When you consider how many races take place all over the country each year, it’s surprising how little actually goes wrong. The mechanics of racing are in fact what the tango tanned US president might call a ‘well oiled machine’, but much in the same way that such proclamations can immediately be followed by disaster (via tempting fate), in racing things don’t always go entirely to plan.
‘Bring a Horse’
When many of us head to a party we tend to bring a bottle. One inebriated racing fan in Kentucky though, instead decided to bring a horse instead – or at least steal a ride on one. Filled with dutch courage (and beer) a tipsy 24 year old Michael Wells-Rody, decided to get in on the action at the exciting, big money, Breeder’s cup event at Chuchill Downs. He grabbed a horse and made it all the way through restricted areas and to the track entrance. He was arrested soon after. I tend to be happy with a welcome bonus – you can find the best horse racing offer on horseracingbetting.co.uk – when I’m having a dabble on a race, whereas this guy apparently wanted to personally ride the winner.
He was described by Kentucky police as “manifestly under the influence of alcoholic beverages”which makes it sound like they were busy leafing through their thesaurus while we was sleeping off his hangover in a cell.
‘The Wrong Horse’
While a drunken reveller deciding he’s a champion jockey and deciding to climb onboard a horse is unusual, finding out the horse itself is an imposter is a real headscratcher. In July of last year gleeful on course punters at Great Yarmouth were happily collecting their winnings when 50-1 shot Mandarin Princess breezed to victory in the 6 furlong novice auction stakes for juveniles (beating the 4-6 favourite, Fyre Cay, in the process). However, after the weigh in, it became clear that the two year old horse was in fact it’s three year old stablemate Millie’s Kiss, who was due to run later that day. Both of the horses are brown fillies, and Trainer Charlie McBridge, who had placed a ‘fun bet’ of £10 each way described the event as ‘a genuine mistake’. As it occured after the weigh in, the result on course couldn’t be ammended. McBride was fined £1500.
Bizarrely a similar incident happened in Southwell in January of this year, when the Ivan Furtado (no relation to Nelly) trained African Trader was discovered to be stablemate Scribner Creek. This wasn’t discovered until days later! Take your time.
‘Man vs Horse’
Hot off the press, and touched on recently (via the twitter video posted previously!), is the story of young jockey Evan Daley, who earlier this month decided to go for an on-course jog at the the Navan, Republic of Ireland racecourse to ‘loosen up’. He certainly almost got his wish, in that a veritable stampede of horses launched over a fench just centimeters away from him. He had overlooked the fact that a two mile novice hurdle race was currently underway, something that had escaped his notice as he was listenign to music on his earphones. Thankfully for him (and his last second swerve) he was entirely unscathed, but this was certainly a dangerous situation. A lesson learned perhaps?