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Betting has always been an integral part of horse racing, an activity enjoyed by everyone from the casual observer to the die-hard racing fan. And it’s no wonder, because even the smallest and most uninformed bets can lead to some massive payouts when the stars align. While we can’t give you the secret to making a successful bet on the horses, we can celebrate some of the most impressive - and often unlikely - betting wins in the history of the sport. Here are our top five horse racing bets of all time.
The Grand National is probably the most famous racing event in the UK calendar, and in 2003 it was Mike Futter’s turn to win big. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the winning horse, Monty’s Pass, belonged to Futter’s own racing syndicate. Already a wealthy man, Futter owned six bingo halls in addition to Dee Racing, and that day he decided to back his own horse with impressive results.
Monty’s Pass netted more than a million for Futter and his associates that day, with the Irishman walking away at least £800,000 richer. This was not an accumulator win, but a number of bets on the same race via several different bookmakers. Futter’s payout was augmented by the hefty fee that he received for being the owner of the winning horse.
One of the most heartwarming and unlikely horse betting stories of all time involved an ordinary Yorkshireman who, in 2008, was the first punter to become an overnight millionaire at a high street bookie. Not only did Craggs win the life-changing amount from just a fifty pence accumulator bet, but it happened on his 60th birthday. The bet itself was actually worth £1.4 million, but, like many bookies, William Hill imposes a one million cap on these types of bets. The win was definitely more luck than judgement, as he chose the horses based on their names alone. These included the very apt Isn’t That Lucky and A Dream Come True - which it certainly was for Craggs that day.
We talk about life-changing wins, and there is no more appropriate example than Conor Murphy. In 2012 the 31-year-old Cork native was working as a stable-hand for trainer Nicky Henderson. At the Cheltenham Festival that year, Murphy backed five of the best horses trained by his boss across five races in an accumulator. The £50 bet had been placed several months previously with online bookie bet365.
All of Murphy’s picks came in, and while the payout could have been as much as £3 million, the bookmaker cut him off at a million. Even so, this was enough to help Murphy to achieve his life-long dream. He moved to America shortly thereafter, where he has worked as a successful horse trainer ever since. Finian’s Rainbow, one of the horses that won for Murphy at Cheltenham that year, enjoys his retirement at the stable that Murphy owns in Louisville, Kentucky.
Just a year before Murphy’s life-changer, Devon native Steve Whiteley had a surprising win at the races in Exeter. Whiteley had made a placepot bet for just £2 on a total of six horses with odds ranging from 2/1 to 16/1. Interviewed after his win, a dazed Whiteley admitted that he knew nothing about racing and was attending the races purely because of a free ticket promotion. The placepot is a pool bet run by gambling operator The Tote, which had reached a record £2 million at the time that Whiteley filled out his race ticket at random. The bookie made a few deductions, but the heating engineer still walked away with over £1.4 million - the biggest Tote payout of all time.
At the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, Paul Dean illustrated the value of an early cashout and netted £250,000 from a £5 accumulator. Dean was on track to win more than twice that amount, and it all hinged on favourite Envoi Allen winning the Marsh Novice’s Chase. Despite the good odds, the Stockton man must have had a premonition, because he chose to cash the bet out early. Offered £275,000 by Betfair to cash out before the race, Dean negotiated to take £250,000 if Envoi Allen lost and £300,000 if he won. Sure enough, the horse fell at the fourth fence and Dean narrowly avoided losing out on a small fortune.
Unlike unwitting punters such as Craggs and Whiteley, Dean admits to being a racing aficionado and studying the forms carefully before making his choices. The 40-year-old was happy with his win, despite taking home £25,000 less than he was initially offered.
Whether by pure luck or some shrewd calculations, there have been some incredible payouts in horse racing over the years.
For the casual gambler, most online casinos offer a sportsbook section and are a great way to get involved in sports betting and horse racing. Not only do they offer a wide range of games, but they also offer fast payouts when it comes to winnings. This can make it easier to access winnings quickly and without any hassle. Furthermore, fast payout casinos often provide bonus offers and promotions on sports betting that can boost winnings even further. You can check this list of fast-paying casino sites that offer a comprehensive sportsbook section for your horse racing bets.
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