The five most incredible rides in international racing history
JOCKEYS certainly earn their keep on race day and often cop unwarranted backlash from disgruntled punters, but on this occasion we look at the jockeys that pulled off the impossible.
We see good rides each and every week, and that can often be the difference between a winning and losing bet. We have found five of the best rides of all time where the jockey has guided their runner from what seemed an unlikely position.
Not every horse was able to win these races, but they were highly entertaining and required plenty of skill.
We start in the U.K where amazing feats on the track are quite often seen, but what made the story of Aidan Coleman and See The World even better was that some genius punter was able to make big money off the run.
#1 – Aidan Coleman aboard See The World
Aidan Coleman was travelling well aboard See The World in the National Hunt Flat race at Wincaton, but it all went pear-shaped in the straight there appeared to be a gear malfunction and See The World all but came to a stop, but Coleman came back to scale and said the horse was simply hanging.
“He just started hanging and I don’t know why,” Coleman said. “I had my stick in my right hand as I was going in and out of the wings down the back for the best ground and, coming to the bend, he just started to hang and I didn’t have time to pull my stick through.
“When I got him back in he was very professional but for a furlong, he just lost his head.”
The commentator had written See The World off in the straight, but was left eating his words as See The World stormed back into contention on the rain-affected track.
“He’s running off the track, he’s got issues and that is the end of that,” said commentator David Fitzgerald.
Some punters made good money off See The World, which drifted out to 999/1 in the live markets. A total of 75 pounds was invested at a range of triple-figure odds, giving punters a race they’ll never forget.
#2 – The miracle in India
Firstly, we don’t blame you for not having an interest in Indian racing, but we found this gem of a ride which didn’t end in victory, but the superb horsemanship must be admired.
We can’t confirm the name of the jockey, nor the track, nor anything really, but as you’ll see below, the ride should be commended and how he stayed on we have no idea.
Note: watch the horse in front.
Give that man a beer.
#3 – Tony McCoy wins laughable jumps race
We return to the U.K where one Tony McCoy, one of the world’s greatest ever jockeys, pulled off what can only be described as a laughable win at Southwell.
The champion jockey was dislodged from his horse during the run, but because the opposition didn’t seem too keen on running either, he remounted and was able to finish the race.
Horses were falling and refusing to jump left, right and centre. They have since banned remounting and it’s not hard to see why.
Make no mistake, this isn’t one of the finest rides you’ll ever see, but it’s highly entertaining.
#4 – Nate Hubbard hangs on for dear life
You’re not meant to have rides like this in your first year of riding, but for Nate Hubbard it’s a ride which made the headline reels in 1989.
The old apprentice masters used to tell their jockeys to hold on for all their worth, which is exactly what the young hoop did in sloppy conditions.
Only in America right?
“I thought about dropping off, then I looked back and saw the rest of the horses and I didn’t want to get run over,” said Hubbard.
The unconfirmed reports suggest that Hubbard is now steering trucks in Texas. Here’s hoping he has a good trip on things in his new profession.
#5 – Danny Mullins to the rescue
So it appears as though all the action happens overseas, but we’ve featured another great feat of horsemanship and all round human niceness.
Jockey Jody McGarvey was struggling to stay on his horse after mistiming a jump, but fellow jockey Danny Mullins noticed the trouble and helped him back into the saddle.
In this situation the health and safety of a fellow rider trumps that of winning the race, and we’d struggle to find anyone who’d disagree with that.
Hats off to you Danny Mullins.