I had the pleasure of being at Gulfstream Park for Horse Chestnut’s U.S debut and I can remember all the hype surrounding this horse like it was yesterday. I remember thinking how I had never heard of his sire before (Fort Wood, whom I learned later, was by the great Sadlers Wells) and how Horse Chestnut was entering the race off a very long layoff, (like 6- 7 months or something like that). I decided I would bet the local horses that were in good form (Rock and Roll & Jerry Bailey). I’d rather bet on a American Handicap horse with speed figures I could translate rather than a South African horse with (what I thought was) a pumped up race record and showing up at Gulfstream off such a long layoff…. but when Horse Chestnut walked into the paddock to saddle up, even as someone who doubted him and his pedigree initially, I got the sense I was in the presence of a special horse, I can’t say exactly what it was, maybe I just started to succumb to the hype or his coat was shining too perfectly, but there was something special about this Horse just walking around in the saddling area. When Mike Smith jumped aboard I decided I would bet on him instead, and I’ll never forget how easily he opened up on the other horses on the final turn and homestretch, it made me (and I would imagine many others in attendance) realize that Horse Chestnut wasn’t just a hype job, he was legitimately magnificent, poetry in motion, and as much as I did my best to question the competition even after the race and having bet money on him, I kept thinking how much he would have needed that race coming in off such a long layoff, and Traveling across the world practically…. Just seeing it all play out live in front of me I got goosebumps, he didn’t need to have a prep race at all, he was fully reedy to rumble and one can only think he would have gotten even better with that one under his belt, certainly he was a true champion in my eyes and really put South African racing and trainer Michael De Kock officially on the racing map for a lot of Americans as well.
To think that race in Florida was his first run on dirt and in a new country... I can only imagine what he would've done. I was at the J&B Met when he won by a country mile, what a performance!
I have to agree. I was in attendance at Gulfstream Park and I still remember the entire race and pre-race vividly. A very very special horse in my eyes, no doubt about it.
Best race horse I've ever seen! Such a pity his career came to a premature end. All things considered though, so glad he's back where he belongs, at stud in his home, South Africa.
I had the pleasure of watching Horse Chestnut at Gulfstream Park, I got to see what you meant by him being so great. He left quite an impression on the racing fans in attendance. I will never forget him! That is how good he ran… and how easy he made it all look.
@@jlove8445 its heart-warming to hear that. Thanks for the reply :) That horse still brings tears to my eyes when I think of him and what might have been had he not been prematurely injured...
It was like when Zenyatta almost beat the boys on dirt in the 2010 BC classic when it was thought she coldn't compete with the alpha males of the handicap division on that surface.
Horse chestnut at 5y.o. ran the Broward Handicap in the virtually idenitcal time on a fast Florida track as Secretariat ran the same distance (Laurel Futurity) as a 2y.o. on a waterlogged track.
He was a grass runner.. they should of kept him on the grass, he was also a 4 year old in USA ..not 5 ( just a correction).. secreteriat still the best tho.. but I don't think he would of beaten horse chestnut by much.. and lets not forget secreteriat lost more than once.. It would be an interesting race.. I think horse chestnut is different class compared to what secretariat ran against..gotta keep that in mind.. also.. secretariet only famous because he ran one race and won by 20 lengths..most of his other runs were not that wonderful.. horse chestnut could of beaten him on the day.. anyway it would be a great match race for sure.. nobody ever pushed horse chestnut.. it would be interesting to see if he had a fighting spirit.. they hardly had to use the whip on him.. I haven't seen another horse like horse chestnut..besides frankel.. my top 3 .. secretariet, horse chestnut , frankel
@@akramebrahim1446 So Horse Chestnut was clearly the best horse in his time and place. Secretariat's performances and world and track records rank him as the best overall horse in all times and places.
Horse Chestnut still remains the best horse SA ever produced. I believe he was probably the best in the world in 1999/2000 alongside Dubai Millennium.
I had the pleasure of being at Gulfstream Park for Horse Chestnut’s U.S debut and I can remember all the hype surrounding this horse like it was yesterday. I remember thinking how I had never heard of his sire before (Fort Wood, whom I learned later, was by the great Sadlers Wells) and how Horse Chestnut was entering the race off a very long layoff, (like 6- 7 months or something like that).
