It’s hard to believe that 2019 is already drawing to a close. So far, it’s been yet another fantastic year for racing with more and more fans coming to the sport for some quality entertainment.
There’s still plenty of excellent race meetings left in the calendar of course. But while you’re waiting for massive horse races like the Welsh Grand National, it’s time to look back over some of the biggest horse racing moments of 2019.
Al Boum Photo triumphs at the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Festival always kicks the horse racing year in style, and 2019 featured no end of quality races. But as always it was the Cheltenham Gold Cup race that really caused the bookmakers no end of excitement. There’s a big list of UK betting sites here that always offer plenty of quality odds for horse races like next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. But what can we learn about this year’s instalment of this classic race?
This saw Al Boum Photo racing home to win at odds of 12-1. While credit must be given to the jockey Paul Townend, it was the first time that trainer Willie Mullins had managed to win this classic race. Mullins had previously finished in second place no less than six times at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and once Al Boum Photo triumphed by two-and-a-half lengths, there was barely a dry eye in the house.
If you’re thinking about going to next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, just remember that it can be very chilly. So be sure to get wrapped up warm in some suitably dapper racing fashion for this early spring racing extravaganza.
Tiger Roll succeeds again at the Grand National
Who said that lightning never strikes twice? Well, this is what happened at this year’s Grand National with Tiger Roll defying the critics to win the big race for the second successive year. Only the immortal Red Rum had managed to get back-to-back wins at the Grand National before, and many people thought that it would be too much for Tiger Roll.
The bookies clearly knew the potential of another Tiger Roll win as the horse was valued as the 4/1 favourite to win this race. While Magic of Light at 66/1 looked like it could cause a big upset, Tiger Roll pulled clear in style to win the race.
It should also be mentioned that it was third Grand National success for the horse’s trainer Gordon Elliott. So while the Grand National is famous for giving us plenty of massive surprises, just for once, this classic race played true to form.
Frankie Dettori wins big at Royal Ascot
Although Royal Ascot is usually known for its pomp and circumstance, this year it was all about the horse racing. Much of this can be put down to the racing excellence of Frankie Dettori who deservedly claimed all of the newspaper headlines this year.
This was because Dettori managed to help Stradivarius to a second successive Gold Cup triumph, and what made it all the more unlikely was the fact that the 48-year old jockey won the first four races on Ladies Day.
It capped the seventh time that Dettori had claimed the Gold Cup and once again marked him down as being one of the racing world’s all-time greats. While Stradivarius looked to be unable to break free of the pack, such was Dettori’s skill that the racehorse managed to get out towards the end of the race and triumphantly overtook the race leader Dee Ex Bee. Let’s home that the 2020 Royal Ascot Gold Cup manages to deliver another thrilling race like this.
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