Wed Jun 02, 2004 11:00 pm
Greyhound beats horse in a race
A retired greyhound with a taste for bangers and mash has upset the odds by beating a top racehorse in an inter-species clash.
Despite expert guidance from top jockey Fergus Sweeney, Tiny Tim, a six-year-old gelding was unable to hold off a challenge from canine hopeful Simply Fabulous.
The pair battled it out over two furlongs (400metres) at Kempton Park racecourse in Middlesex.
The tie, which kicked off the first of the course's weekly evening race events, was intended to finally put to rest an age-old bar room debate - which is faster, long legs or short?
With dry weather expected to favour the horse, Tiny Tim entered the race as the bookies' favourite.
And while the biggest bet on Tiny Tim hit £1,100, Simply Fabulous managed a top figure of only £200.
But after getting off to a racing start, Simply Fabulous clinched the race by seven horse lengths - or 15 dog lengths.
The hound won the contest in 23.29 seconds against the horse's 24.63.
The dog's owner, David Hood, 36, himself an ex-jockey, was jubilant that his dog had beaten a horse with more than twice its stride.
He said: "We came into this race as underdogs but we were confident, he had a good plate of bangers and mash for breakfast, which is what he eats.
"And despite his age, 49 dog years, he seems as well as ever."
Link
Despite expert guidance from top jockey Fergus Sweeney, Tiny Tim, a six-year-old gelding was unable to hold off a challenge from canine hopeful Simply Fabulous.
The pair battled it out over two furlongs (400metres) at Kempton Park racecourse in Middlesex.
The tie, which kicked off the first of the course's weekly evening race events, was intended to finally put to rest an age-old bar room debate - which is faster, long legs or short?
With dry weather expected to favour the horse, Tiny Tim entered the race as the bookies' favourite.
And while the biggest bet on Tiny Tim hit £1,100, Simply Fabulous managed a top figure of only £200.
But after getting off to a racing start, Simply Fabulous clinched the race by seven horse lengths - or 15 dog lengths.
The hound won the contest in 23.29 seconds against the horse's 24.63.
The dog's owner, David Hood, 36, himself an ex-jockey, was jubilant that his dog had beaten a horse with more than twice its stride.
He said: "We came into this race as underdogs but we were confident, he had a good plate of bangers and mash for breakfast, which is what he eats.
"And despite his age, 49 dog years, he seems as well as ever."
Link
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