I decided I would bet the local horses that were in good form (Rock and Roll & Jerry Bailey). I’d rather bet on a American Handicap horse with speed figures I could translate rather than a South African horse with (what I thought was) a pumped up race record and showing up at Gulfstream off such a long layoff…. but when Horse Chestnut walked into the paddock to saddle up, even as someone who doubted him and his pedigree initially, I got the sense I was in the presence of a special horse, I can’t say exactly what it was, maybe I just started to succumb to the hype or his coat was shining too perfectly, but there was something special about this Horse just walking around in the saddling area.
When Mike Smith jumped aboard I decided I would bet on him instead, and I’ll never forget how easily he opened up on the other horses on the final turn and homestretch, it made me (and I would imagine many others in attendance) realize that Horse Chestnut wasn’t just a hype job, he was legitimately magnificent, poetry in motion, and as much as I did my best to question the competition even after the race and having bet money on him, I kept thinking how much he would have needed that race coming in off such a long layoff, and Traveling across the world practically…. Just seeing it all play out live in front of me I got goosebumps, he didn’t need to have a prep race at all, he was fully reedy to rumble and one can only think he would have gotten even better with that one under his belt, certainly he was a true champion in my eyes and really put South African racing and trainer Michael De Kock officially on the racing map for a lot of Americans as well.
It's only a pity he got injured in straight otherwise this was probably one of the best horses that ever lived..
Beautiful post, magnificent horse.
To think that race in Florida was his first run on dirt and in a new country... I can only imagine what he would've done. I was at the J&B Met when he won by a country mile, what a performance!
I have to agree. I was in attendance at Gulfstream Park and I still remember the entire race and pre-race vividly.
A very very special horse in my eyes, no doubt about it.
Best race horse I've ever seen!
Such a pity his career came to a premature end.
All things considered though, so glad he's back where he belongs, at stud in his home, South Africa.
I had the pleasure of watching Horse Chestnut at Gulfstream Park, I got to see what you meant by him being so great.
He left quite an impression on the racing fans in attendance. I will never forget him! That is how good he ran… and how easy he made it all look.
@@jlove8445 its heart-warming to hear that. Thanks for the reply :)
That horse still brings tears to my eyes when I think of him and what might have been had he not been prematurely injured...
I remember the races chestnut raced in . you just needed to decide who will be second an third . as first was that obvious
i just cried
It was like when Zenyatta almost beat the boys on dirt in the 2010 BC classic when it was thought she coldn't compete with the alpha males of the handicap division on that surface.
Beautiful
where is he i wanna see him
great horse bring back memories but hate his owners . they robbed south Africa blind that oppenheimers
RIP Horse Chestnut 2-20-15
Sorry, he passed on 2-19-15
🐐
Horse chestnut at 5y.o. ran the Broward Handicap in the virtually idenitcal time on a fast Florida track as Secretariat ran the same distance (Laurel Futurity) as a 2y.o. on a waterlogged track.
You know how stupid this comment is don't you?
Horse Chestnut is an absolute machine and a champion thoroughbred
He was a grass runner.. they should of kept him on the grass, he was also a 4 year old in USA ..not 5 ( just a correction).. secreteriat still the best tho.. but I don't think he would of beaten horse chestnut by much.. and lets not forget secreteriat lost more than once.. It would be an interesting race.. I think horse chestnut is different class compared to what secretariat ran against..gotta keep that in mind.. also.. secretariet only famous because he ran one race and won by 20 lengths..most of his other runs were not that wonderful.. horse chestnut could of beaten him on the day.. anyway it would be a great match race for sure.. nobody ever pushed horse chestnut.. it would be interesting to see if he had a fighting spirit.. they hardly had to use the whip on him.. I haven't seen another horse like horse chestnut..besides frankel.. my top 3 .. secretariet, horse chestnut , frankel
Horse chestnut annhilated every1 . El picha classic flag pablo zita good horses. No 1 came close to horse chestnut in a race
@@akramebrahim1446 So Horse Chestnut was clearly the best horse in his time and place. Secretariat's performances and world and track records rank him as the best overall horse in all times and places.
Wow
What a champion. I think variety Club would have achieved more than chestnut, so, unfortunately, he had to be retired after an injury
Variety club was awesome don't think he was better than soft falling rain and I don't think soft falling rain is close to horse chestnut