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'If that wins I'll streak around Kelso naked' - the 250-1 winner recalled

Kelso: pitchfork was left in a dangerous position
Kelso: the scene of Britain's biggest-priced winner 30 years ago on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick

Saturday marks 30 years since Equinoctial wrote himself into history by becoming the only 250-1 winner in the history of British racing.

And the Racing Post has marked the occasion by speaking to many of the key players, including jockey Andy Heywood, to get the inside story on how this astonishing victory was pulled off for a feature in Sunday's newspaper.

The Post's man on duty at the time was Scottish reporter Gordon Brown, one of whose jobs was to give a tipping talk before racing to those in the hospitality boxes.

"A lady who fancied Equinoctial asked me what I thought of its chances," Brown recalled this week. "I said, 'madam, if that wins I will streak around Kelso naked.' I'm pretty sure she didn't back it, and I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to avoid a woman swinging a handbag at me."


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The poor lady in question wasn't the only person with reason to curse not backing Equinoctial.

Trevor Glass, who was assistant to Equinoctial's trainer Norman Miller and now assists another permit-holder, Ray Craggs, normally took all of Miller's horses to the races but stayed at home this time.

"Norman would give me £10 for dinner money when I went racing and I'd always put it on our runner," Glass said wistfully. "Because I didn't go, I never had a penny on."

Glass added: "It was a big deal at the time, what with those odds. It was a magic moment. You never really thought something like that could happen to us."

Get the incredible inside story of Britain's biggest-priced winner in the Big Read, available to members from 6pm on Saturday or in Sunday's Racing Post newspaper. Join Members' Club here


Already a member? Read our other brilliant Big Reads:

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Derek Thompson: I don't know why I did it but now people say I'm Alan Partridge

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Enable: 'You have to treat her like a normal horse, but of course she isn't'

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Nijinsky: how the Triple Crown made him a legend – but also caused his downfall

David Elsworth: 'I don't try to be cantankerous, I am just cantankerous!'

Gay Kelleway: 'Please tell me how to sell my product – I've run out of ideas'

Lizzie Kelly: 'It was ruining my day, talking utter rubbish about being a girl'


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Julian MuscatFeatures writer

Published on 20 November 2020inNews

Last updated 11:57, 20 November 2020

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