nice when they call it up.”
Just after Kinane said this there was a gasp from the Santa Anita crowd as the freeze-frame finish was displayed on the big screen. It looked too close to call. High Chaparral’s back end was in front but the white-bridled Johar was head down on the line and at least mighty close.
Only close inspection of the photo ruled out Falbrav on the rail, a head behind the front two.
All three horses circled on the dirt track, sweat glistening in the California heat. Connections waited anxiously, arms folded. Somebody shook John Magnier’s hand with tentative congratulations. Aidan O’Brien was on the phone - of course he was. Luca Cumani, clad in a grey Italian suit, watched on, realising his horse was third despite looking the likely winner for much of the straight.
Dick Mandella, trainer of Johar, was interviewed. “I’d be glad to call it a dead-heat, I have no idea,” he said.
Tom Hammond summed up the situation on NBC: “The photo sign is still illuminated. The principals are still pacing, equine and human. The announcer still stalling. The temperature still rising.”
Almost 12 minutes of equivocation was finally over when a dead-heat between High Chaparral and Johar was called.
It was a brilliant horse race, matched by the prolonged photo-finish tension, the first and only dead-heat in Breeders’ Cup history. And it capped a great meeting for the Europeans on the back of victories for Islington in the Filly & Mare Turf and Six Perfections in the Mile.
It was the last race of High Chaparral’s superb career, his second consecutive win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the last big-race victory for Kinane in the Ballydoyle job, as he quit the position a few weeks later.
After he was criticised for his ride on Rock Of Gibraltar at the Breeders’ Cup at Arlington the year before, it was some way to bow out.
Matt Brocklebank - 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Some of the most tense finishes to races, on a personal level, admittedly came via watching them on Ceefax.
Nothing will ever quite replicate those gripping moments after the 'live show' hastily switched to 'race off', and if the word 'PHOTO' happened to flash up on your box then you were sent into a completely different dimension of excitement.
Experiencing racing and betting this way was not for the faint-hearted. Victory felt what I imagine it to be like to receive a considerable shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. Defeat, and you were dealt a short, sharp jab to the gut.
One could argue it was character building. It certainly left you feeling you'd witnessed something special, without actually witnessing anything at all.
Why I only saw Footstepsinthesand winning the Guineas through those blocky analogue characters on or around page 670 I'll never really know - growing up on a Cumbrian smallholding with barely a TV signal to speak of played its part, no doubt - but it's a Classic I still recall fondly, likewise Mine's back-to-back victories in the Victoria Cup and Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in 2004.
I've been extremely lucky since those days, witnessing - the literal sense on this occasion - some amazing races unfold, from Harry Hooley agonisingly unseating Miss L Hislop (7) at Sedgefield in February 2002, to Iridessa winning the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita last November.
The best finish to a race I've seen live may just have been the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
There have been much stronger editions of the great race and in truth it was a bit of a mess for the purist to try and fathom what had played out, but six horses slugging away and all seemingly in with some sort of chance after taking the final fence meant for a gripping conclusion to the feature race of the week.
The previous year's winner and short-priced favourite Bobs Worth had loomed large at the foot of the hill, Silviniaco Conti looked to have them all cooked between the last two obstacles, while On His Own, The Giant Bolster and Lyreen Legend also took part in a mesmerising final act.
In the end it was Davy Russell and Lord Windermere who saw it out best. He had to survive a stewards' inquiry, having wandered across the track in the last few strides, but it all added to the drama on a memorable afternoon.
A triumph for racing. A triumph for Ireland. And a relatively small triumph for those whose roots lie in the Lake District.
Send us your views
Send in your favourite close calls and other contributions to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com while if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks, please let us know.
Feedback from readers
Phil Davis: Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun at Goodwood, memorable!
Dave Parker: 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup 3 way finish with Special Cargo coming out on top great ride by Kevin Mooney , coming to the Pond Fence for the second time Special Cargo was being ridden and laying about a fifth just kept making progress jumped the last in fourth position and with a great drive by Kevin Mooney the horse responded with a flourish of speed to get up and win by a nose. 1990 Royal Academy and Lester Piggott unbelievable the master was back what a great ride. Breeders Cup. 1986 The Arc Dancing Brave and Pat Eddery brilliant ride fantastic turn of foot timed to perfection. Great horse and fantastic jockey. 2012 Frankel and Tom Queally Queen Anne stakes or the 2000 Guineas 2011 I can never make my mind up. Unbelievable what he did to top class horses will we ever see it again? 1981 Champion Hurdle Sea Pigeon and John Francome only thing I can timed to perfection by John Francome. Sea Pigeon had to be held up as long as possible to unleash his turn of foot and John Francome did that, and Sea Pigeon was 12 years old !!!
