So what is that one bet that you remember fondly for going so badly? It could be a horse refusing to run, a horse whipping around at the start, or perhaps the one time a great horse underperformed. It could be backing a horse that pulled up in a bumper, or a sprinter who finished tailed off. Two that come to my mind are - Mad Moose - exceptionally talented, but an absolute monkey of the highest level. He had more Rs to his name than a scene in the Life of Brian, but the one that got me was the Listed race at York on the flat. He showed a love for the game after his fun and games over NH obstacles and then he blatantly played the fool at relatively well supported odds. Sariska - Another talented horse, but that didn't stop her from deciding to make a fool of all.
Goshen in the Triumph Hurdle Annie Power in the mares Hurdle 2015 - I had a ten quid ante post yankee on 4 Mullins horses (Douvan supreme, Un de Sceaux Arkle, Faugheen Champ Hurdle and Annie Power mares hurdle) - first 3 won and I needed Annie Power for €1500 profit - the rest, as they say, is history.
Oh they are very memorable for the other end of things, some races you remember for the farce of it (I think I got a justice refund for both mentioned), but then you get those rare races where Betfair would be trading at 1.01. I can't say I remember being on the receiving end of too many of them, my horses are normally out the back at that point
Sue Smith has a notorious mule that often refused to race ,but when it did it always used to win , temperament in spades , you had to back it them days before the off ,when it stood there , you lost your dough , this was often priced in to it ,my memory ain't recalling its name atm ,if I wake in the night I'll post it on here
I was once given a strong tip from a stable lass whilst at a race meeting. This was n unraced 2yo, bred in the purple; Can't remember the name of hand but she said after it wins on debut it will always be odds for subsequent races. I waited for the day it made it's debut and took the afternoon off work to get a bet on at a bookie shop. I drew out £250 to put on the nose and just got to one in time as they were at the post. To my disappointment it was odds on so I quickly wrote out a slip for £100 win and shoved it across the counter as they were "Off". Bloody thing was last inside the final furlong and never gave me a hope. I smiled at the lass behind the counter and said "Thank goodness I didn't put it all on" and off I went. I bought my wife some jewellery with the money I had kept in my pocket. The horse never won a race
Cue Card Gold Cup, 2016...!!! It was the first real time I had bought in to the Ante Post market and with all bets standing would have cleared £1400 off a Cue Card win. I am still convinced to this day that Paddy Brennan would have got Cue Card up to win, I think he's even said it in the press too. But I've thought about that race a lot since when any big bet goes down... So glad he went on to win a few more big races, but the Gold Cup of '26 was not to be... I like most people will always look at ole Ruby and Annie Power and why, Ruby, why...
Getabird in the supreme springs to mind, I was on at all kind of prices and obv was showing off a abit to people, I was certain he would winand he just absolutely bombed out!!
Goshen for me. I said on here it was my big bet of the meeting and I told everyone I knew it would win as it liked. I had a big smile of satisfaction as the machine eased clear....oh dear.
My father infected me with Dick Hernitis. I became really interested in Racing in 1967 and Hern had a fantastic year with 60 winners from a stable of 60 horses. I knew that in '66 he'd had a dire year with only 25 winners from a similar size stable. Unfortunately the equine virus that destroyed '66 came back in '68 and stayed in '69. He had a miserable time. For my whole school life I came home for dinner (at lunchtime) which must seem strange for kids today. My father also came home. On a Friday in 1969 my Dad was talking about 3 runners Hern had at Newbury. Think I'll do them in Cross Doubles and a treble, he said. He wasn't a big gambler and he said he'd do a 2/6 win Trixie. I came home from school that afternoon and walked into the betting shop (illegally) to listen to the last of the 3 races on Extel.. When I walked into the shop and looked up on the board I almost fell over. The first Hern runner, Brook Holiday's Harken, won at 33-1. The second runner, the Queen's filly Export, won at 5/2 and the betting sheet was up for the third race with Brook Holiday's 2yo debutant Highest Hope priced at 8-1. She started at that price and led all the way to win easily. I was thrilled. When my father came in my expectations were not met. When he had a good winning bet he always brought a gift home for Mum. There was no gift. He explained he didn't have time to go to the Betting shop so tried to ring through to his betting account but couldn't get through. His bus came so he got on and missed his winning bet. He took it as just one of those things (even though with a 33-1 winner it would have been a big win for him) and I learnt a lot from that. I remember it fondly because it was the turning point for Dick Hern. The bad days were about to end. The next year Harken won three good handicaps. Highest Hopes won 4 races and was rated the best 3yo staying filly in Europe, and a certain Brigadier came along.
I was working nights and coming to the end of my shift pattern, mate worked for Jewsons and was going to Cheltenham as the company sponsored, he phoned for some tips which I gave my opinion wished him luck and left it at that, this was 2005, as I'm getting ready for a kip he phoned too say someone had dropped out and did I fancy it? that was me suit on, down to the bank 500 extracted and off we went, 2nd race in and Im 100 win Thisthatantother 9/2 which duly obliged with me screaming at the top of my voice, next race here we go and I'm like.. this dosent get beat not by this lot not today, 600 and boldly backs Baracouda 6/5 for a cracking day. Coming up that hill Baracouda leads but right behind and closing was Inglis Drever who went on to win, Gutted I went straight back to the Guiness tent to drown my sorrows. End of the day got back home at around 9pm a very long emotional day with just over 100 left.
