In a result that has sent shockwaves through the racing world, an unconsidered outsider named Blowers has etched his name into the record books by becoming the joint longest-priced winner in modern horse racing history. The gelding, sent off at staggering odds of 300-1, sloshed to victory in the opening race at Exeter on Thursday, matching a feat achieved only once before in Britain and Ireland.
A Mud-Splashed Triumph Against All Odds
The meeting at the Devon track was under threat for much of the morning due to relentless rain, requiring a precautionary inspection before getting the green light. The testing, heavy ground played to the favour of the seven-year-old Blowers, who is named after the legendary cricket commentator Henry Blofeld. Under a determined ride from jockey James Best, the horse held off the hot favourite On The Bayou to secure a famous and utterly unexpected victory.
Best's involvement was itself a tale of last-minute fortune. He was only on board because the originally booked rider, Ella Herbison, was forced to give up the mount after getting stuck in traffic and missing her flight. Best received a surprise phone call while driving on the M5 at 6:10am. "It was Ella. 'Do you want to ride one in the first at Exeter?'" he later told Racing TV.
Late Call-Up and a Change of Tactics
Grateful for the opportunity, Best explained the pre-race plan devised with trainer Nigel Hawke. "He was keen the last day so Nigel said with the ground being testing, he was worried they might crawl. Plan A was to drop in last, but then we thought he might relax better in front," said Best.
The jockey executed the revised strategy perfectly, keeping Blowers in a prominent position. "He was jumping out to his left a bit so I stayed middle to outer down the back. He's clearly handled the ground, got in a nice rhythm," Best added, paying tribute to the connections for the chance.
Securing a Place in the Record Books
Blowers' previous form gave no hint of such a spectacular performance. He had been tailed off in a point-to-point National Hunt Flat race and was pulled up when a 200-1 shot on his hurdling debut at Chepstow. He even looked likely to run out at one point during the Exeter race before Best galvanised him after the final hurdle to drive to the line.
This monumental win sees Blowers share the record for the longest-priced winner in modern times. The previous record in Britain was set by Equinoctial, who won at Kelso in November 1990 at 250-1. The benchmark was then raised to 300-1 by He Knows No Fear at Leopardstown in August 2020, a record Blowers has now equalled in dramatic style on a rain-soaked afternoon in Devon.
The victory serves as a stunning reminder of the unpredictable drama that makes horse racing so compelling, where fortune, circumstance, and a willing partner can combine to create history against the most improbable of odds.
