Dazzling brilliance by a mighty champion - our readers' choice is understandable
Our readers' election of Dancing Brave's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as the Greatest Ever Race is understandable if the criterion was a performance of dazzling brilliance by a mighty champion.
Dancing Brave's exceptional finishing speed was almost unique among middle-distance champions, and when it overwhelmed a top-quality field at Longchamp in 1986 he became the greatest European champion of the decade.
The horses who followed him home – Bering, Triptych, Shahrastani, Shardari and Darara – were all genuine champions and even the form of the seventh finisher, German star Acatenango, would have won some Arcs.
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Published on 23 July 2022inSeries
Last updated 12:46, 23 July 2022
Copy- We believed Dancing Brave could fly - and then he took off to prove it
- 'Don't wind up bookmakers - you might feel clever but your accounts won't last'
- 'There wouldn't be a day I don't think about those boys and their families'
- 'You want a bit of noise, a bit of life - and you have to be fair to punters'
- 'I take flak and it frustrates me - but I'm not going to wreck another horse'
- We believed Dancing Brave could fly - and then he took off to prove it
- 'Don't wind up bookmakers - you might feel clever but your accounts won't last'
- 'There wouldn't be a day I don't think about those boys and their families'
- 'You want a bit of noise, a bit of life - and you have to be fair to punters'
- 'I take flak and it frustrates me - but I'm not going to wreck another horse'