Desert Orchid 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase Extended footage Desert Orchid

A race that still tugs at the heart strings even after almost 30 years

[@deletebilderberg]

2021, and it still brings a tear to my eye. Magnificent.

[@EddieCr]

Likewise a day I will never forget

[@timcomley3241]

And me

[@JamesBrown-ob9mh]

@@timcomley3241 Everybodys favorite

[@waqarkhan25]

bring tears to everyone's eyes

[@andrewmcmaster6364]

Loved Dessie

[@cookofdenton4190]

I know how it ends, and i still get a shiver down my spine.

[@user-wp3pp6yk3j]

I was there that day got a space at the front with a brilliant view of the finish line. Got some amazing photos. The cheer that went up was deafening hats were thrown in the air and people were crying it was very emotional. Will never forget it.

[@kevinmunday5782]

Dessie was probably the most Loved RaceHorse , or at least Alongside Rummy and Arkle.

[@livetwice7702]

What a horse he was , he absolutely hated the ground , but he had an iron will to win , beautiful, I was privileged to take my children to the yard to see him , it was like meeting The King , he knew he was No 1 , huge ego for a horse ....full of himself.....there will never be another Dessie ...A Legend

[@mizofan]

No King or Queen is worthy of Dessie, but children deserved the thrill of meeting him, no doubt one they will always remember.

[@kevinmunday6263]

I watched this Race on TV at My Grandparents, wonderful Moment. I also watched Red Rums Third National win at their House aswell it was on My 14th Birthday....Cherished Moments 😊❤

[@mjb4983]

Truly...no fake....Bawled like a baby

[@markpamplin8718]

Its no coincidence iconic sporting moments come with superb commentary

[@sampenn08]

“ He is beginning to get up, Desert Orchid is beginning to get up”. For as long as I live, those words will bring happy tears 💗

[@tomlardner2708]

Desert orchid, legend always gave his best in every race rip

[@DavidChesters53]

brilliant memories I was there - still looking for my hat

[@moyajanko6642]

Ha Ha Ha!

[@johnsbox]

Some of the best horses of the 20th Century in one race....West Tip, Dessie, and more....

[@lessamuels3767]

Its 2022 and i remember being there just like yesterday..the most emotional gold cup ever..

[@teenoso4069]

He hated every yard and still won a quote that transcends racing

[@Summertimesensation]

Dessie was my favourite horse the moment I saw him. I remember when he won his first King George at around 16-1. I told everyone to back him but nobody had my confidence. When I read he had passed away after a happy retirement I felt so sad as he had gave so many people great memories.

[@elizabethgalligan1805]

What can I say. Dessie was A special Horse . A legend. Amazing Memories 🐎❤👏

[@stevenfinch9026]

My favourite NH horse legend

[@ufcufc6114]

Magical Dessie.

[@user-xn3qj7gw6u]

A horse that makes grown men cry an absolute legend one in a million❤❤❤

[@4orrcountry]

Love the sportsmanship and admiration from the other riders at race's end.

[@mightyquinnproductions8672]

A beautiful horse with a massive heart a legend like Red Rum.

[@Michaeleddlestien]

my fav horse a real champion

[@alanmoss3479]

Had a £1000 bet on, got 11/4 on the rails, I couldn't afford to do it, but my God what a thrill, spent the night in Cheltenham General Infimary after slipping on the snow on the A40, I could write a book about that day :)

[@EddieCr]

Just what I love top see my uploads bringing back memories for people and just as a thought today you would have got likely much bigger odds between last 2 fences in running on the exchanges how racing changes betting wise.

[@markperryman2311]

Never gave up ........ heart of a 🦁 lion

[@silenusut]

Amazing race - he was a true phenomena

[@anthonyfieldhouse9691]

Dessie was one of the best ever. So glad he retired in one piece and had a happy retirement

[@thelovwoman]

Tom Morgan patting Dessie is something to behold is own mount Yahoo was a credit to himself what a super star Dessie was the public loved him

[@davidsingleton1371]

Legendary Dessie and Peter

[@duskyo]

wow what a race horse he was fantastic.

[@LilithCharles]

What a race! Grand!

[@user-mj1di7rx8w]

Fantastic.

[@paulsummerfield6357]

Great video mate,2nd win left handed (only won at Aintree previous year) all other wins right handed. Heavy ground against him too!

[@mizofan]

With so much snow and rain, most people thought Richard Burridge would withdraw him- it was a difficult decision.

[@jamieb2327]

This is just incredible . I’m a casual racing fan but Iv never seen anything like this. The heart of this horse . Can anyone explain to me how tough an ask this was for dessie considering the ground ? When I’m having a tough time I often watch this to give me some fight back . Thank you Dessie ❤️

[@EddieCr]

Thats good to know Jamie glad this race inspires you when your low the horse himself has many of us over the years especially knowing he was almost put down after a heavy fall before his career even took off as a novice hurdler.

