There is an English phrase that goes ‘hindsight is 20/20’
Things and events are always more apparent when we look back at them. Sadly, short of turning back the hands of time, we are often left with regrets. Well, for the optimists, it is a case of lessons learned.
That is particularly true when it comes to horse races and gamers’ decisions. History is fraught with incredible moments when racing outcomes left punters wishing they could have been there and aggressively played the stakes differently.
Here are some of the historical upsets in horse races that undoubtedly left punters biting their knuckles in pining lamentations and, in some cases, regret.
Grand National, 1928
William Dutton was an amateur jockey participating in a global horse racing sensation, the Grand National horse race in Liverpool, England.
Just before the race began, one of William's buddies called out in jest, saying, “Billy boy, you'll only win if all the others fall!”
And fall they did! All 41 of them, leaving Dutton's Tipperary Tim as the first horse to cross the finish line.
Due to the misty and muddy conditions in the arena, all the 41 other competitors slipped and fell.
Although some competitors nonetheless got back up and attempted to finish the race, they proved to be a little too late, leaving amateur Dutton and his trusty Tim to take the 1928 Grand National title.
Kentucky Derby, 1953
Native Dancer (a.k.a the White Ghost) was an American thoroughbred who dominated the news and television broadcasts due to his impressive wins and performance.
According to the Blood-Horse Magazine, the stud is ranked 7th in the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century.
However, one fine morning in February 1953, Native Dancer, who was 3-years old, faced off against an unexpected rival- the 2-year old Dark Star.
Although Native Dancer appeared to have the odds stacked in his favor at the beginning of the race, Dark Star soon set a blistering pace leaving the seasoned 3-year old struggling to keep up.
While he put up a good fight, Native Dancer still finished a head short of Dark Star’s unexpected lead.
Kentucky Derby, 2019
Fast forward to more recent times, the 2019 Kentucky Derby once again witnessed another shocking upset when Country Horse won the race following the disqualification of Maximum Security, who was a popular favorite.
Even more shocking is that the disqualification came right after Maximum Security had crossed the finish line in the first position ahead of Country Horse.
However, following a complaint lodged by Flavien Pratt, a jockey, the leading horse was dispossessed of that win. That was due to its interference with other horses during the race, which had resulted in a near spill.
It was an unexpected result since it was the first winner disqualification in Kentucky Derby's 144-year history.
To sum up:
Like most competitions, horse racing is as thrilling as it is nerve-wracking. For punters looking for an adrenaline rush, they are worth playing.
Most of the upsets in sports are often unforeseeable and form part of the excitement.
Nonetheless, those looking for mild enjoyment or are unwilling to enjoy the self-induced high octane adrenaline rush that comes with race bets can still opt for 3D slot Games.
These are available in brick-and-mortar casinos and online gaming sites. Compared to the racing bets, slot games require little background knowledge and can be played by gaming newbies and veterans alike.
