When The Big Gambles Come Off!
We thought it might be interesting to take a look at the more obscure moments in the gambling world which have seen some of the craziest and weirdest gambles of all time bring home the money!
Are you ready ? Let us begin :-
Tony McCoy Keeps It In The Family
In a novice chase as Southwell, jockey Tony McCoy was dismayed when 8/11 favourite Family Business fell during the race. Sure that his chance of victory had gone, McCoy was making his way back to the stables when he heard news that the other 4 horses in the race had also fallen. Quick thinking McCoy then re-mounted Family Business, trotting home the only finisher in one of the strangest races of all time.
One hardened gambler in Australia chose to stake £5 at odds of 1,000/1 on Family Business to win, after the horse had fallen and McCoy had dismounted. This in-play bet sure paid off when the lucky gambler collected £5,000 for his £5 stake, but what about the poor soul who layed the bet, sure that he had £5 in the bag!
The Long Walk Home
In 1836 the famous St Leger race meeting was not quite as sophisticated as it is today, with no horse transport available and all horses having to be walked to race meetings, where ever they may be. However, when Lord George Bentinck decided to enter his champion Elis into the race the bookies were running scared until they realised that with just a few days to go before the race, Elis was still at the Goodwood stables many many miles away.
Confident that the horse would be in no fit shape to race, the bookies lengthened the odds on the early favourite, effectively deeming the horse as having no chance. Little did they know that Lord Bentinck had been working on the first horse carrier ever seen, hooking up a number of horses to the box containing the favourite.
After being pulled to the race course, Elis arrived in tip top shape, went off 7/2 second favourite and romped home. Lord Bentinck picked up a tidy amount, having taken the earlier odds when the horse had “no chance”.
More interesting gambles to follow……..