Irish 200/1 shot wins 1:40 at Taunton to become second longest priced winner in British racing history:

200/1 "Lights of Broadway" wins Taunton National Hunt

            Regular readers of this website will be aware that horse racing is rarely featured here.  However, exceptional stories demand to be reported.  The events of today's 1:40 race at Taunton were certainly exceptional.
            Pre-race favourite "Night Rose" was, as expected; leading the way in the 2M 3F "National Hunt" Novice's Hurdle and was well on course to prove the bookies right until it fell at the second last.
            Here is where the outsider (of the 12 horse field) took its chance.  At the final flight;  the six year-old 200/1 shot "Lights of Broadway"  (described by the Racing Post pre-race as:  "Decidely ordinary")  took the lead.  It managed to hold on to the finish line; becoming the longest odds winner a race anywhere in Britain or Ireland for over 18 months.  "Night Rose"  was trained by Joe Hughes out of the Lambourn yard.

Mark Grant saw his long shot home as winner

            The forecast paid an enormous £3,484stg for a £1 stake with ""Wishes and Stars" coming in second at 50/1 and "Fortuna Rose" at 33's completing the placers.  William Hill reported that one online punter backed this, though the stake was just 3p!  £10 each/way or £5 the win were the highest stakes with one punter winning £2,500 off a £10 stake on the winning horse.
            Only 109 punters across all William Hill outlets (including online) backed the winning nag, though William Hill spokesperson Kate Miller said:  "We are very pleased to have only paid out £30,000 because the stakes were so small."
           It's the (joint) second longest shot ever to win a race in Britain.  "Equinoctal" was the longest priced horse to win since records began; coming home at odds of 250/1 at Kelso back in 1990.