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In his heyday in the early Eighties, Dermot Browne was an accomplished amateur National Hunt jockey. Much like someone adapt at best online casino games, he twice became Irish champion amateur and famously won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Browne’s Gazette in 1984. At the end of his riding career, Browne followed in the footsteps of his father, Liam, by becoming a trainer in Lambourn, Berkshire.

However, his new career was short-lived because, in October, 1992, he was found guilty of six breaches of the Rules of Racing, including passing ‘inside’ information to a bookmaker for financial reward, by the Jockey Club Disciplinary Committee and ‘warned off’ for ten years. His original ban – which precluded him for entering any racecourse, being employed in any racing stable or dealing, in any capacity, with racehorses – was due to expire in October, 2002.

However, by that stage, Browne had gained even greater notoriety after claiming, in a television documentary, that he had coordinated the administration of the fast-acting tranquilliser acetylpromazine, or ACP for short, to 23 horses between August and September, 1990. Quite a scene, and a worldaway from  casino sur internet . One of the horses involved was Bravefoot, who finished last of five, when 11/8 favourite, in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Browne apparently administered the drug at the behest of Brian Wright, who was, himself, warned off for twenty years by the Jockey Club Disciplinary Committee in 2002, while still a fugitive from justice. In 2005, Wright, nicknamed ‘The Milkman’, was arrested on an International Arrest Warrant in Spain and subsequently tried, convicted and sentenced to thirty years’ imprisonment for masterminding a multi-million pound international cocaine smuggling operation. Browne, for his part, was warned off for a further twenty years and only escaped being banned for life by virtue of a letter, exposing further corruption, which he left with the Disciplinary Committee.

According to the dictionary, ‘equinoctial’ means ‘pertaining to an equinox or the equinoxes’ or, in other words, the two days each year when day and night are of equal length. Unlike choiceonlinecasino online casino which is at hand day or night. However, celestial matters aside, unless you’re a horse racing anorak, you’re probably unfamiliar with the horse called ‘Equinoctial’, who wrote his name into the record books at Kelso Racecourse, in the Scottish Borders, on November 21, 1990.

The five-year-old bay gelding had won a maiden point-to-point at Askeaton, in Co. Limerick, the previous February, when trained by Eric McNamara, but had already passed through the hands of Michael Hourigan and Michael Dods before finally arriving with Norman Miller, based in Co. Durham. On his first three starts for his new trainer, all over fences, Equinoctial was tailed off when pulled up Perth, fell at the first fence at Southwell and again jumped poorly at Catterick, where he was pulled up just after halfway. Indeed, he fared little better when put back over hurdles on his fourth at Hexham, weakening from the second-last flight to finish eighth of the ten runners, beaten 62 lengths.

Equinoctial subsequently lined up for Grants Whisky Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso, for which he was allocated just 8st 13lb in the long handicap and therefore carried 15lb than he should have according to official ratings. His burden was reduced by the 7lb weight allowance claimed by his conditional jockey, Andrew Heywood. Nevertheless, the combination of his desperate form and weight disadvantage led to him being disregarded by just about everyone and sent off at eye-watering odds of 250/1. Thekind of odds you’d dream of coming up at French Casinos.

However, ‘the horse doesn’t know what price it is’ is an oft-repeated phrase in horse racing circles and, remarkably, having chased the leaders from the fourth-last flight, Equinoctial stayed on under pressure to lead on the run-in and win by 3½ lengths. In so doing, he became the longest-priced winner in the history of British horse racing.

Introduction

In every sport, there are names that transcend the sport itself and become known to even to non racegoers. For many people, Kauto Star is one such name that even those with little racing interest are likely to know. A French-bred National Hunt racehorse, it was an incredibly powerful horse that pulled in over £3.75m in prize winnings across a stellar career. While it sadly passed on age 15 in June 2015, what it leaves behind is one of the most impressive career legacies for a horse of its kind.

Career Summary

Known for its determination and capability for a big comeback, Kauto Star managed to shock the world with a Cheltenham Gold Cup win in 2007. However, it returned in 2009 to win it again, becoming the first horse in history to win the cup, lose it, then win it back. Sadly, it began to reduce in performance levels afterward, despite wins at tournaments such as the King George VI Chase and the Betfair Chase.

With five King George VI Chases, it is the most decorated horse to attend these events. With a Timeform rating of 191, too, it’s one of the most decorated horses of all-time.

Achievements & Highlights

When retiring in 2012, it was provided with an option to move into career options – but none were particularly forthcoming. Injuries in 2015 occurred after falling and it had to be euthanized after sustaining injuries which it could not recover from. It was paralyzed and unable to stand, and the decision was made to put down.

With a rating of 191, it stands as the third strongest steeplechaser of all-time, just behind Arkle and Flyingbolt.

Wins – Tingle Creek Chase (2005, 2006), Old Roan Chase (2006), Betfair Chase (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011), King George VI Chase (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), Aon Chase (2007), Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007, 2009), Ascot Chase (2008), JNwine.com Champion Chase (2008, 2010).

Associations – Clive Smith, Henri Aubert, Paul Nicholls, Serge Foucher.

Earnings – £3.75m+.

Introduction

Sea the Stars is one of those horses with an iconic name, one that is very easy to remember. The fact that the majority of its successes as a racehorse came in a single year, too, is pretty impressive. Having appeared on the scene in 2008, it went on to win a glut of trophies from 2008 to 2009. Proving itself to be among the finest in the business, the incredible Sea the Stars became a horse well worth remembering for years to come on the horse racing circuit.

Career Summary

It’s first season as a two-year-old was hugely impressive, seeing it pick up impressive finishes at the likes of Curragh and Leopardstown. However, it’s main 2-year-old achievement was to come away with the Beresford Stakes in 2008. This was to be the start of the next year of success that made Sea the Stars become a sensation among racing fans and casual observers.

In 2009, it picked up an incredible range of successes after riding a suitably perfect campaign as a three-year-old. With six Group I races won within a six-month stretch, it took the likes of the English Classic and the French Classic among others.

Indeed, it’s described by many as being the finest modern racing season in recent history. Such was its precision and utter dominance for that single year, that afterward things came to a relative halt for the horse.

Afterward, it was rated with a Timeform rating of 140 – the 7^th highest in the history of the entire sport. In 2009, it was retired and moved into a successful studding career.

Achievements & Highlights

Wins – Beresford Stakes (2008), 2000 Guineas (2009), Epsom Derby (2009), Eclipse Stakes (2009), International Stakes (2009), Irish Champion Stakes (2009), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2009).

Associations – Christopher Tsui John Oxx.

Earnings – £4.4m.