Thats the greatest call of a race finish I have ever heard. The Smart Jones Belmont was brilliant too. This guy just puts the listener right in the moment.
i consider this race to be one of the best ever. Not only was it a photo finish, but it was a photo finish with so much at stake. And the way he lost was amazing. GREAT RACE!!
IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CALL!!!! Was it Real Quiet? Or was it Victory Gallop?! A picture is worth a thousand words! This photo is worth $5,000,000 !!! LOL! I still get chills down my spine hearing those words.
Great race, thanks for posting! My spine still tingles to see RQ take the lead at the top of the stretch. Keep wishing he will get to the line first- just once. And since when are horses judged by their performance as older horses? Street Sense, Barbaro, and Secretariat, champions all, never ever ran past their 3yo year!
why does everyone have to bust on this horse saying its not great. it gave a courageous run at the triple crown, and for any horse to come that close is an amazing accomplishment. Real Quiet might not be one of the best of all time, but he sure was a great horse.
A very sad day in that we lost a champion ! RQ brought us some much pleasure and of course whom will ever forget how close he came in bringing us a Triple Crown! Rest in peace and in our hearts you will always be a Triple Crown champion!
That call should be right up there with "down goes Frazier" and "do you believe in miracles" and "we'll see you tomorrow night". An all time clasic race call.
"A picture is worth 1000 words. This photo is worth 5 million dollars!! Oh No!!" LMFAO!!! I find myself rewinding back to the homestretch thinking if I do that, Real Quiet could somehow win!! God this was one is hard to accept.
I've watched sports long enough that usually, I can summon some perspective after an upset and say, "Well, the better team/ athlete/ horse won. Great effort." A decade later, this race still completely deflates me.
Same here. I don't know how many times I've watched this race, probably one of the best I've ever seen, and 11 years later I still hope he can hold on, even though you know what's going to happen.
One of the greatest Belmont's of all time! I do remember the inquiry, but not sure if they would have taken him down or not. Too bad, Real Quiet was a heck of a horse. Seen him at my only KY Derby!
REAL QUIET is a great horse. I´m very proud he will come to my country Uruguay. He surely give us big surprises for our thoroughbred with classic horses. so I bet all my cents. Anybody take a doubt ?
I just got a horse from a friend who is a jockey in Ohio. Never saw the horse till he arrived. His name is Quiet, Quiet Reflection actually and a half brother to Real Quiet. I look at him and still cant believe that I have been touched by greatness and this clse to it.
Thanks.... whats strange is I've been trying to view it for like 2 weeks and it hasn't worked (always did before) and I tried it today after asking that yesterday, and it works now, lol. Thanks.
I still get chills when i watch this and hear tom durkin at the wire "ITS TOO CLOSE TO CALL..." This race is up there with the announcer call of secretariat at the belmont
@plmooney It is a classic call. It was so perfect that you would have thought that it was recorded after the race or otherwise scripted. Durkin had another memorable call when Birdstone beat Smarty Jones. Still, Chic Anderson's 1973 Belmont calling Secretariat a "tremendous machine" is my favorite. Great post.
Kent made the right call, he had dying speed in front of him. He moved at the perfect time. He would hav been out kicked by Victory Gallop, he tried to get the jump on him. He got caught, it happens. Great Ride.
Great race, and Tom Durkin's call was one for the ages. His call down the stretch was just phenomenal and added to the moment. Kent might have moved too early, but don't forget that Real Quiet impeded Victory Gallop not once, but twice down the stretch. Victory Gallop had a full head of steam when he was impeded the first time and was ready to roll right past Real Quiet. Victory Gallop was the better horse and a deserving winner of the Belmont.
What a shame......Durkin really wanted his triple crown call. They should really let him call the NBC Telecast this year and give him that one last chance.
i remember that real quiet perked up at the very end of the race with all the people cheering and the flash bulbs going...it cost him just a little but that little cost him the race...good move by desormeaux to try and impede victory gallops progress at the end even though that may not have been within the rules
EVERY time I watch it I beg Kent not to go so early, then I still gasp at the wire. When I watched it live I was so excited when he opened up on the field at the top of the stretch. I loved the fish. I really want to see a Triple Crown winner. GO STREET SENSE ( who I've been backing since the Juvenile)
I remember this race, and you are right about the impeding. I can't recall if it happened twice or not, but I believe you can see RQ stray around 2:27. I remember the network showing replays of the stretch run at various angles. No matter what, I knew RQ wasn't going to win b/c the violation was clear. Bummer of a day.
