There’s never a dull moment in the world of horseracing. While the odds are generally solid predictions that bettors can place their money on comfortably, a turn in events is always a possibility and looking back in history, there are many underdog stories where horses have defied the odds and left the jaws of spectators and punters on the floor. If you’re a betting man make sure you see horse racing tips for a little helping hand.
In this article, we will mention 5 such stories where humble horses who usually kept to the back of the line made great strides to beat the odds and cross the finish line at first place.
- Mine that Bird
Whether you are a horse racing fan or not, when a competitor faces 50-1 odds and actually wins, then then it’s worth dropping your jaw in awe.
This is exactly what happened at the Kentucky Derby in 2009 when humble horse Mine that Bird decided to explode on the track to overcome a 19-horse field and finish at an unpredicted first place. It’s worthy to note that Mine that Bird never won another race again, making this even more of an underdog story.
- Giacomo
Giacomo had spectators and bettors in a stir in 2005 when he defied the odds and moved from last place to first place in just a few seconds. Little did the horse know that this burst of energy would have the crowds in an uproar with punters being left out of pocket. Similar to Mine that Bird, Giacomo also had odds listed at 50-1 (but with a lower pay-out). During this event, this infamous racehorse created the third biggest upset noted in the history of the Kentucky Derby.
- Charismatic
Living up to his namesake, this racehorse certainly created a charismatic event when he beat the odds at 31-1. To add more intrigue to this story, the once humble horse went ahead to win the Preakness shortly after. Unfortunately, Charismatic’s winning streak was soon brought to a sad end when the racehorse suffered from a leg fracture during the Belmont meeting.
- Gallahadion
This story dates way back to 1940 when Gallahadion decided to defy the odds at 36-1. The racehorse had a track record for terrible runs in previous races, so when he burst through the finish line at first place, onlookers were stumped. Some might say that he had a point to prove that day. Sufficed to say, many bettors walked out empty-handed after the race while those who supported Gallahadion out of passion made the true win.
- Donerail
Probably the most famous racehorses of all time, Donerail took first place at the 1913 Kentucky Derby by with odds at an unbelievable 91-1! Close to the final stretch, he decided to rev his “engine” and in just a few strides he took the leading place. To date, no other horse has defied such high odds. Donerail continued to be a popular name in the industry.