Darren Ashworth: I am sure I am not alone in having to prune this down from a hundred or more. In fifth place , Dancing Brave in the Arc sweeping wide of a stellar field and the camera operative. In fourth place Kauto Star's incredulous fifth King George where I roared him home almost hoarse. In third place the still heartbreaking sight of Crisp being caught by one of the light weighted entrants in the 73 Grand National. In second place , only the second best finish of the day, Red Rum , the magnificent commentary and crowd roar of 77. In first place , earlier the same day the magnificent dead heat battle between the legends that were Night Nurse and Monksfield.
Peter Coleing: Got to be selfish here and give a shout out to one with a financial gain at the end. Cleeve Hurdle 2014, found negatives in all entries except one, looked like dead eight were running so tipped up the 28/1 rag as an ew punt to anyone who would listen. Final decs in and only six running, ew angle a bit less attractive, but 66/1 available so got to go in again. Race off and leads until final circuit, drifts back to last, mates having a giggle. "This horse just keeps galloping" I mutter to them in vain hope rather than expectation. Turn in and crikey he's back in it. Step aside Big Bucks, At Fisher's Cross, Boston Bob as here comes 'Mr Unflappable' Jan Faltejek on the legend that is Knockara Beau, who nicks it by a couple of heads. I'm sure it's me shouting when I watch it back, 'Come on the beau!'...
Martyn Weston: Rewilding versus So You Think was a great battle for the 2011 Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot. Set up perfectly by Jan Vemeer setting a blistering pace during the race, So You Think cruised to the front and had about 3-4 lengths on Rewilding, but Frankie had Rewilding switched off the strong pace and wore So You Think down in the final furlong. Most the really great finishes rely on a strong pace being set and this race lives in the memory of great races and finishes.
Tony Harbour: I have a few. Marling v Selkirk in the Sussex Stakes of 1992 was thrilling. Zenyatta's victory in the Breeders Cup Classic is fantastic to watch. Harchibald not quite winning the Champion Hurdle!...I still think watching it i will collect my winnings. Finally, the agony of poor Pat Eddery on El Gran Senor is painful to watch. Unless you backed Secreto of course!
Alan Shaw: My wife had a reverse exacta on the Tote with Lord Windermere and On His Own. I had a very nice dinner that night. Going back, not sure of the year, but at the Grand National meeting of that year, Viking Flagship, Deep Sensation and Southolt (I think) came over the last fence as one with the Viking just getting up.
George Goodenough: Fond memories of Lord Windermere. I backed him to win the RSA the previous year and throughout the summer chipped away at the 33s for the Gold Cup. Down the field finishes in the Hennessy and Lexus dented my confidence and I gave him no chance on the day so it was a nice surprise when I had to go looking for the slips. When it comes to thrilling finishes Lester managed a few in his time. Sir Ivor in the Derby and the Washington International. Roberto in the Derby. The Minstrel in the Derby and King George and latterly Royal Academy in the Breeder's Cup.
SteveG: Danedream's King George win over Nathaniel in 2012 was desperate. Danedream had the best form in the race but Nathaniel got first run on her and as he was such a hard horse to pass I thought she was toast! She started to make progress on the outside but it was agonisingly slow and as they passed the line I thought Nathaniel had held on. The replay showed it was one of those where the loser was in front just before and just after the line but not on the line. Must have been agony for Nathaniel's connections.
Carl: One of my favourite finishes is Magician getting up on the line to beat The Fugue in Breeders Cup turf. Apparently Buick was crying for hours afterwards.
Leonard Robertson: Hi folks, for me speaking through my pocket and my heart, it has to be that gallant filly Marsha just getting up to beat Lady Aurelia in the Nunthorpe, so close that Frankie thought he had it won! It was an unforgettable day.
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