Trainer Missed Betting on Record-Equalling 300-1 Winner
The trainer of Crokes Cross, a horse that matched the UK racing record for the longest-priced winner, revealed he "never had a penny on" his victorious horse.
Crokes Cross made her British debut in a two-mile novice hurdle at Kelso on Thursday, winning at odds of 300-1.
Stuart Coltherd, speaking on Radio Scotland's Mornings with Stephen Jardine, expressed regret for not placing a bet on either Crokes Cross or her stablemate Changemyluck, who also competed in the race.
"With having two in the same race I never bothered, so lesson learned - even if it's just a couple of pounds, you're better off have something on them,"
Ridden by jockey Jamie Hamilton, Crokes Cross defeated the more fancied Changemyluck, who was priced at 5-2, by a length and a quarter. This victory marked Coltherd's first winner since March 2025.
Based in the Scottish Borders, Coltherd noted that he typically would have wagered a small amount on his horses, which would have resulted in a "nice payday."
"It's just the way the season has went I think. We've not had that many winners. It's been about a year since we had a winner.
We've just had a lot of seconds and placed horses so I just never bothered,"
Coltherd also mentioned that he knew of others who had placed bets, including one individual who intended to bet £5 on Changemyluck but accidentally backed Crokes Cross instead.
"From thinking she hadn't won anything, all of a sudden she was £1,500 better off,"
Alex Apati, a spokesman for Ladbrokes, stated that "just a handful" of bets had been placed on Crokes Cross. The most notable payout was a customer who collected £1,800 from a £5 each-way single.
Crokes Cross now shares the record for the longest-priced winner with Blowers, which also won at 300-1 at Exeter in December. This surpassed the previous record of 250-1, set by Equinoctial at Kelso in 1990.
