In a year already packed with astonishing upsets on the turf, the most jaw-dropping moment of all unfolded at Exeter Racecourse on Thursday. A horse named Blowers, sent off at staggering odds of 300-1, galloped into the record books by becoming the longest-priced winner in the history of British racing.
A Record That Stood for 36 Years Toppled
The two-mile maiden hurdle, which began at 12.30pm, was not expected to generate headlines. However, the narrative was utterly rewritten as Blowers, under jockey James Best and trained by local Nigel Hawke from Tiverton, powered to a three-quarters of a length victory over the hot-favourite On The Bayou. The result drew gasps and shrieks of disbelief from the crowd, as the horse's starting price broke a record that had stood since November 1990. That mark was set by Equinoctial, who won at Kelso at odds of 250-1.
A Year of Shocks Culminates in History
This historic win continues an extraordinary period for monumental surprises in horse racing. In July, Ralph Beckett's Qirat won the Group One Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at 150-1. That record was short-lived, as Powerful Glory landed the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot in October as a 200-1 shot, on the same afternoon Cicero's Gift won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at 100-1. Blowers has now taken the phenomenon of the outsider to a completely new level.
Jockey's Last-Minute Call-Up to Fame
Speaking to Racing TV after the race, winning rider James Best revealed the remarkable story behind his mount. The ride was originally meant for Ella Herbison. Best received a fortuitous early morning call while on the M5. "It was Ella. She said: 'Do you want to ride one in the first at Exeter?'" Best explained. "Sadly, she got stuck in traffic and didn’t make her flight. Thank you to Ella for thinking of me and for Nigel and the owners to allow me to ride." The horse, named after the legendary cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, showed no fluke in his determined performance, sticking to his task to secure a truly historic victory.
