western australia

The horse that didn't want to win

Trotting race in Turku, Finland

@JudyEv (326432)

Rockingham, Australia

April 25, 2016 7:21pm CST

I wrote a discussion about a jockey dying during a race and it reminded me of a story I heard about a trotting race held in my home town in Western Australia probably during the 1950s or 60s. One of the local lads turned 21 on the night of the trot meeting. He was driving a horse in one of the races and the other local drivers decided it would be nice if they let him win the race seeing it was his birthday. When the horses came into the straight on the last lap, the lad's horse was running second but try as he might, the driver couldn't make him pass the leading horse. The only way the horse was going to win was if the driver of the leader fell out of his spider (cart) so disqualifying himself from the place-getters. This he did. There was a protest but this was dismissed. Only now, some 60 odd years later, has the chief steward confessed to having had money on the boy's horse. Probably most of the other drivers had bet on the boy's horse too. No doubt this created a furore at the time but so far on, I find it very funny that a well-laid plan went awry because one horse wouldn't pass another. I'm sure the drivers never thought of that scenario.

25 people like this

25 responses

@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

26 Apr 16

What a great story Judy. It reminds me of my husband's first ride in a race. His father was riding in the same race and created such havoc amongst all the other horses, so that my husband was able to win.

5 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

Haha. That is funny too. Aren't parents great? Was that a steeplechase too? It would be easier to upset horses in a jumps race than over the flat I would think. Was there a protest?

2 people like this

@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

26 Apr 16

@JudyEv It was a hurdle race, and in those days the rules were very sketchy to say the least. His father just said that he'd accidentally done it and there were no cameras to prove differently. It was nearly 70 years ago.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Apr 16

@jaboUK There were lots of stories of a similar nature I'm sure. Australia had many outback tracks which were very primitive. There are stories of corners being cut or one jockey grabbing another's leg or the reins, all on the far side of the track where no-one could see what was going on.

1 person likes this

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61047)

• United States

26 Apr 16

That is too funny who would have thought a horse would refuse to pass!! Lol

5 people like this

@gudheart (12659)

•

26 Apr 16

I know right!! I think the horse wanted to protest for being used as a race horse.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

@gudheart Maybe he did! He certainly didn't want to win.

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

It was probably the only thing they didn't think of!

1 person likes this

@jstory07 (134752)

• Roseburg, Oregon

26 Apr 16

They probably never thought about it. But the end happened like it should.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

They meant well didn't they? Just that it backfired a bit. :)

@DianneN (247219)

• United States

26 Apr 16

Money always wins out.

3 people like this

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@DianneN (247219)

• United States

26 Apr 16

@JudyEv Definitely!!!!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

It started off as a nice gesture but if it's planned that the boy is going to win, you'd all want to put money on it.

2 people like this

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@acelawrites (19273)

• Philippines

26 Apr 16

So interesting. I wish I had watch a horse race when we were living near a horse race track. I always am interested to see how it was conducted then.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

I like to stand where I can hear the horses' hooves. It is very exciting.

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

26 Apr 16

I know horse racing is huge down under. I have seen the movies Phar Lap and The Cup.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

We have a lot of equestrian sports. The weather is mostly very good too I guess. Phar Lap was a great film.

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

27 Apr 16

Horses are definitely not dumb animals!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Apr 16

It was all very well for the drivers to have it worked out but no-one consulted the horse!

1 person likes this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

27 Apr 16

lol, i bet they didn't :) that was mighty nice'f 'em to throw that race from one stand point. no doubt 'such didn't go o'er so well with those who bet 'gainst 'em, lol.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Apr 16

The best-laid plans of mice and men...

1 person likes this

@PainsOnSlate (21854)

• Canada

28 Apr 16

wow what a story. Gambling on your own race must be against the law now. Funny story. I'm glad the kid won!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Apr 16

It was a bit more of an effort than they thought!

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (307744)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

26 Apr 16

It would be interesting to look into the horse's mind. I bet he was surprised to win as well.

1 person likes this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (307744)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

27 Apr 16

@JudyEv That would have been an interesting race to watch. I'm sure it left a lot of people puzzled in the stands when the person ejected himself from the buggy so the other horse could win.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Apr 16

@just4him He took a big risk I think. Many have been hurt badly when this happens. They get run over by the horses following etc.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Apr 16

I guess he was! He probably still followed the other horse over the line but because the driver had evacuated his seat

he would have been placed first.

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@sgbrown (1638)

• United States

26 Apr 16

That is what they get for cheating. At first you think that they are doing it to be nice to the boy on this birthday but ultimately it was for the money. Shame, shame!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

They were doing it to be nice but once you know the winner you'd be bound to put some money on it. But it backfired badly.

1 person likes this

@teamfreak16 (43419)

• Denver, Colorado

26 Apr 16

He should have dragged his feet like he was water skiing!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

He took a bit of a risk bailing out. They often get hurt badly when that happens.

1 person likes this

@BettyB (4117)

• Summerville, South Carolina

26 Apr 16

At first I thought they were just being nice, but money was at the bottom of it. Cute story.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

They were just being nice but once you know who's going to win a race of course you'd put money on it. :)

1 person likes this

•

26 Apr 16

I Think Horse had no mercy for his jocky.....

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Apr 16

And I think you are right!

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (459742)

• Switzerland

26 Apr 16

This is an interesting story Judy, I am sure nobody thought of that scenario.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

It probably seemed a very simple thing for them to do. But they were well and truly wrong.

1 person likes this

@ison_1 (1240)

•

26 Apr 16

hahaha...you couldn't make it up! :)

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

I think it is funny. They try to let the birthday boy have a win and all this stuff happens.

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

26 Apr 16

horse was like, nope, totally not cheating with ya'll

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Apr 16

The guys thought they had it all worked out but they forgot to tell the horse!

1 person likes this

@Lucky15 (37346)

• Philippines

26 Apr 16

Money money money...sometimes.not so.funny ;(

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

The driver who fell out of the cart was very lucky not to hurt himself.

1 person likes this

@AnneEJ (4917)

• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec

26 Apr 16

That is a very interesting story. Thank you for sharing. Maybe the horse was smarter than the guys who did the planning.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

It backfired on them didn't it?

1 person likes this

destimona safrina

@destimona (1910)

• Luxembourg, Luxembourg

26 Apr 16

Great story Judy.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326432)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 16

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm sure it's been laughed over lots of times.