Equestrian
Add news
News

Horses make fools of men

0 7

Horse racing is a fine and noble sport. Borne of kingdoms and royalty, involving the richest and most distinguished participants who pitted their finest thoroughbreds against eachother as a show of supremacy and quest for glory. Nothing is more magnificent than the thoroughbred and to triumph over adversaries, the most sought after challenge of the greatest of men.

Yet thoroughbreds are mere animals, susceptible to all the afflictions of living beings, illness, mood, aches, all factors that can impact even the finest of horses.

Not to mention circumstance, human error, the elements, even sheer misfortune can topple the most celebrated champion.

The element of risk and triumph over adversity is the quality that engenders horse racing as the most entertaining and spectacular of all sports. 

Despite the overwhelming odds, there are rare moments where champions rise to achieve the ultimate triumph. Among the vast sea of failures, such exploits rise all the more spectacular and phenomenal, lifting the spirits of nations and melting the hearts of even the most hardened men.

Kingston Town can’t win

Kingston Town, a shimmering black son of Bletchingly, a champion already, having won two of the country’s championship finales, returned once more to conquer the race of legends. Hard enough to win one of these races, set aside for champions, winning three had never been achieved, not even by turf heroes like Phar Lap, Bernborough or Tulloch. Three Cox Plates was a seat reserved for immortals.

But Kingston Town was already in rarified air.

The track was bulging with adoring crowds who sent out their legend as the unbackable favourite. Like other forms of online gambling, horse racing is a popular outlet for the Australian punter. As for many champions throughout history, bets were placed not to win the paltry dividend but to be a part of it, a part of history.

At the turn out of the straight the first time, the champion had landed about 7th midfield. Not traveling comfortably, punters were nonetheless satisfied that he could ping from there. Yet with a mile to go, a nervousness rumbled through the crowd. The horse was visibly struggling. Jockey Peter Cook noticeably sitting lower, urging his steed to hold his place midfield. Not the look of a horse with abundant potential energy.

The champ was able to settle for a furlong or two as the pace slowed at the 1200m. However, by the 600m mark Kingston Town was floundering under hard riding from Cook. The racecaller was concerned. Then, those words famously uttered from legendary racecaller Bill Collins, a man of vast experience and stature in the game, “Kingston Town can’t win”. It was meant to soften the blow for punters as early as possible. Why endure the any more pain of a disappointing loss when the outcome was known 400m out.

He might win yet the champ

Attention turned to the crack 3YO Grosvenor, who the following week won the Derby by a long margin. My Axeman took the lead from Fearless Pride in the straight but Grosvenor was coming with a sustained run. Grosvenor and Kingston Town flashing. “he might win yet the champ.

It was a cry of resignation from Bill Collins. Questioning why we ever doubted an immortal thoroughbred. “he might win yet the champ”. It was a collective bow at the hooves of greatness.

The noise was deafening. No other track in the country, if not the world, has such an atmosphere as the Moonee Valley racecourse on Cox Plate day. Every year, sandwiched perfectly between the Caulfield and the Melbourne Cups, a tsunami of emotion bellows from this amphitheatre of sport.

Grosvenor took the lead, oh Kingston Town’s swamping them. What a run. Kingston Town wins it a neck to Grosvenor.

In this epic and famous race, Kingston Town became the first horse in history to win 3 Cox Plates, the weight-for-age championship of Australia and New Zealand. He has since been surpassed by the phenomenal Winx who won 4 Plates but his legendary status forever holds true. It is said that many betting tickets were not cashed that day but pasted firmly in the scrap books of time.

Champions do the impossible

Why do we doubt the ability of champions to do the impossible. Who doubted Lonhro’s ability to rise off the canvas and win the Australian Cup. Whoever doubted the great Northerly in lumbering the huge weight to win the Caulfield Cup. Chautauqua in his many incredible last-gasp victories.

Champions thoroughbreds indeed make fools of men.

Загрузка...

Comments

Комментарии для сайта Cackle
Загрузка...

More news:

Read on Sportsweek.org:

Tonkawood Farm
Tonkawood Farm
The Shire Horse Society

Other sports

Sponsored