Just wanted to add note of intrigue to what should be incredible Belmont in three weeks. Casino Drive, who won the Peter Pan, and is considered to be Big Brown's chief/legitimate rival at the Belmont was ridden by Kent Desormeaux. I didn't know Kent rode that horse but what a huge advantage to have ridden the horse that will be your main rival as you go for the Triple Crown.
You know, I was actually jumping up and down when they switched to the scoreboard and they posted "11" as the winner. Backed Victory Gallop throughout the entire Triple Crown that year, and he finally got him.
I totally agree about Tom Derkin's call..In fact most of his calls are brillant...On Real Quiet he just improve at the right time..A very good horse but not a great one...but the thrill of almost winning the triple crown will make me look at this video a thousand times and still get goosebumps...
It's not that they aren't allowing him. It's that he refused to renew his contract due to stress. I wish he'd come back, too, though. I LOVE his calls.
RQ would not have been taken down and DQ'd. It's the Triple Crown and, frankly, he was tiring, not interfering. No one says this but it's Gary Stevens who won this race. Had a GS been on Alydar, Affirmed would not have won in 1978.
I have watched this video several times and i have to say that Kent's ride on Real Quiet gave him every chance to win. If he had have held Real Quiet to the field who knows if he would have had a big enough sprint? Victory gallop was 10 lengths behind - many many races have been 'stolen' by the ride taking iniative and going for home and creating a space when he has horse. You have to also consider that if you watch closely, Victory gallop had to shift twice in the stretch. I say TOO GOOD!!.
Real Quiet was a top notch horse and his off-spring proves it. However, he would have lost this particular race even if his nose was in front of Victory Gallop's because there was contact made at the end with an inquiry showing Real Quiet was at fault and therefor would have been disqualified as the winner. Kudos to VG and one of the BEST if not the BEST races ever with history on the line.
I believe that if Kent hadn't pulled Real Quiet over like that we would have had a TC winner today. It not only impeded Victory Gallop but it pulled RQ off his stride at the same time.
Considering his original owner sold him for 1/2 price what he originally paid for him because he had crooked knees and it took him 7 starts to break his Maiden I'd say Real Quiet did pretty well for himself in just missing the TC by a nose. I can't blame Kent for the ride as he rode the horse like he normally did. RQ was a late bloomer. Most times, trying to change a horses habit in a race of this signifigance will result in defeat more than just the nose he lost by.
I know that most believe that Desormeaux moved too soon, as I originally thought that too, but when you think about it...in the previous two races, Victory Gallop gained ground on Real Quiet on the home stretch...I think Desormeaux knew Real Quiet didn't have the finishing speed that Victory Gallop did so he tried to go early enough where he'd be far enough ahead of Victory Gallop...I see track runners do it all the time in long distance races, and I bet that's what happened here too
I agree; I am only really concerned about one horse, Casino Drive; I have a feeling Casino Drive and Big Brown could lock up in one of those Sunday Silence Easy Goer duels you saw back at the 1989 Preakness and that would concern me because Casino Drive is the fresher horse and has been bred for Belmont. We'll see.
Well, I think Kent's riding has come along way since 1998 and I credit him in the first two races, especially the Preakness for saving Big Brown and not using too much gas in the tank. Here, in 1998, he moved too early with 6 furlongs left, never looked back down the stretch to see if anyone was coming and gave his horse the whip in the final 16th instead of knuckling him to get Real Quiet to extend his neck. So, I do think Desormeaux blew it but as I predicted on here many weeks ago...
Here is a strange question, but it's a moment I've never forgotten...before the Belmont there was footage of a horse that threw his rider/trainer and just craned his neck down and neighed defiantly at him. And supposedly was known to bite people. Was that this horse, Real Quiet? Because I thought that was the most awesome thing I'd ever seen, a horse that was that mean and yet that good at the same time.
I rarely think its a good call when the announcer does not call the winner. However, this was an exception. One of TD's best. I recall that Kent moved Real Quiet out in the last few jumps interfering with Victory Gallop. I think there was an inquiry so RQ probably would have been DQ'd had VG not won anyway.
