You’ll Never Believe These 4 Crazy Stories From The Track!

Horse racing is an exciting, “anything can happen” sport, and this is why so many of us love it. Below are some of the craziest stories in horse racing history, from incredible, to downright strange, to heartbreaking. Do you know of other crazy horse racing stories? Share in the comments below!

1. Deceased Jockey Wins Race

Yup, you read that right. In fact, Frank Hayes holds a World Record for his “feat.” How did it happen? According to the Guinness World Records, Hayes suffered a fatal heart attack in 1923, while riding Sweet Kiss in a race at Belmont Park, New York City. Although deceased, his body stayed astride Sweet Kiss, who won the race as a 20-1 long shot.

In a post from Horse Racing History’s Facebook page, they said he was buried in his silks three days later. The mare was never raced again because no jockey would ride her -she became known as “Sweet Kiss of Death.”

2. Riderless Horse Wins

Another strange incident involving a jockey happened just a few years ago in 2013. Fort Larned won the Gulfstream Park Handicap with no rider. According to the Retired Racehorse Project, Fort Larned stumbled at the start line and lost his jockey. He then avoided the outriders who tried to catch him, and continued his race – winning by an impressive 15 lengths.

Unfortunately, because he had no rider, he was not the official winner. Still, it’s clear this horse wanted to race. Given the option – he still ran.

3. Most Wins Ever By A Jockey

Have you ever thought about how many races the top winning jockey has won? Maybe several hundred. Maybe even a thousand?

Try 12,744.

Yup, you read that right. Russel A. Baze has started in over 53,200 races (as of the writing of this article). It's incredible to think about a person riding in that many races in a lifetime, let alone winning so many. Just incredible.

For his work, Baz has earned $162 million and a place in the Hall of Fame. Not bad for getting to go out and do what you love every day. And, he is still riding, so who knows how many more wins he will have until he retires!

Russell Baze. Living legend jockey. World's most career victories record holder. #livinglegend#thoroughbred#thoroughbredracing#goldengatefields#worldrecordholder#horseracing#bettingontheponies#russellbaze#tvg#californiasfinest#jockey#jockeylife#horseman#wiretowire#sports#athetrack#win#place#show#exacta#trifecta#superfecta#horses

A photo posted by @chato408 on Jun 16, 2014 at 2:51pm PDT

4. The Horse That Wouldn’t Stop Running

Growing up, this one of my favorite stories. Although it makes me cry every time I hear it, there is something incredible about this horse’s spirit that is so inspirational.

Her name is Ruffian and most of you know her.

In 1975, she has hailed as, quite possibly, one of the greatest race horses ever. And she was a mare. In a match race with Foolish Pleasure, she hit her shoulder coming out the gate. But she ran, and she was in the lead. And then, just a furlong (approx.. 660 feet) in, both sesamoid bones in her right foreleg broke.

But she kept running.

Her jockey tried to stop her, but he said he couldn’t. She ran, her leg splintering more as she went. She was in the lead, and when she finally broke down, her leg was in shreds.

Vets operated on her, and when she came out of the anesthesia, everyone there said she “came out running.” They believed she was trying to finish the race. She thrashed on the ground, kicking the cast off and shredding the leg again.

She was buried where no horse has ever been buried – at Belmont Park – with her noise pointed toward the finish line.

You can watch her race here, but it’s graphic.