A horse named Blowers made history in British horse racing by winning at the longest odds ever recorded. Trained by Nigel Hawke, a former Grand National-winning jockey, the five-year-old gelding had a lackluster track record prior to this remarkable victory.
Blowers had previously performed poorly in races, including a significant defeat in a point-to-point Flat race and being pulled up during his hurdles debut. Despite being a 200-1 underdog in his recent race at Exeter, with jockey James Best aboard, Blowers defied expectations and clinched a surprising victory over the favorite, On The Bayou.
The unexpected win by Blowers broke a longstanding record held since 1990 in Britain. Bookmaker Coral reported taking 82 bets on the outsider, with the largest bet being a modest £2 each-way single wager. John Hill from Coral expressed astonishment at the outcome, noting that the punters who believed in Blowers at 300-1 odds had a reason to celebrate.
Trainer Nigel Hawke praised the horse’s performance, highlighting Blowers’ potential despite his previous setbacks. Hawke explained that allowing Blowers to lead from the front in the race proved to be a winning strategy, emphasizing the importance of controlling the powerful horse.
Following the race, stewards investigated Blowers’ sudden improvement in form, accepting Hawke’s explanation that the horse’s better settling and more prominent riding position contributed to the unexpected victory.