Well, Kent will indeed get his shot at redemption in the Belmont. I must give him credit in that he ran Big Brown to an almost perfect ride and showed great command by using only as much horse as he needed to get the win. Perhaps, he learned that lesson from the Preakness with Real Quiet when RQ expended more energy than necessary. Still, I think the one mistake jockeys make at the Belmont is they ask their horses to go with 5 plus furlongs left. I think the jockeys should wait until between
at 9.5 furlongs and farther, Real Quiet was top class. His record is the way it is because Baffert kept running him in Mile races. Throughout his career, he's only lost 1 race at 9.5 furlongs and above, and that was the Belmont by a nose.
I thought Victory Gallop skipped the Preakness and was more rested than Real Quiet?? Same thing when any horse, including BB, has run a race closer to the one being run, against fresher horses that have taken a longer resting period. That will be BB's situation at the Belmont. Hope he wins!! Hoping for a TC winner - 30 years is already too long to wait.
I have been critical of Kent on here but I do want to say he did a great job on Big Brown this year in all three races. What happened today with BB was incredible but Kent made the right decision pulling him up to risk any kind of injury. It will be interesting to see what they kind but Dutrow will never hear the end of this one that his horses run well because of Winstrol and not talent. I think barring an injury he has no choice but to run BB again in Breeders and perhaps as 4 year old.
Makes all the difference that Kent moved early. Anybody that says there's no possible way Desormeaux's ride made a difference knows nothing about the Belmont Stakes and the difference between 9 and 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs. Other than Secretariat and Affirmed, I've never ever seen another horse start his move 3.5 furlongs from the finish and be able to win the Belmont.
Real Quiet was never a real top quality racehorse..he was streaky at best. Victory Gallop was bred for the distance and came up strong with both horses on their "A" game that day.
How in the world Desormeaux got that horse to close that far that fast is out of this world. Can California Chrome pull off a victory at Belmont? We all will see in 3 weeks.
he would come to the Belmont with a chance to make amends with Big Brown and I think given that he rode Casino Drive in the Peter Pan that he knows the strengths and weaknesses of that horse. Beware though of Edgar Prado because he has been a Belmont foiler before with Birdstone. I also think it will be interesting to see if the other jockeys try to crowd BB and never let him get settled during the opening 1/2 mile. We'll see but I still think BB holds on "by a desperate neck" ala Breeders 89.
Interesting note about this race. It actually was better that Victory Gallop got the photo. Because, it was my belief, and Bob Baffert confirmed it in an interview, that had Real Quiet won, he would have been disqualified for coming out on Victory Gallop near the finish. Wouldn't want to be a steward with that decision in front of you. Would've created a riot.
Did Kent misjudge this finish line as well? lol However, I disagree with the statement that RQ would've been DQ'd if he would've won... I somehow don't see them DQing a horse in this situation, unless he knocked VG down!
I watched it 3 times and it still looked like the inside horse won. Great finish but everyone's right, Kent moved waaaaaay too early in a mile and a half race. I guess he thought the pace was too slow.
Sometimes life gives you second chances. Ten years ago Kent Desormeaux should have won the Triple Crown with Real Quiet and I think his jockeying at the end of this race cost Real Quiet the Triple Crown. The horse had plenty of gas left down the stretch and it sensed it was in the free and clear. Ten years later I think Desormeaux will be back at Belmont going for another Triple Crown with Big Brown and I think this time he will learn from his mistakes and Big Brown will hold on to win.
four and five or even slightly less than four furlongs to go because the jockeys invariably run out of horse with a furlong to go. That said, if Kent has really learned his lesson he will not panic and hold Big Brown back until the top of the final stretch and then let him go and I think Big Brown is enough horse that he should be able to handle four furlongs at his best, especially off of what has to be said to be a rather leisurely Preakness run. I still say Big Brown pulls it off narrowly.
I have different opinion on this..say Kent held Real Quiet back a bit, let Victory Gallop get closer and gets out kicked to the wire by a better closer he would have been grilled for not taking a big lead while he had horse, Ive always been of the opinion that bottoming out the field sometimes is the way to go, we'll never know, but I still don't think it was totally the wrong thing to do.
