Horses have long been adored as magnificent creatures roaming the plains (and ranches). From their well-built stature to their beautiful manes and majestic strides, horses have it all.
This, perhaps, is why many people have found interest in seeing these creatures compete against each other.
From time immemorial, horses have been made to compete against each other for man's utter fascination. It comes with all the adrenaline involved in any other type of sport.
Horse racing is one of the sports where the praise goes to the appropriate destination. Great horse races are just great horses competing against each other.
Here is a list of a few great moments revered horses went head to head against each other.
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Ard Patrick v Sceptre v Rock Sand
Sandown Park, July 17, 1903The duel between these three horses was one hugely anticipated by horse racing fans. Ard Patrick and Sceptre had won all five classics between themselves in 1902, with the Derby going to Ard Patrick and the other four going to Sceptre.
Rock Sand was, however, regarded as the favourite. Taking up form earlier in the year, Rock Sand won the Derby and 2000 Guineas. It came down to which was the superior horse of them all.
After a stretch, the race commenced, Ard Patrick and Sceptre drew clear of the rest, including the favourite, Rock Sand. The pair braced up, and after a nail-biting tussle, Ard Patrick came out on top by just a neck. Epic.
Grundy v Bustino
Ascot, July 26, 1975A contest that was dubbed 'The Race Of The Century' produced the type of adrenaline-filled horse race everyone likes to see.
Derby was the top three-year-old in Europe, winning the Derby and Irish Derby. Bustino, with a high-grade support team, was the top four-year-old.
The race commenced, and the two horses charged to the expectations of the crowd. They went off with blistering tempo and went head to head till the straight, where Grundy had a slight advantage.
Bustino, refusing to back off, gave his all after stuttering at the final furlong, rallied, and came out on top.
Level headedness and sheer determination turned out to be the deciding factors.
Bayakoa v Go For Wand
Belmont Park, October 27, 1990This is one race in relatively recent history that was greatly anticipated. The three-year-old filly, Go For Wand, was up against the Argentine mare, Bayakoa in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
Go For Wand had won five straight grade-one races and was introduced to the Breeders' Cup to compete with the big guns. Bayakoa came out on top in the Breeders' Cup the previous year.
Not long after the race, the pair broke free from the rest and were involved in a neck to neck tussle. This lasted almost the whole span of the race, and at the home stretch, young Go For Wand's forelegs gave in, and the filly came crashing down.
The finish wasn't as epic as it was shaping out to be, but the race will remain in the mind of many who were present.
Arkle v Mill House
Cheltenham, March 7, 1964It wasn't just a contest between two horses but one between riders and whole countries. It was Arkle v Mill House, Pat Taffe v Willie Robinson, Ireland v England. The frenzy before the match builds up the whole tension around it.
The course of the race lived up to its billing. The bout started, and both horses executed flawless jumping and strides. Mill House took the early lead, with supporters cheering on wildly.
However, Arkle eased into the lead, got over the last hurdle, and strode up the hill, winning by five lengths. The races didn't produce the epic finish everyone would've loved to see, but for anticipation and a nerve-wrenching course the race took, it certainly lived up to its billing.
Dominic Behan wrote a song named 'Arkle' where he talks about the huge contest between two horse racing heavyweights.
No horse race can be solely termed the greatest of all time, but these are only a few interesting showdowns amongst the many great moments in horse racing history.
