Calamity at Leicester races as punters say ‘I feel sick’ after witnessing gut-wrenching finish
CALAMITY broke out at Leicester races as a 1-100 shot was beaten in the most dramatic of circumstances after another horse fell spectacularly.
Olly Murphy must have been counting the pound signs when his two runners Swinging London and Iddergem battled for the lead approaching the last hurdle.
But 2-1 second fav Swinging London made a terrible mistake under 7lb claimer Dylan Johnston and crashed to the turf.
Johnston clattered into the track and left the path clear for 3-1 Iddergem to coast home under Lewis Stones.
Or so it seemed.
Iddergem hit the basement price of 1.01 on the Betfair Exchange – meaning you’d have to stake £100 to win just £1.
Those operating the cameras clearly felt it was all over too as they zoomed in on the leader, ignoring the other two horses still in the race.
It was at this point that 5-4 fav Parikarma, trained by Sun Racing columnist Gary Moore, hit 200-1 on the in-running markets.
Hampered by the faller, she was still seven lengths down after the final flight in the 2m contest.
But it’s never over until it’s over.
Iddergem found absolutely nothing on the run in despite his jockey’s frantic urgings.
The horse idled and forgot what he was supposed to be doing as Parikarma rapidly made ground on the outside, nabbing it on the line.
It was a ridiculous finish and similar to the freakish result punters saw at Aqueduct in New York last weekend.
Those watching could not believe Iddergem had thrown it all away.
One said: “I feel sick watching this.”
Another wrote in reference to Parikara’s blistering finish: “Where has she come from?!”
A fellow viewer posted: “How has Olly Murphy not won that race? It’s safe to say Parikarma pulled himself up when left alone.”
While another comment read: “How Parikarma has won that race I’ll never know.”
Fortunately, Swinging London and his jockey were up and OK after their final-flight exit.
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