3 of the Biggest Shocks in Horse Racing History

There is a reason that horse racing is the best sport in the world. Not the packed stadiums, punters wheeling away in delight as the third horse in their treble lands, or indeed not the production of some of the greatest sportsmen and women in history. The reason this is the sport we love is that no sport produces shocks quite like it.

Horse racing is the most bet on sport in the world – punters flock from far and wide to stake ranging sums of cash on their NAP to win in some of the world’s most prestigious races. Indeed, the betting market has become so competitive that punters are always looking for value – be it enhanced each way placements, sports betting in the UK, or indeed an enhanced price boost for a showpiece event. And the reason the betting market is so competitive, is because the sport continues to throw up shocks like these 3 listed below.

Cue Card – 2010

One of the greatest National Hunt horses in history, Cue Card stormed to fame in the 2010 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Sent off a general 40/1 for success, he’d only raced once previously and was one of the great outsiders of the field.

Beating 3/1 favourite, Shot From The Hip, Cue Card stormed up the infamous Cheltenham Hill to roar to success – with punters who took the 40/1 wheeling away in delight.

Norton’s Coin

The Gold Cup is the showpiece event of the Cheltenham Festival, attracting millions of viewers from around the globe. Furthermore, it is also the single most bet on event outside the Grand National. In order to win it, stamina, class, quality and jumping brilliance are all required – something which 100/1 shot Norton’s Coin had in abundance when winning the event in 1990.

A performance fit for the finest staying event in the world, Norton’s Coin defying odds of 100/1 will forever be remembered.

Roksana

Not quite the 100/1 price that Norton’s Coin defied, but a hefty 50/1 – what made Dan Skelton’s mare’s success in the 2109 Mares Hurdle was the way that the race was won. Benie Des Dieux was trading at 1.01 on the exchanges in running and was seemingly set for guaranteed success in the race, before disaster struck. Cruising on the bridle, she fell at the last, and from nowhere appeared a 50/1 outsider who stormed up the hill to win the showpiece event. Quite the finish.