Ya know i keep seeing this whole watch Kent hold Real Quiet back and I just don't see where he does this... I looked real closely and just don't see it =/ that horse was running hard. Oh well whatever *shrugs*
Might have been Coronado's Quest...He had some awful antics and hence was not run in the Derby even though he was a very good horse..Finished 5th in the preakness after acting up but after surgery went on to win the Riva Ridge on Belmont day and then wins in the Haskell and Travers..If not for his antics he might have challenged Real Quiet in the derby as he was an excellent horse
Kent lost the race. Horses don't make 2 moves in the 12 Furlong Belmont and win. It's a testament to RQ's ability as a stayer on dirt that he only lost by a nose.
Thats the greatest call of a race finish I have ever heard. The Smart Jones Belmont was brilliant too. This guy just puts the listener right in the moment.
i consider this race to be one of the best ever. Not only was it a photo finish, but it was a photo finish with so much at stake. And the way he lost was amazing. GREAT RACE!!
IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CALL!!!! Was it Real Quiet? Or was it Victory Gallop?! A picture is worth a thousand words! This photo is worth $5,000,000 !!! LOL! I still get chills down my spine hearing those words.
"Kent Desormeaux IMPLORING Real Quiet to hold on...." I love that.
You will be so, so missed Real Quiet! You may have lost the Triple Crown, but you gave us your all and made it worth it! RIP Fish!
One of the greatest calls ever!
Great race, thanks for posting! My spine still tingles to see RQ take the lead at the top of the stretch. Keep wishing he will get to the line first- just once.
And since when are horses judged by their performance as older horses? Street Sense, Barbaro, and Secretariat, champions all, never ever ran past their 3yo year!
why does everyone have to bust on this horse saying its not great. it gave a courageous run at the triple crown, and for any horse to come that close is an amazing accomplishment. Real Quiet might not be one of the best of all time, but he sure was a great horse.
"History, in the waiting!"
What a line!
A very sad day in that we lost a champion ! RQ brought us some much pleasure and of course whom will ever forget how close he came in bringing us a Triple Crown! Rest in peace and in our hearts you will always be a Triple Crown champion!
That call should be right up there with "down goes Frazier" and "do you believe in miracles" and "we'll see you tomorrow night". An all time clasic race call.
God, nine years later and as deflating as ever. Still, I nod my cap to VG.
"A picture is worth 1000 words. This photo is worth 5 million dollars!! Oh No!!"
LMFAO!!!
I find myself rewinding back to the homestretch thinking if I do that, Real Quiet could somehow win!! God this was one is hard to accept.
One of the greatest calls ever by Durkin. "TOO CLOSE TO CALL!!!!!"
Wow, what a race, and great call.
I've watched sports long enough that usually, I can summon some perspective after an upset and say, "Well, the better team/ athlete/ horse won. Great effort."
A decade later, this race still completely deflates me.
Same here. I don't know how many times I've watched this race, probably one of the best I've ever seen, and 11 years later I still hope he can hold on, even though you know what's going to happen.
The Belmont with Victory Gallop was one of my favorite races, I placed bets on him in all three races at Keeneland and won every time.
One of the greatest Belmont's of all time! I do remember the inquiry, but not sure if they would have taken him down or not. Too bad, Real Quiet was a heck of a horse. Seen him at my only KY Derby!
REAL QUIET is a great horse. I´m very proud he will come to my country Uruguay. He surely give us big surprises for our thoroughbred with classic horses.
so I bet all my cents. Anybody take a doubt ?
I just got a horse from a friend who is a jockey in Ohio. Never saw the horse till he arrived. His name is Quiet, Quiet Reflection actually and a half brother to Real Quiet. I look at him and still cant believe that I have been touched by greatness and this clse to it.
Thanks.... whats strange is I've been trying to view it for like 2 weeks and it hasn't worked (always did before) and I tried it today after asking that yesterday, and it works now, lol. Thanks.
I still get chills when i watch this and hear tom durkin at the wire "ITS TOO CLOSE TO CALL..."
This race is up there with the announcer call of secretariat at the belmont
One of the greatest calls. Ever.
@plmooney It is a classic call. It was so perfect that you would have thought that it was recorded after the race or otherwise scripted. Durkin had another memorable call when Birdstone beat Smarty Jones. Still, Chic Anderson's 1973 Belmont calling Secretariat a "tremendous machine" is my favorite. Great post.
Kent made the right call, he had dying speed in front of him. He moved at the perfect time. He would hav been out kicked by Victory Gallop, he tried to get the jump on him. He got caught, it happens. Great Ride.
