Arazi
 

Passed away at 32. Some say a star racehorse cant help grow the game, I disagree. Might be the only reason I got into it.

https://www.drf.com/news/arazi-dies-australia-age-32

Was it that long ago. I've seen some great race horse in my trips to the race track and she is one of them.

You might be thinking of Azeri.

"AND ARAZI RUNS RIGHT BY 'EM!!!"

One of the many instances where Durkin imprinted a race into our brains forever.

It's just one of his calls that will stick with me forever. And it was nothing special that he said...nothing clever...nothing even insightful.

It was the WAY he said it...and that's why he's the best race-caller ever.

Rest in peace Arazi...you little monster.

agree, you could hear the utter disbelief in his voice, which was not in any way manufactured. Could also here it when it looked like he was way back and not going to do any running.

I think that to a certain extent was something Durkin did better than anyone, the inflections in his voice conveyed information that words could not, or at least not as well.

Fun to have Pat V tell me about it.:ThmbUp:

OOPS, again

she was pretty special too!

I was lucky enough to be at CD that day. There are only a few races over my 45+ years of going to the track where the crowd reaction was almost as memorable as the race itself. Arazi’s BC Juvenile falls into that category. When he made that move and blew right by Bertrando the crowd let out a huge collective gasp. Everyone knew they had just seen something very unique and special. After the race the track was buzzing about it for quite awhile.

I wasnt into racing at that point really, only watching a few races on TV or going to a couple races at that track with my parents but it was Nightline special with Ted Kopel about Arazi before the derby. I put 20 bucks on him at 4/5 because I didnt know any better.

I am not sure there was a day in the next 3-4 years I did not spend at an OTB, working at the track, a horse farm, etc.

He was amazing as a two year old. I still remember that huge move on the far turn in the Derby, I thought it was going to be business as usual but he hit a wall.

A serious case could be made for his Juvenile win being the greatest Breeders' Cup performance in history. It was that dazzling, and especially given the extraordinary circumstances (e.g. first time dirt/left-handed/tight turns, etc.).

it was incredible. everybody thought he would win the next year's derby for sure.

And to add he blew by Bertrando who had an uncontested lead setting reasonable fractions. A situation where a front runner of Bertrando's class is usually very tough to beat and Arazi crushed him.

the field in that race was legit as well