The shock of the century: how on earth was the brilliant Brigadier beaten?

To fully appreciate the magnitude of the feat, we must first relive what happened prior to August 15, 1972. Only then can you understand why we are still shaking our heads in disbelief 48 years later.

Brigadier Gerard was not supposed to be anything out of the ordinary. He was unfashionably bred, being out of Sussex Stakes winner Queen's Hussar and La Paiva, a daughter of Prince Chevalier who never won a race of any sort. There were few clues about the future from his page.

The first clue arrived on Brigadier Gerard's debut in late June 1970 at Newbury when he won the Berkshire Stakes. There were only five runners over the minimum trip, but the manner in which he dismantled odds-on favourite Young And Foolish, who had previously won a Newmarket maiden, raised the odd eyebrow. The official winning distance was five lengths, it could have been double that had jockey Joe Mercer so wished. Owners John and Jean Hislop could start dreaming.