It is right up there with the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. With those prestigious
events now a distant memory this year, it is the Breeders’ Cup that is making all the headlines
and gaining the attention of everyone in the racing world. Once again scheduled over two days
at the end of October, it is sure to provide us with a whole host of memorable moments.
Even though the Breeders’ Cup has only been around since 1984, it has become one of the
most important meetings on the calendar and the perfect way to round off the year of North
American thoroughbred racing. It attracts all the best American horses and jockeys, as well as
those from further afield. There is no doubt that Breeders’ Cup betting will be as busy as ever
this year.
Racing fans love to see the top racing talent performing, but the Breeders’ Cup has thrown up
some more surprising moments over the years. Horse racing is nothing if not dull, and there
have been shocks and successful long shots throughout the Breeders’ Cup’s relatively short
history. Here are some of the most memorable.
Alphabet Soup, 1996 Classic
Cigar was one of the most successful and well-loved horses of the mid-1990s. A 16-race
winning streak in 1995 and into 1996 had firmly placed the horse in the hearts of all race-goers,
and it was expected that a glittering career would come to a victorious end at the Classic hosted
for the first time at Woodbine in Toronto.
But Alphabet Soup would end up ruining the retirement party, even though jockey Jerry Bailey
positioned Cigar as normal throughout the race. Four horses made a break at the end, with
Alphabet Soup’s victory only confirmed by way of a photo finish. The 19-1 outsider had
surprised everyone, with Cigar having to make do with being named Horse of the Year instead.
Volponi, 2002 Classic
The 12-horse field for the 2002 Classic was full of talent and prestige. War Emblem had won
both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes that year, and Jockey Club Gold Cup
winner Hawk Wing was also in the running. But a 43-1 longshot ended up winning the race and
going down in horse racing history in the process.
It would be the biggest winner of Hall of Fame trainer P.G. Johnson’s career, and the fact that
Volponi had gone two-for-seven in the races prior to this meeting meant that no one even saw it
coming. Volponi had stayed back throughout the majority of the race but made its move down
the rail and ultimately finished clear by an incredible six and a half lengths.
Bar of Gold, 2017 Filly and Mare Sprint
Many of the biggest upsets in the history of the Breeders’ Cup come at the expense of some of
the most well-loved horses in the sport. Unique Bella was one such horse, a heavily favored
champion in the 2017 Filly and Mare Sprint, who had won her previous five starts by a
combined 32 and a half lengths,
Bar of Gold, on the other hand, was not expected to be in the running. She had thoroughly
earned her place in the 13-horse field, but was not expected to feature prominently, being priced
at 66-1. Unique Bella was her own worst enemy, though, racing off at a fast pace and burning
out by the time the stretch came around. Bar of Gold used the pace to her advantage and won
by a nose in what turned out to be the final race of her career.
Court Vision, 2011 Mile
Even though he didn’t have the highest odds of a winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Court
Vision’s triumph in 2011 is arguably the greatest upset in the history of the event. Again, that is
more down to the horse he beat being such an overwhelming favorite. Goldikova had won the
previous three Miles and was expected to cruise to victory yet again.
Court Vision was no slouch, but he had not won a race since 2010 and went unplaced in the
four races before this one in 2011. Goldikova had been bottled in until near the end before breaking for the front, but she was completely surprised by a surging Court Vision, who managed to stay in front of Turallure by a nose to claim the million-dollar prize.
Arcangues, 1993 Classic
The actual biggest upset in Breeders’ Cup history, according to the betting odds, is Arcangues’
triumph in the 1993 classic. Priced at an eye-watering 133-1, his victory resulted in a record-
setting payout for the delirious punters who had been brave – or foolish – enough to back the
long shot.
Everything was against Arcangues ever going down in history in this manner, thanks to a
French jockey with little understanding of English, riding a horse that had never raced on the
surface, and was barely known outside of Europe. Arcangues – and jockey, Jerry Bailey –
played the race to perfection, keeping up with the favorites before surging home down the
stretch in front of a disbelieving public. It was a result that shocked the horse racing world and a
winning price that is unlikely ever to be topped.
