Horse racing is all about drama and shocks which is why it is such a followed and exciting spectacle. Frankie Dettori’s stunning day at Ascot back in 1996 is a key example of this. On this day he pulled of the 25,051/1 seven-timer, costing the bookies vast amounts of money and rewarding the faithful punters. He is without a doubt one of the top jockeys to have ever ridden and has had a large amount of big race successes. A prime example of this was in 2015 when he piloted Golden Horn to win Europe’s premier race; the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. He is again going into this year with a live chance and will be expected to win aboard the superstar that is Enable. This article will look through that famous day of September 28th in 1996 when the impossible became reality.
- WALL STREET 2/1
A well-fancied favourite going into the race at 2/1 and duly obligated by half a length for Frankie. The horse then went on to run in the US in the Breeders’ Cup turf; running well he finished 8th. This was the start of many for the rider on the memorable day.
- DIFFIDENT 12/1
Diffident was an unfancied 12/1 shot to make it a second win on the bounce for Frankie. However he came through the pack to just hold on by a nose to continue the winning sequence. The horse has had a successful career at stud in India included having sired winners in their local Oaks and Guineas.
- MARK OF ESTEEM 100/3
Mark of Esteem made it three on the bounce as he won the Group one Queen Elizabeth II stakes which was the key race on the day. The horse came with a strong late run on the outside to win by just over a length and cement himself as one of the best around at the time. Bookmakers were just starting to get worried at this point that the impossible feat could come true on the day.
- DECORATED HERO 7/1
Decorated hero went into the fourth race on the card as top weight in a big handicap which is an extremely difficult feat to achieve. However with many punters behind him he stormed clear to win easily by 3 to 4 lengths ahead of over 25 rivals. This led for the noise in the crowd to raise further as the impossible dream was slowly becoming a reality.
- FATEFULLY 7/4
Fatefully went into the race as the clear 7/4 favourite after punters now latched on to his famous winning run. The horse again did the business as he only had to be pushed out to win by a comfortable neck. Bookmakers now started to fear the worst as the accumulators and potential pay out began to build ahead of the final two races.
- LOCHANGEL 5/4
Now with huge confidence and everyone’s backing Dettori went into the 6th race on the 5/4 favourite. The horse made it look easy as he led from start to finish to win by a length with a further 10 lengths back to the third. This had already sealed a memorable afternoon in racing but it was not over yet for the star. You can check out the latest horse racing tips with many people backing Dettori to have further big race success this season aboard Cracksmen and Enable.
- FUJIYAMA CREST 2/1
Now going into the last race on the day and the impossible very soon to become reality every man and his dog were pilling on Dettori as if defeat was out of the question. The horse began the afternoon as an unfancied 12/1 shot but following all the success on the day for his rider was the heavily over bet 2/1 favourite. The horse took the race up from several furlongs out and continued to find for Dettori holding on by neck. An incredible day that will forever go down in racing folk law.