Great race, and Tom Durkin's call was one for the ages. His call down the stretch was just phenomenal and added to the moment.
Kent might have moved too early, but don't forget that Real Quiet impeded Victory Gallop not once, but twice down the stretch. Victory Gallop had a full head of steam when he was impeded the first time and was ready to roll right past Real Quiet. Victory Gallop was the better horse and a deserving winner of the Belmont.
RIP Real Quiet
@STU676 "A picture is worth a thousand words; this photo is worth five million dollars!" Perfect.
What a shame......Durkin really wanted his triple crown call. They should really let him call the NBC Telecast this year and give him that one last chance.
i remember that real quiet perked up at the very end of the race with all the people cheering and the flash bulbs going...it cost him just a little but that little cost him the race...good move by desormeaux to try and impede victory gallops progress at the end even though that may not have been within the rules
What horrible end for Real Quiet.
as always CF, you da man!
EVERY time I watch it I beg Kent not to go so early, then I still gasp at the wire. When I watched it live I was so excited when he opened up on the field at the top of the stretch. I loved the fish. I really want to see a Triple Crown winner. GO STREET SENSE ( who I've been backing since the Juvenile)
I remember this race, and you are right about the impeding. I can't recall if it happened twice or not, but I believe you can see RQ stray around 2:27. I remember the network showing replays of the stretch run at various angles. No matter what, I knew RQ wasn't going to win b/c the violation was clear. Bummer of a day.
Maybe the best finish call ever by Durkin, I have watched this race like 30 time now....
Attention, DiamondBackPain, It was Desormeaux who opened up too early on Real Quiet and Gary Stevens on Victory Gallup who got the job done.
IMO, Could not blame Kent D, he did his job.
For those commenting Kent D ride, what if photo was the other way and you said he comment well ?
Our champion Victory Gallop … He is now here in my country .. Türkiye 🇹🇷.. stallion here .
what a call by durkin
"This photo is worth 5 millions dollars!!!"
What a great call.
Is this video broken for anyone else? I can view almost all videos here, but this one just has white dots circling in the middle and never loads.
Just wanted to add note of intrigue to what should be incredible Belmont in three weeks. Casino Drive, who won the Peter Pan, and is considered to be Big Brown's chief/legitimate rival at the Belmont was ridden by Kent Desormeaux. I didn't know Kent rode that horse but what a huge advantage to have ridden the horse that will be your main rival as you go for the Triple Crown.
You know, I was actually jumping up and down when they switched to the scoreboard and they posted "11" as the winner. Backed Victory Gallop throughout the entire Triple Crown that year, and he finally got him.
I totally agree about Tom Derkin's call..In fact most of his calls are brillant...On Real Quiet he just improve at the right time..A very good horse but not a great one...but the thrill of almost winning the triple crown will make me look at this video a thousand times and still get goosebumps...
It's not that they aren't allowing him. It's that he refused to renew his contract due to stress. I wish he'd come back, too, though. I LOVE his calls.
RQ would not have been taken down and DQ'd. It's the Triple Crown and, frankly, he was tiring, not interfering. No one says this but it's Gary Stevens who won this race. Had a GS been on Alydar, Affirmed would not have won in 1978.
tom durkin is the best caller of this generation
TOM DURKIN IS THE BEST! WHAT A CALL
I have watched this video several times and i have to say that Kent's ride on Real Quiet gave him every chance to win. If he had have held Real Quiet to the field who knows if he would have had a big enough sprint? Victory gallop was 10 lengths behind - many many races have been 'stolen' by the ride taking iniative and going for home and creating a space when he has horse.
You have to also consider that if you watch closely, Victory gallop had to shift twice in the stretch. I say TOO GOOD!!.
I remember listening to his race on the radio in Spanish, so disappointed when the official result was announced.
Real Quiet was a top notch horse and his off-spring proves it. However, he would have lost this particular race even if his nose was in front of Victory Gallop's because there was contact made at the end with an inquiry showing Real Quiet was at fault and therefor would have been disqualified as the winner. Kudos to VG and one of the BEST if not the BEST races ever with history on the line.
Yeah, this might be his best call.
I believe that if Kent hadn't pulled Real Quiet over like that we would have had a TC winner today. It not only impeded Victory Gallop but it pulled RQ off his stride at the same time.
