Astonishingly, versatile, brave and technically brilliant. Plus he carried top weight, and beat two classy specialist two-milers hollow. Proper legend.
Made it look so easy, with weight at 2 miles- Panto Prince no mug, won 15 races. Dessie also won going away over 3 miles 5 furlongs in the Whitbread Gold Cup, and Cheltenham Gold Cup in awful conditions. Versatile, bold, brave, dashing...a horse with character, a much loved marvel.
Talented and highly versatile. I cant think of a more popular horse than Desert Orchid making front and back pages in his day. Maybe Rummy was as popular too
what an animal...the best horse that ever lived...including arkle...two major reasons why dessie was the best..his heart and the massive lumps of weight he gave away on a regular basis to quality stayers.......
barbara dyson..i loved golden miller..tremendous heart...wouldnt have lived with dessie though barbara...that was the main reason the burridges and elsworth wouldnt entertain the national they were terrified that dessie would kill himself...can you imagine him taking off in the wings of Beecher's or the chair?....merry christmas!!!
@@liamgaule1848 you need to read about racehorses. The style of fences changed some distances lowered plus prior to the 60s NO RATINGS. SO considering what Golden Miller did 5 NOT 3 GOLD CUPS PLUS A GRAND NATIONAL IN WHICH HE BROKE THE COURSE RECORD. So do tell me how you think arkle was the best ever crap.
JAK HAL yes he did but Arkle gave even more, two handicaps, one with him and one without Arkle. But I loved Dessie and was there to watch his gold cup win. He was a warrior x
@@phil2003ashleigh wrong both desert orchid and arkle gave away 36 lbs to their rivals. Dessis did carry top weight in all of his races, in the Irish national dessie had top weight and beat his rivals by 12/15 lengths. Arkle on the other hand, same race, different year only beat his rivals by 1. 1/2 lengths.
The experts know that Arkle is the best.......highest rated chaser, consistently gave weight away in handicaps and also 2 sets of weights because of him. Give it over and accept it!
@@Q...A how do they know. So did desert orchid carry top weight. He also gave 36lbs to a rival. You obviously know nothing about racing. Two years ago the BHA got there ratings wrong on SS they underated him. So so much for your experts.
@@barbaradyson6951 God love you Barbara.....as l keep saying Arkle was so dominant that there had to be a different weight system when he ran. You don't have to be an expert to work out that shows he was a freak of nature and simply the GREATEST.
@@barbaradyson6951 Oh dear, you are clueless. When Arkle was about they had to devise a system to try and accommodate the opposition. Never has that been done because of any other horse. Now go and take a chill pill and get your head out of the clouds. I have never ever come across anyone so bitter and so blinded by their own self importance and petulance.
...the temperamental Vodkatini at 15/8...I dont think so.....certainly .jump racing needs another Dessie......and enough of these French bred horses with forgettable names....
Haha I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. Racing is so boring nowadays, skinny, French-named horses all running in either Gigginstown, Ricci or McManus colours. Forgotten in minutes.
keithwellerlounge74 yep just look at Cheltenham- nothing against the Irish but fed up of seeing several horses per race in the same colours -multi million pound owners , Gigginstown, Rich Richi, O’Leary etc. All French horses, takes all the fun out of racing. Back in Dessie’s day a French horse was a rare site and I wish this was still the case . The should be a cap on who can race or how many horses per owner.
uhegbu absolutely. Must say sprinter sacred although retired which is a shame is a fantastic monster of a horse. Think the best 2miler ever, although no familiar with horses from a distance past.
I'd say he was as good - if not better than - Kauto Star, but comparisons with Arkle are difficult as there was no proper ratings system in the 1960's. Certainly, Arkle never encountered a horse as good as Desert Orchid and there would not have been much in it, especially over a trip under 3-mile. Over the Gold Cup C&D nothing could beat Arkle.
@@Q...A hey twerp the experts got the ratings wrong over sprinter sacre. They rated him less than they should have done. God plebs like you are so boring.
Class, courage, determination & a will to win. Desert Orchid had all of those in abundance.
Quite simply one of the best steeple chasers you will ever see on a race track ever !!!!!!!!
Astonishingly, versatile, brave and technically brilliant. Plus he carried top weight, and beat two classy specialist two-milers hollow. Proper legend.
Vodkatina was obviously a highly intelligent animal.He took one look at Dessie and thought what's the point.
He was a fine horse, when he didn't play up or refuse to run.
Ha Ha Ha, and who can blame him.
Made it look so easy, with weight at 2 miles- Panto Prince no mug, won 15 races. Dessie also won going away over 3 miles 5 furlongs in the Whitbread Gold Cup, and Cheltenham Gold Cup in awful conditions. Versatile, bold, brave, dashing...a horse with character, a much loved marvel.
