Longest shots to ever win including at Saratoga

Everyone loves a long shot. I hate betting favorites of course the last time I won was 2008 but hey I had fun. We are live at the track tomorrow and will again be joined by Top trainer Gary Contessa. Here are the longest shots that have ever won a race…

From AmWager…

THE KENTUCKY DERBY OF 1913
In 1913, a thoroughbred by the name of Donerail pulled the biggest Kentucky Derby upset of the century. This American-breed racehorse set a track record in completing the 1-1/4 mile race in 2:04 4/5. Going off at 91-1 odds, Donerail’s win still stands as the biggest long shot victory in the history of the Derby.

TRAVERS STAKES OF 1930
In 1930, Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox was upset at Saratoga for the Travers Stakes, a race that was as prestigious as the Triple Crown races and even more so historic. Gallant Fox lost to a horse with 99-1 odds by the name of Jim Dandy, who now has a race at Saratoga named after him, which is a prep race for the Travers.

KENTUCKY DERBY OF 1971
Early RacesIn the spring of 1971, Canonero II was shipped to Louisville, Kentucky for the big race. Dismissed as a horse that did not belong in such elite company, Canonero II was listed at the bottom of the pack as part of a six-horse mutual wagering bet. In the Derby’s 20-horse field, Canonero II shocked everyone by coming from 18th place to win easily by 3-3/4 lengths. Had people been asked to bet on him alone, this foreign raised horse might have broken the track record set in 1913.

WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES OF 1973
Reigning American Champion and fan favorite, Secretariat finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes in 1973. Unbeknownst to fans, Secretariat contracted a minor illness just before the Wood. As a result, Secretariat lost his only defeat since his very first race to his stablemate, Angle Light in April of 1973.

SARATOGA STANDARDBRED TRACK OF 1980
horse racingNiatross had never lost in 19 career pacing races before arriving at Saratoga. After holding the lead entering the top of the stretch, Niatross started falling back, eventually jumping the rail and tumbling into the infield, shocking the crowd. Luckily he was not hurt, but he did suffer his first career defeat to Trenton Time in July of 1980.

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC OF 1993
Arcangues had only raced on grass in Europe before competing on the dirt track at Santa Anita Park in California for the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic. With the odds of 133-1, the horse caught Bertrando in the homestretch to score the biggest upset in Breeders’ Cup history. Arcangues’ $269.20 payoff for a two dollar wager still remains a Breeders’ Cup record today.

STANDFORD MEMORIAL STAKES OF 1913
Finally, the greatest horse racing upset of all time took place at Saratoga in 1913. One of the most notorious racehorses, Man o’ War, suffered his only career loss at the Sanford Memorial Stakes. According to race horsing history, Man o’ War was still circling behind the starting line when the barrier was raised. While he came close to winning, he still lost by half a length to a horse named Upset, whose name is frequently used whenever a surprise victory occurs in any sporting event to date.