One of the real greats ! The expression "he could have gone around again " was prolifically used after Mill Reef`s victory at Epsom. He wouldn`t have blown out a candle when being led back to winners enclosure !
@@nicoladorman1619 But it wasn't his preferred conditions. Maybe Mill Reef could have beaten him in such - but who knows. Every horse `can` be beaten if an opponent really hits form on the day-as Roberta did against the Brigadier. Normally- on his time that race-the Brig would have won it- but that day, Roberta ran a tremendous race.
Mill reef ..the horse that began my love affair with him and horse racing ..I was 7 when this race began ...and I've lived and breathed horse racing ever since...many so many interesting and beautiful horse racing people...I'm truly blessed xx
Mill Reef-what a horse he was Went on to win the king george by 6 lengths and beat the 'unbeatable' french filly Pistol Packer by 3 lengths in the Arc Would have beat Brigadier Gerard over 1m 2f + if he wasnt injured in early 1972
@@davidhall8339 Quite agree with you sir. The Brigadier was Momentous ' I think over longer distances he would of been ok as Joe Mercer was a very acumlished horse man and when he got beat in the Benson n Hedges at York ' Joe said he coughed up a whole bucket of mucus and was dehydrated. No horse to touch him but Grundy would of gone close. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
@@davidhall8339 ... That was at a mile ... over a Mile Mill Reef could not be touched ... Mill Reef went on to be the better horse ... The Guineas does not compare to the Derby and Arc ... Mill Reef was a true great
@@glynnevans1851 ... Mill Reef was the better horse over all ... and achieve much more than Brigader Gerard ... had Mill Reef not been injured he would have won multiple arcs
trying 2 sort that out for this Tribute vid ; @ 1st thought was it's Peter Bromley's BBC Radio call ; RG joined ITV in 72 , + Wikipedia says he never called the Derby or Oaks ; John Penney called those 2 ; So it's either Tony Cooke , Bromley , or Penney ; Comparing the voices 2 NIIJINSKY's Derby ; great call either way
Listening to Bromley's call of TY in 79, this & NIIJINSKY's Derby , & the 71 Eclipse Stakes , & the 1973 2000 Guineas w/ 2 announcers ; upon thorough review, it's Tony Cooke on the mic here
@@alwaysfair4991 Awesome race caller amongst a great tribe w/ O ' Sullevan , Bromley , etc .. M. Reef came b4 I got into racing in the US ; TROY was the 1st UK star I saw when NBC Sports used to cover Epsom & the Arc ; then I learned about MR , Niijinsky & the countless greats in tandem w/ the N. American stars ; RED RUM was the 1st horse I heard on TV when partially raised in ENG ; 2 young to realize what was going on but every 1 knows what he achieved ; The racing in the UK ? Europe is superb
He beat who showed up. That’s how derby’s are. In a field that large, it’s amazing for a jockey just to get a horse in a position to win. Go breed and race your own horse….show everyone how it’s done.
I flew over from the states to see this race and I have to admit he was the best horse I’ve seen to run in England but this was not a great field of horses
It was great to hear some of those names again especially linden tree, Lombardo, and homeric, thanks for the memories !
One of the real greats ! The expression "he could have gone around again " was prolifically used after Mill Reef`s victory at Epsom. He wouldn`t have blown out a candle when being led back to winners enclosure !
A great horse, great trainer, jockey and team. Great owner too.
I had 4 shillings on Mill Reef at 4/1, my dad's mate placed the bets for us all, I was the only one to win that day.
Lend me two bob will ya mate?
Great horse I had the thrill of watching him win the coronation cup by a neck from Homeric on a off day brilliant animal one of my favs 🥇
Hi great classic races thank you for uploading them all.
Wonderful race ☺
Mill Reef was great horse but Brigadier Gerard beat him soundly in The 2,000 Guineas. I enjoyed them both.
The Brigadier was a fantastic Miler- to mile & 2 furlongs! But a mile and half -I think may have told different story.
@@alansmith1989 The Brigadier won a king george in the mud.