Considering his original owner sold him for 1/2 price what he originally paid for him because he had crooked knees and it took him 7 starts to break his Maiden I'd say Real Quiet did pretty well for himself in just missing the TC by a nose. I can't blame Kent for the ride as he rode the horse like he normally did. RQ was a late bloomer. Most times, trying to change a horses habit in a race of this signifigance will result in defeat more than just the nose he lost by.
to me it looked like Real Quiet won, anyone know where I can find the photo finish of this race?
I know that most believe that Desormeaux moved too soon, as I originally thought that too, but when you think about it...in the previous two races, Victory Gallop gained ground on Real Quiet on the home stretch...I think Desormeaux knew Real Quiet didn't have the finishing speed that Victory Gallop did so he tried to go early enough where he'd be far enough ahead of Victory Gallop...I see track runners do it all the time in long distance races, and I bet that's what happened here too
I agree; I am only really concerned about one horse, Casino Drive; I have a feeling Casino Drive and Big Brown could lock up in one of those Sunday Silence Easy Goer duels you saw back at the 1989 Preakness and that would concern me because Casino Drive is the fresher horse and has been bred for Belmont. We'll see.
Well, I think Kent's riding has come along way since 1998 and I credit him in the first two races, especially the Preakness for saving Big Brown and not using too much gas in the tank. Here, in 1998, he moved too early with 6 furlongs left, never looked back down the stretch to see if anyone was coming and gave his horse the whip in the final 16th instead of knuckling him to get Real Quiet to extend his neck. So, I do think Desormeaux blew it but as I predicted on here many weeks ago...
Here is a strange question, but it's a moment I've never forgotten...before the Belmont there was footage of a horse that threw his rider/trainer and just craned his neck down and neighed defiantly at him. And supposedly was known to bite people. Was that this horse, Real Quiet? Because I thought that was the most awesome thing I'd ever seen, a horse that was that mean and yet that good at the same time.
He made his move WAY earlier than the 1 1/4 pole..................Real quiet was a REAL CHAMP.....bad ride this race..
How so?
Lost a Triple Crown for a nose...!
@MarysHusband Don't forget the Call on Cigar's Breeders Cup win in 1995.....The incomparable, invincible, UNBEATABLE....CIGAR !!!
I rarely think its a good call when the announcer does not call the winner. However, this was an exception. One of TD's best.
I recall that Kent moved Real Quiet out in the last few jumps interfering with Victory Gallop. I think there was an inquiry so RQ probably would have been DQ'd had VG not won anyway.
Well, Kent will indeed get his shot at redemption in the Belmont. I must give him credit in that he ran Big Brown to an almost perfect ride and showed great command by using only as much horse as he needed to get the win. Perhaps, he learned that lesson from the Preakness with Real Quiet when RQ expended more energy than necessary. Still, I think the one mistake jockeys make at the Belmont is they ask their horses to go with 5 plus furlongs left. I think the jockeys should wait until between
at 9.5 furlongs and farther, Real Quiet was top class. His record is the way it is because Baffert kept running him in Mile races. Throughout his career, he's only lost 1 race at 9.5 furlongs and above, and that was the Belmont by a nose.
10 years later, KD will not make the same mistake again.
I thought Victory Gallop skipped the Preakness and was more rested than Real Quiet?? Same thing when any horse, including BB, has run a race closer to the one being run, against fresher horses that have taken a longer resting period. That will be BB's situation at the Belmont. Hope he wins!! Hoping for a TC winner - 30 years is already too long to wait.
I have been critical of Kent on here but I do want to say he did a great job on Big Brown this year in all three races. What happened today with BB was incredible but Kent made the right decision pulling him up to risk any kind of injury. It will be interesting to see what they kind but Dutrow will never hear the end of this one that his horses run well because of Winstrol and not talent. I think barring an injury he has no choice but to run BB again in Breeders and perhaps as 4 year old.
@ddido4604 but he didn't make his move at the top of the stretch, he started it with 6 furlongs left
Makes all the difference that Kent moved early. Anybody that says there's no possible way Desormeaux's ride made a difference knows nothing about the Belmont Stakes and the difference between 9 and 10 furlongs and 12 furlongs. Other than Secretariat and Affirmed, I've never ever seen another horse start his move 3.5 furlongs from the finish and be able to win the Belmont.
