Everyone talks about the greatest horse of all time..BUT..what was the greatest

[Grandstand Handicapper]

drive you ever saw?

Now, think about it. Greatest drive? Does that mean the boldest move you ever saw a driver make? Does that mean the horse had to win? A great, bold move, if it didn't work out----perhaps some would then call it the "dumbest" move they ever saw! LOL. A driver can make a great, bold move, one that takes real balls.....but the horse has to deliver! So how do we rate that?

I am going to hold off on giving mine, but I will say that I will never forget the one I am thinking of. I am friends with a lot of drivers. I've talked to them, listened, learned, ask questions, and so on. I've heard a lot first-hand as to what drivers say, think, why they do or did what they do or did, and so on. But I saw something that will forever stand out in my mind.

[gh2009]

Sometimes what people refer to as a great drive was pure luck like Scott Zeron winning the Hambo 2 years ago without ever leaving the rail/pylons. Sometimes a so-called great drive is the result of a bad drive by another driver.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Sometimes what people refer to as a great drive was pure luck like Scott Zeron winning the Hambo 2 years ago without ever leaving the rail/pylons. Sometimes a so-called great drive is the result of a bad drive by another driver.

Absolutely. Luck certainly can have a role!

[seen2much]

One I loved was Morrill Jr. riding the rail with Holborn Hanover. He won the Meadowlands Pace at a big price. Saving ground was the key...because he was not the best horse.

[JT]

The 2 boldest moves that came right to my mind, one of them worked out.. the other didn't. The dumb one has to be MacDonell on SBSW in the Meadowlands Pace. The other which did work out but was a bad drive was the LBJ that Campbell drove Life Sign.. trying to go for the lead when he knew how well Riyadh could leave and Presidential Ball closing that hole.. then backing off to 4th and then almost immediately pulling back out. Life Sign bailed out Campbell on that day.

[Bitter Truth]

Mike LaChance on BJ Scoot 1988 Jug. Had to hang Albert Albert the whole mile with a 'FOUR' horse Lou Guida
entry in behind..53.4 to the half. Our boy Roger called it 'UNHEARD OF' at the time. Classic Mikey. No whipping rules then.

[JT]

Mike LaChance on BJ Scoot 1988 Jug. Had to hang Albert Albert the whole mile with a 'FOUR' horse Lou Guida
entry in behind..53.4 to the half. Our boy Roger called it 'UNHEARD OF' at the time. Classic Mikey. No whipping rules then.

I remember that race well Bitter. Hung Chris Boring out to dry.

[PurpleSheetPicks]

Simon allard when doves cry in the hambo Oaks
No one else 2 moves there

[Bitter Truth]

Just watched the replay. Mikey never raised the whip in the stretch. Makes it an even better drive for my money.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

One I loved was Morrill Jr. riding the rail with Holborn Hanover. He won the Meadowlands Pace at a big price. Saving ground was the key...because he was not the best horse.

I said "smart" drive, and Jimmy said it was smart because it worked out, but more lucky. LOL.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

The 2 boldest moves that came right to my mind, one of them worked out.. the other didn't. The dumb one has to be MacDonell on SBSW in the Meadowlands Pace. The other which did work out but was a bad drive was the LBJ that Campbell drove Life Sign.. trying to go for the lead when he knew how well Riyadh could leave and Presidential Ball closing that hole.. then backing off to 4th and then almost immediately pulling back out. Life Sign bailed out Campbell on that day.

Campbell had little to no choice once he knew Morrill wasn't going to let him go. Backing off, and then going first up again, no choice. But I think Campbell still drove very smart when first up. He made sure Life Sign could see Riyadh he made sure he pressured him, but didn't go head to head, just making sure Morrill couldn't back down the pace. In the stretch he had to make sure he didn't give Morrill too much room and hope he could get the jump on Jackie Mo in the pocket. But, boy, did Life Sign hit another gear getting up.

All that aside.....It was an absolutely incredible, super-equine performance. Amazing performance.

[Bitter Truth]

There are moments in life when time stands still.
When things transpire regardless of your will.

Like sliding on ice when your brakes have locked,
Or the viewing of the steps, when your child first walked.

A similar thing happened that year at Delaware.
Lifesign had a day to which no-one can compare.

He cruised in the elim', as Campbell put a move on Jack.
But did he have the stamina, for the second heat, to come back?

Yes he had staved off a top challenger when he beat Presidential Ball,
But Riyadh had the rail in the final and was sure to get the first call.

Still Campbell had no choice, he had to try and leave.
For him, Riyadh had one answer, ask and you shall receive.

Yes Campbell soon found out that he'd have to take a seat,
And when he went first over, in my mind, he was beat.

The third quarter went in twenty seven and four, and Lifesign was still there,
Though keeping 'The Ball' locked in had become my only care.

But that day will live on in my mind and in Jug history go down,
As the day Lifesign wouldn't quit, and Riyadh lost the triple crown.

[Grandstand Handicapper]

There are moments in life when time stands still.
When things transpire regardless of your will.

Like sliding on ice when your brakes have locked,
Or the viewing of the steps, when your child first walked.

A similar thing happened that year at Delaware.
Lifesign had a day to which no-one can compare.

He cruised in the elim', as Campbell put a move on Jack.
But did he have the stamina, for the second heat, to come back?

Yes he had staved off a top challenger when he beat Presidential Ball,
But Riyadh had the rail in the final and was sure to get the first call.

Still Campbell had no choice, he had to try and leave.
For him, Riyadh had one answer, ask and you shall receive.

Yes Campbell soon found out that he'd have to take a seat,
And when he went first over, in my mind, he was beat.

The third quarter went in twenty seven and four, and Lifesign was still there,
Though keeping 'The Ball' locked in had become my only care.

But that day will live on in my mind and in Jug history go down,
As the day Lifesign wouldn't quit, and Riyadh lost the triple crown.

 

Thanks for posting this!

[Bitter Truth]

You're welcome. Glad you liked it.

[JT]

There are moments in life when time stands still.
When things transpire regardless of your will.

Like sliding on ice when your brakes have locked,
Or the viewing of the steps, when your child first walked.

A similar thing happened that year at Delaware.
Lifesign had a day to which no-one can compare.

He cruised in the elim', as Campbell put a move on Jack.
But did he have the stamina, for the second heat, to come back?

Yes he had staved off a top challenger when he beat Presidential Ball,
But Riyadh had the rail in the final and was sure to get the first call.

Still Campbell had no choice, he had to try and leave.
For him, Riyadh had one answer, ask and you shall receive.

Yes Campbell soon found out that he'd have to take a seat,
And when he went first over, in my mind, he was beat.

The third quarter went in twenty seven and four, and Lifesign was still there,
Though keeping 'The Ball' locked in had become my only care.

But that day will live on in my mind and in Jug history go down,
As the day Lifesign wouldn't quit, and Riyadh lost the triple crown.

Great post bitter.. the only reason I say it was a a bad drive which Campbell even admitted was he should of known that there was no way he was getting to the top at the start. It turned to a great drive like Grandstand said when he didn't try to get by when he had to pull first over so quickly. That 3 year old crop was so fun to watch. So much talent.. drivers and horses.