@@nicoladorman1619 But it wasn't his preferred conditions. Maybe Mill Reef could have beaten him in such - but who knows. Every horse `can` be beaten if an opponent really hits form on the day-as Roberta did against the Brigadier. Normally- on his time that race-the Brig would have won it- but that day, Roberta ran a tremendous race.
@@alansmith1989 oh what memories!
@@nicoladorman1619 My Cousin `Steve` had £2 on Roberta that day and shared some of his winnings with me-so, its a race I do recall fondly.
Mill Reef was a great one.
One of my favorite horses, right next to northern dancer and sea bird.
Mill reef ..the horse that began my love affair with him and horse racing ..I was 7 when this race began ...and I've lived and breathed horse racing ever since...many so many interesting and beautiful horse racing people...I'm truly blessed xx
Mill Reef-what a horse he was
Went on to win the king george by
6 lengths and beat the 'unbeatable' french filly Pistol Packer by 3 lengths in the Arc
Would have beat Brigadier Gerard
over 1m 2f + if he wasnt injured in
early 1972
would of, could have, shmoud of. He raced against The Brigadier once and lost.
He had some nasty virus, the first appearance of a pneumosomething, but he had better times than Brigadier over slightly longer runs.
@@davidhall8339 Quite agree with you sir. The Brigadier was Momentous ' I think over longer distances he would of been ok as Joe Mercer was a very acumlished horse man and when he got beat in the Benson n Hedges at York ' Joe said he coughed up a whole bucket of mucus and was dehydrated. No horse to touch him but Grundy would of gone close. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝
@@davidhall8339 ... That was at a mile ... over a Mile Mill Reef could not be touched ... Mill Reef went on to be the better horse ... The Guineas does not compare to the Derby and Arc ... Mill Reef was a true great
@@glynnevans1851 ... Mill Reef was the better horse over all ... and achieve much more than Brigader Gerard ... had Mill Reef not been injured he would have won multiple arcs
Superb animal great connections seems like yesterday what a horse
Cantering at 2.05 mins, was already won at that point. If anything I am surprised he did not go on to win it by a bigger margin.
The Linden Tree
Who was the commentator? Raleigh Gilbert I think. Very clear.
trying 2 sort that out for this Tribute vid ; @ 1st thought was it's Peter Bromley's BBC Radio call ; RG joined ITV in 72 , + Wikipedia says he never called the Derby or Oaks ; John Penney called those 2 ; So it's either Tony Cooke , Bromley , or Penney ; Comparing the voices 2 NIIJINSKY's Derby ; great call either way
Listening to Bromley's call of TY in 79, this & NIIJINSKY's Derby , & the 71 Eclipse Stakes , & the 1973 2000 Guineas w/ 2 announcers ; upon thorough review, it's Tony Cooke on the mic here
Tony Cooke for ITV.
@@alwaysfair4991 Awesome race caller amongst a great tribe w/ O ' Sullevan , Bromley , etc .. M. Reef came b4 I got into racing in the US ; TROY was the 1st UK star I saw when NBC Sports used to cover Epsom & the Arc ; then I learned about MR , Niijinsky & the countless greats in tandem w/ the N. American stars ; RED RUM was the 1st horse I heard on TV when partially raised in ENG ; 2 young to realize what was going on but every 1 knows what he achieved ; The racing in the UK ? Europe is superb
Tony Cooke.
One of the worst Derby's ever beat nothing.
He beat who showed up. That’s how derby’s are. In a field that large, it’s amazing for a jockey just to get a horse in a position to win. Go breed and race your own horse….show everyone how it’s done.
Now your talking a proper derby winner
One of the greatest race horses on any planet
Loved Linden Tree. What a gallant effort.
@Ann Clarke Magical names from distant memory, Ann.
13 years of age in Jamaica
....another great race....and horse....not transmiitted since June '71....where do you get all this stuff...?
Brokenhearted all over again. Had a good bet on Linden Tree at good odds. Loved that horse. I've hated those Paul Mellon colours ever since.
I flew over from the states to see this race and I have to admit he was the best horse I’ve seen to run in England but this was not a great field of horses
We got permission to wed. 1971.