Real Quiet was never a real top quality racehorse..he was streaky at best. Victory Gallop was bred for the distance and came up strong with both horses on their "A" game that day.
How in the world Desormeaux got that horse to close that far that fast is out of this world. Can California Chrome pull off a victory at Belmont? We all will see in 3 weeks.
he would come to the Belmont with a chance to make amends with Big Brown and I think given that he rode Casino Drive in the Peter Pan that he knows the strengths and weaknesses of that horse. Beware though of Edgar Prado because he has been a Belmont foiler before with Birdstone. I also think it will be interesting to see if the other jockeys try to crowd BB and never let him get settled during the opening 1/2 mile. We'll see but I still think BB holds on "by a desperate neck" ala Breeders 89.
that was a response to TravisVOX
This "fish" was and is deserving of greatness. Are we going to say too that John Henry is nothing but a fish?
I second that!
I close my eyes to veiw the race and Real Quiet wins ,,,,,, I dont want to open them ,,,,
Love you real Quiet ,,,
exactly! it is called horse race not jockey race :)
You don't get into your horse with 6 furlongs to go if you want to have something left at the finish.
He moved to early.
Interesting note about this race. It actually was better that Victory Gallop got the photo. Because, it was my belief, and Bob Baffert confirmed it in an interview, that had Real Quiet won, he would have been disqualified for coming out on Victory Gallop near the finish. Wouldn't want to be a steward with that decision in front of you. Would've created a riot.
it was certainly real LOUD!
Did Kent misjudge this finish line as well? lol
However, I disagree with the statement that RQ would've been DQ'd if he would've won... I somehow don't see them DQing a horse in this situation, unless he knocked VG down!
I watched it 3 times and it still looked like the inside horse won. Great finish but everyone's right, Kent moved waaaaaay too early in a mile and a half race. I guess he thought the pace was too slow.
"IT'S TOO CLOSE TO CAAALLLLLLLL !!!"
Kent Desormeaux sent Real Quiet too early. Very common mistake for a jockey not familiar with Belmont Park to make.
Google the photo to see.
It wasn't one stride...it was 6 furlongs. If Kent hadn't moved so early I believe RQ would have been the 12th TC winner.
could very well be who would be better, maybe Ghostzapper or Cigar
The announcer said it: TOO CLOSE TO CALL! It had to be Real Quiet..
Sometimes life gives you second chances. Ten years ago Kent Desormeaux should have won the Triple Crown with Real Quiet and I think his jockeying at the end of this race cost Real Quiet the Triple Crown. The horse had plenty of gas left down the stretch and it sensed it was in the free and clear. Ten years later I think Desormeaux will be back at Belmont going for another Triple Crown with Big Brown and I think this time he will learn from his mistakes and Big Brown will hold on to win.
i hope so.......but lets not get too confident...
Agreed.
four and five or even slightly less than four furlongs to go because the jockeys invariably run out of horse with a furlong to go. That said, if Kent has really learned his lesson he will not panic and hold Big Brown back until the top of the final stretch and then let him go and I think Big Brown is enough horse that he should be able to handle four furlongs at his best, especially off of what has to be said to be a rather leisurely Preakness run. I still say Big Brown pulls it off narrowly.
Victory Gallop in Turkey now. Its foals here in very strong
I have different opinion on this..say Kent held Real Quiet back a bit, let Victory Gallop get closer and gets out kicked to the wire by a better closer he would have been grilled for not taking a big lead while he had horse, Ive always been of the opinion that bottoming out the field sometimes is the way to go, we'll never know, but I still don't think it was totally the wrong thing to do.
Ya know i keep seeing this whole watch Kent hold Real Quiet back and I just don't see where he does this... I looked real closely and just don't see it =/ that horse was running hard. Oh well whatever *shrugs*
just saw the photo finish, Real Quiet put up a good fight, but faltered.
This photo worth 5 millon
20 years? Let's keep our wits about us.
Might have been Coronado's Quest...He had some awful antics and hence was not run in the Derby even though he was a very good horse..Finished 5th in the preakness after acting up but after surgery went on to win the Riva Ridge on Belmont day and then wins in the Haskell and Travers..If not for his antics he might have challenged Real Quiet in the derby as he was an excellent horse
Kent lost the race. Horses don't make 2 moves in the 12 Furlong Belmont and win. It's a testament to RQ's ability as a stayer on dirt that he only lost by a nose.