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It was 2 years ago on this day that hopes were high for Gorgeous George to do the business in the mud in America. A day I'll never forget for all the wrong reasons. I still can't believe the pictures published in newspapers around the world the day after, pictures I hope I never have to see again. Still he resonates with me. My favourite horse. An accolade that shall never be surpassed, even by the unrivaled brilliance of the likes of Sea The Stars, Dancing Brave, Pebbles et al on the track. They just didn't have what this horse had, that little bit of something special never seen in a horse before or after, and something that shall never be seen again from my perspective. Here's for hoping his lone offspring is treated with care and attention at Hannons and can be made in to a force, what a great way to fill out this completely unique story that would be.
Here's something that Mach brought my attention today and I feel It's very poignant.
"The one thing George wouldn't have wanted – if he was thinking like a human being, the way he always did – was to be among the other horses at Ballydoyle, petering out slowly," he said. "And if he was not going to be a stallion, that was probably what was going to happen over a period of time. George being George, if it had to happen, he would have chosen it that way: a big race, a big day.
"He was a special one. He had character, attitude, everything. He was the complete, natural athlete. It's always a great experience, having those ones around. You learn from each of them. It was sad the way it had to end. I suppose when they're racing at that speed, on that kind of surface, they're giving their all. It's the same as any athlete at that level. George knew no other way to be." - Aiden O'Brien
Here's some pictures I took of him at Newmarket where arguably his greatest day came. And one of him with his favourite person. He lives on through all us racing enthusiasts.
R.I.P George Washington 1st March 2003 - 27th October 2007.
Machiavellian
The legend lives on in my heart and hopefully in the flesh and blood of his daughter on the track next season.
My favourite horse ever, RIP gorgeous one.
gromero
He was a massive favourite of mine too.
I remember the day he run in the Queen Anne. I was at the pre parade ring early to see him, I followed him over to the parade ring, then under the stands onto the course and the cameras were on him all the way to post.
He was an absolute nightmare the whole time. Not in the usual sort of Montjeu way with him on his toes or bucking and kicking, but more he just wanted to walk in different places to all the other horses.
He just kept pulling his handler all over the place.
Then when he was let out on to the course, he cantered along the rail pulling his head and trying to whip Mick Kinanes arms out of their sockets all the way down to the stalls, he looked like some crazed heavy metal fan.
But still whilst doing all of this, he was the most magnificent mover I have seen. So fluid and athletic. And when he stood still and looked around, it sent shivers down my spine as if he was properly checking you out.
I'll never forget after he won the Guineas and the way he behaved with Aidan trying to get him to go in to the winners.
A legend of our sport. RIP
Owl of Minerva
Little bit embarrassing to admit it but the night he died is the one and only time I've shed a tear for a horse. He was such a great horse to have around with his character. One could argue that by the end of his career his actual overall race record wasn't deserving of the attention he recieved and some may look back and say 'what was all the fuss about?', but he's one of those unique horses that you just had to see in action to understand his magnetism and why he caught the public's imagination.
His victory in the QEII is still by far and away my favourite flat performance that I have seen. I regularly log onto ATR just to watch it again and hear Simon Holt's superb commentary: "Here's George Washington now unleashed on the near side by Mick Kinane, he quickens up smartly, he goes to the front like a rattling good horse, and gorgeous George is back at Ascot, and it's George Washington back to his brilliant best wins the QEII Stakes"
bencar
Still remember where I was and who I was with the day Fallon brought him out of the dip at Newmarket - spreadeagled the field in literally 3 or 4 strides - hairs on the back of the neck stuff and never to be forgotten.
R.I.P.
Machiavellian
Owl of Minerva wrote:
"Here's George Washington now unleashed on the near side by Mick Kinane, he quickens up smartly, he goes to the front like a rattling good horse, and gorgeous George is back at Ascot, and it's George Washington back to his brilliant best wins the QEII Stakes"
One of the great pieces of commentary
Fantastic
Gorg_George
Machiavellian wrote:
Owl of Minerva wrote:
"Here's George Washington now unleashed on the near side by Mick Kinane, he quickens up smartly, he goes to the front like a rattling good horse, and gorgeous George is back at Ascot, and it's George Washington back to his brilliant best wins the QEII Stakes"
One of the great pieces of commentary
Fantastic
Amen to that, when I got home the next day (still pissed as a fart) and watched it, I was jumping around just like I did at the time on course.