[@GarethOwen-zq8hq]

What a legend

[@mizofan]

On the latest lotto, instead of just my usual numbers, i did an extra line purely to have #6, because of rewatching this race- my favourite: it was the only number to come up!

[@gladiator666]

Just a massive LEGEND!!!!!!! LOVE HIM......

[@moyajanko6642]

Lovely upload Eddie, thank you so much. We forget it was a quality field. An ironic piece - "The two loose horses seem to be OK, Carvills Hill and Golden Freeze" - knowing what we know now.

[@richardcoombe1594]

Alas poor Ten Plus was put to sleep after falling Broke a Back leg.

[@db0800]

It's hard to explain to people who don't understand 'the sports'; time stands still; nothing else matters; history is made and record writers pens are busy as one.

[@elta6241]

Horse racing died for me after this. There is nowhere you can go from here. Poor Ten Plus. What a big horse he was.

[@waqarkhan25]

it was a heart-stopping moment I wonder how many people want on a stretch after Des's victory

[@alexpaley4158]

I know it's daft to anthropomorphize a horse, but the way the Orchid leans over on Yahoo in the run-in (especially when he usually hangs to the right when tired), it's almost like a bravado. "I'm going for that winning post, and I don't think you have the guts!" Commiserations to Ten Plus, incidentally, who ran brilliantly until that fateful moment. Who knows...?

[@wozzer3wa]

Dessie,legend

[@waqarkhan25]

even late Sir Peter O Sullivan said Ark did not have this much cheer when won 3 gold cup

[@garykey5590]

Wow what a horse , it made your hair stand on end .

[@EddieCr]

As he did on virtually in every race he ever ran in

[@jamesh9033]

Awesome, ive always wanted to see the footage of him being led into the winners enclosure.

[@damobowie1]

Used to carry half the field on his back and would still beat them hands down. No horse since Dessie has successfully conceded weight at the highest level year after year.

[@mickvanquish]

dessies greatest victory for me,,,,,,,on that ground ,,that course,,,that distance,,,yahoo began to pull away from the orchid but he still found determination to get back,,,what a horse, what a constitution,,,,,,,

[@paddymulligan]

Ten Plus was still in contention

[@rohansrider]

Flat racing cannot hold a candle to NH. Time and time again these wonderful, brave horses come back and entertain us. Dessie was an icon for his time. The sport always seems to produce moments like this; moments that we never forget and want to relive. Even the connections seem friendlier and normal. Real horse people who know their stuff.

[@terrydickinson3296]

He ran some great races after this, but the Gold cup on soft or worse takes a lot out of a horse.

[@raymondgilbert7266]

People forget he was good enough over hurdles to run in the champion hurdle as well

[@mizofan]

He had an extremely promising first season, then a disappointing one, had trouble with his back, and then over fences he really took off, though many thought he wouldn't stay 3 miles; his trainer knew better.

[@TaquitoTown]

I never realized how big desire was....

[@gregoryvirgo8195]

I don't think the bookies be clapped out more like, 5/2 jolly be crying more like, lol.. Fabulous Dessie... We were all on it,... GG in Bexhill

[@calamaribarlow1745]

Fab

[@waqarkhan25]

Everyone thought That Carvils hills will be the one that spoils the party gold cup dream but sadly he fell and ever

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

Desert. Wanted to tell them to rest,

[@davidmalpass7129]

Positive energy via thought is a thing, get used to it.

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

Kingdoms horses,

[@mjb4983]

His leg wobbled on 4th out

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

Black stalion Seabiscuit War horse Hollywood never paid

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

How tired they were,

[@moyajanko6642]

Ironic. Two loose horses, Carvills Hill and Golden Freeze, running together.

[@ElizabethCoral]

Ha ha yes...1992 and all that...

[@moyajanko6642]

@@ElizabethCoral - I was there, it was awful.

[@spaz5138]

I'm the owner of desert orkid

[@mcharrisment4765]

And I am the King of England

[@kirstinetermansen2213]

Hunters. Nanny wins

[@waqarkhan25]

really sad that Richard Burrage has been looking for another grey just like or simpler to Desert Orchid but nothing has come right

[@waqarkhan25]

ah yes Carvills hill next time he run in the gold cup was in the 1991 gold cup which he didn't shine at all

[@cameronlock1260]

2nd most popular racehorse of all time

[@spaz5138]

Orchkid sorry for the spelling

[@malalala691]

Ya spelt it wrong twice 😂😂🙈🙈

[@barbaradyson6951]

Osullevin not the sharpest when it came to horses falling.

[@kevinglenn542]

Everything against Dessie on the day showed his versatility class-he'd have put it up 2 Kauto & Denman especially off level weights