Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world. It has been around for centuries, and it continues to be a popular spectator sport today. As with any sport, there are some horses that have performed better than others and have achieved incredible feats. One such feat is winning a race at long odds. In this article, we will take a look at some of the biggest odds that a horse has ever won at.
The Biggest Long-Shot Wins in Horse Racing History
The biggest long-shot win in horse racing history was in the 1999 Grand National. A horse called Mon Mome, ridden by jockey Liam Treadwell, won the race at odds of 100/1. This was an incredible feat, as the horse had been given such long odds due to its lack of experience and the fact that it had never won a race before.
Another horse that achieved an incredible feat was Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National. Red Rum won the race at odds of 25/1, which was a remarkable achievement considering that he had finished second in the race the previous year. This proves that even horses with some experience of running in big races can still be successful at long odds.
Other Notable Long-Shot Wins
Other notable long-shot wins include Auroras Encore in the 2013 Grand National, who won the race at odds of 66/1. Auroras Encore had never won a race before the Grand National, which made his victory even more remarkable.
In the Kentucky Derby, the biggest long-shot win was in 1945, when Hoop Jr. won the race at odds of 100/1. Again, Hoop Jr. had never won a race before the Kentucky Derby, making his victory even more amazing.
More recently, in 2018, Justify won the Kentucky Derby at odds of 6/1. This was an impressive feat considering that Justify had only had three races before the Kentucky Derby.
The Role of the Jockey
It is often said that the jockey plays an important role in the success of a horse. This is certainly true when it comes to winning at long odds. The jockey must be able to guide the horse through a race, no matter how long the odds are.
Jockeys must be able to read a race, anticipate how the race will unfold, and make the right decisions at the right times. A jockey is also responsible for the horse’s preparation and should be aware of any injuries or illnesses that the horse may have.
Conclusion
The biggest odds that a horse has won at are 100/1, which was achieved by Mon Mome in the 1999 Grand National. Other notable long-shot wins include Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National at odds of 25/1 and Justify in the 2018 Kentucky Derby at odds of 6/1.
It is clear that the success of a horse at long odds is largely down to the skill of the jockey. A jockey must be able to read a race and make the right decisions at the right times. This is why jockeys are so important in horse racing and why they are often the difference between winning and losing at long odds.