Race Replay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQajCQ1_BSA&t=1s
Every horse racing fans has their favourite horse racing replays. Those moments when you feel like telling the world: ‘You’ve got to watch this!’ Even if you’ve watched it one-hundred times and counting.
Well, this website is founded on those moments.
In truth, there are a million reasons why a horse races captures your interest if not imagination.
There may be many reasons why a horse racing replay heightens your emotions. Perhaps it’s a horse you have followed throughout its career, you backed it at the races and won big, or, perhaps, you own the horse.
The point being, that horse racing replays are both subjective and emotive. And they help re-live those moments time and time again.
Over my 30+ years of following horse racing, I’ve watched hundreds of live horse races and literally thousands of horse racing replays.
But which Horse Racing Replay is worthy of this first website post?
I’m sure horse racing fans will never forget the wonder horse Frankel, trained by Sir Henry Cecil. It was a partnership which achieved ultimate stardom. I won’t detail each and every Frankel victory but one race, in my humble opinion, is remarkable.
30th April, 2011
2000 Guineas – Frankel, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, ridden by Tom Queally
3:10 Newamrket –
1 Mile –
Going: Good to Firm
Number of runners: 13
Horse Racing Replay:
It sounds a bold statement, but this was the most amazing race I have ever seen in my life!
After 4 wins at two and flying home on his return to racing at three in the Greenham Stakes, the next stop would be his first Classic at Newmarket’s Qipco 2000 Guineas (Group 1). In fact, the 203rd running).
By all accounts, race fans were anticipating a Frankel win. The bookies had been beaten so many times by this wonder horse they were running scared.
This son of Galileo was priced 1/2f.
Could he be beaten?
Everyone had an inkling Frankel was on the verge of stardom and every victory was cementing this thought. But there is always the slight if and but about a horse which could be a touch keen.
But could any of these twelve rivals beat him?
I watched on Racing TV, the race called by commentator Ian Bartlett.
Just before the start of the race, I felt quite nervous, the anticipation and excitement of the race to come.
As the stalls opened, it felt like the country stopped and watched in wonder.
The race was underway, and after 8 seconds Bartlett uttered these words: ‘Frankel has got out well…’
From that point the race was a mixture of bewilderment and blur.
I truly couldn’t believe my eyes.
Perhaps you were thinking the same.
After 40 seconds, Frankel was 3-lengths clear. I was thinking this looks impressive, if not a stride too fast. If it had been any other horse I would have been fearing the worst that Frankel was going…too fast.
From that point, I thought I was watching a five-furlong race. Someone must have got the distances mixed up or I was still dreaming that somehow, beyond comprehension, in something which was akin to an outer body experience, Frankel had cruised to a ten-length lead at halfway. Even Bartlett was commentating as if he wasn’t sure what he was watching or saying. The crowd cheered louder. Tom Queally, looking through his legs, to see his opponents lagging behind as if this was a walk in the park. It just didn’t seem possible that a horse could make high-class horses look pedestrian.
It was one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen.
A mix of wonder and borderline dismay than any moment the wheels would fall off and Frankel would lose.
Bartlett screams: ‘At the bushes, Frankel is fifteen lengths clear!’
No kidding, if Frankel had been running down Heathrow’s run way and Queally had stretched out his arms, the pair would have taken off like a bird in flight…
If this wasn’t the most impressive performance of a horse at top class then only Pegasus could compete.
Honestly, if someone had asked my opinion at that moment I’m not sure what would have come out of my mouth.
Inside the final furlong, the crowd cheered, the applause grew louder and louder and I watched in wonder.
Bartlett said it all: A horse that’s pure class, Frankel!’
‘He’s destroyed them from halfway.’
‘An amazing performance.’
Nick Luck, presenting on Racing TV, after Frankel crossed the line: ‘Brilliant. Extraordinary. Unprecedented.’
‘Just extraordinary this horse…’
What can you say? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. One of my greatest regrets in racing is never seeing Frankel in flesh.
I just watched the replay now and it’s just as thrilling.
Quite amazing.
Frankel, the wonder horse. Cecil the trainer of trainers. Queally, holding his nerve.
Unbeaten.