Talented and highly versatile. I cant think of a more popular horse than Desert Orchid making front and back pages in his day. Maybe Rummy was as popular too
my fav of all time and the greatest imo darling dessie
Loved that horse some good memories
Everyone loved him.
Dessie is and was a legend.
Really missed this horse, always my favourite.
what an animal...the best horse that ever lived...including arkle...two major reasons why dessie was the best..his heart and the massive lumps of weight he gave away on a regular basis to quality stayers.......
barbara dyson..i loved golden miller..tremendous heart...wouldnt have lived with dessie though barbara...that was the main reason the burridges and elsworth wouldnt entertain the national they were terrified that dessie would kill himself...can you imagine him taking off in the wings of Beecher's or the chair?....merry christmas!!!
Are you fk serious. Better than Arkle. Where are the men in the white coats wlhen you need them
@@liamgaule1848 you need to read about racehorses. The style of fences changed some distances lowered plus prior to the 60s NO RATINGS. SO considering what Golden Miller did 5 NOT 3 GOLD CUPS PLUS A GRAND NATIONAL IN WHICH HE BROKE THE COURSE RECORD. So do tell me how you think arkle was the best ever crap.
JAK HAL yes he did but Arkle gave even more, two handicaps, one with him and one without Arkle. But I loved Dessie and was there to watch his gold cup win. He was a warrior x
@@phil2003ashleigh wrong both desert orchid and arkle gave away 36 lbs to their rivals. Dessis did carry top weight in all of his races, in the Irish national dessie had top weight and beat his rivals by 12/15 lengths. Arkle on the other hand, same race, different year only beat his rivals by 1. 1/2 lengths.
Legend of a horse
Had a bet on him & he fell so l didn't bet on him again. Thought I was a jinx. I loved this great great horse. Wonderful to watch
love that horse
there'll never be another.
Show off at his best superstar
why are the so called experts so afraid of saying any other horse could be better than arkle. I definitely think dessert orchid was.
The experts know that Arkle is the best.......highest rated chaser, consistently gave weight away in handicaps and also 2 sets of weights because of him. Give it over and accept it!
@@Q...A how do they know. So did desert orchid carry top weight. He also gave 36lbs to a rival. You obviously know nothing about racing. Two years ago the BHA got there ratings wrong on SS they underated him. So so much for your experts.
@@barbaradyson6951 God love you Barbara.....as l keep saying Arkle was so dominant that there had to be a different weight system when he ran. You don't have to be an expert to work out that shows he was a freak of nature and simply the GREATEST.
@@Q...A oh dear, once again you're deluded. There were never two handicap systems, as I say you know nothing about racing.
@@barbaradyson6951 Oh dear, you are clueless. When Arkle was about they had to devise a system to try and accommodate the opposition. Never has that been done because of any other horse. Now go and take a chill pill and get your head out of the clouds. I have never ever come across anyone so bitter and so blinded by their own self importance and petulance.
Super Horse, this was just a Paid gallop & a day out for Dessie
luv vodkatini just goes to show you can't make a horse do anything he doesn't want to.
There's a proverb for that one.
...the temperamental Vodkatini at 15/8...I dont think so.....certainly .jump racing needs another Dessie......and enough of these French bred horses with forgettable names....
+chatham43 luv your comments
100% agree. no more french horses please, just good old fashioned chasers and a special grey will do
Haha I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. Racing is so boring nowadays, skinny, French-named horses all running in either Gigginstown, Ricci or McManus colours. Forgotten in minutes.
keithwellerlounge74 yep just look at Cheltenham- nothing against the Irish but fed up of seeing several horses per race in the same colours -multi million pound owners , Gigginstown, Rich Richi, O’Leary etc. All French horses, takes all the fun out of racing. Back in Dessie’s day a French horse was a rare site and I wish this was still the case . The should be a cap on who can race or how many horses per owner.
@@carina914 O'Leary is Gigginstown.
Jump all day long yeeha
How can anybody say Desert Orchid isn't as good as or if not better than arkle.
One of the National Hunt greats and the grey did win the Cheltenham Gold Cup later that season. Kauto Star repeated the feat in 2006-07.
uhegbu absolutely. Must say sprinter sacred although retired which is a shame is a fantastic monster of a horse. Think the best 2miler ever, although no familiar with horses from a distance past.
I'd say he was as good - if not better than - Kauto Star, but comparisons with Arkle are difficult as there was no proper ratings system in the 1960's. Certainly, Arkle never encountered a horse as good as Desert Orchid and there would not have been much in it, especially over a trip under 3-mile. Over the Gold Cup C&D nothing could beat Arkle.
@Barbara Dyson The experts who know more than you say he wasn't so yet again you are wrong!
@@Q...A hey twerp the experts got the ratings wrong over sprinter sacre. They rated him less than they should have done. God plebs like you are so boring.