It is known as \u201cThe race that stops a nation,\u201d and politicians have suggested the day should be designated an Aussie holiday. Many people take the day off of work to watch the spectacle.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that about $200 million (Aus) is wagered on the event and bookmakers were happy because nearly 20 percent of the amount was placed on two favorites, Marmelo and Almandin, which went off at 7-1 and finished out of the money at ninth and 12th respectively.<\/p>\n
Rekindling opened at 51-1 and went off at 14-1 getting bet down as the race got closer. The\u00a0Totalisator Agency Board (TAB), which handles off track betting, estimated it took in about $90 million (Aus) in wagers.<\/p>\n
The biggest single bets were made by one man in Victoria who bet $3,000 (Aus) and won $48,000 (Aus) and one in Tasmania who plunked down $4,000 (Aus) and walked away with $60,000 (Aus).<\/p>\n
One lucky bettor turned $5 (Aus) into $1 million (Aus) with a promotion sponsored by one of the TABs. A man identified only as Dominic had bet in all four of the first races and was picked at random. He chose the winner and watched in disbelief as it came from behind to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on the couch about to have a few bets when I got the call that I won the draw,\u201d he said. \u201cI was actually home alone, so I had to call a few mates who rushed over to watch with me. It\u2019s a surreal feeling and I\u2019m still in shock.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nOther gamblers weren\u2019t so lucky. Two fans bet $30,000 (Aus) and $20,000 (Aus) on the favorites and walked away empty-handed.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the most part, punters missed the mark with their selections,\u201d said Gerard Daffy, media manager for UBET.<\/p>\n
Son Beats Father<\/h2>\n
Trainer and former jockey Joseph O\u2019Brien won on his first attempt, successfully preparing the 3-year-old colt that was ridden by jockey Corey Brown. The 24-year-old quit riding two years ago and began his new career last year.<\/p>\n
“I can’t quite believe it,\u201d he said. \u201cI’m just so delighted for everyone. This is unbelievable. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
His father, who also trained a horse in the race, has not won the prestigious cup, but was proud of his offspring.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s absolutely marvelous and I couldn’t be any happier,\u201d he said to the BBC. \u201cIt’s the perfect result.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the younger O\u2019Brien was a rookie in the winner\u2019s circle, Brown won his second Melbourne Cup<\/a> and owner Lloyd Williams captured his sixth in 36 years. He had nothing but praise for his employee after the victory.<\/p>\n“I have been telling anyone who will listen to me that Joseph will be the leading trainer in the world in years to come, his father needs to watch out,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have just seen the start of an amazing career kick off right here in Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Longshot Rekindling captured one of the world\u2019s richest horse races at Tuesday\u2019s Melbourne Cup in Australia and made one man a millionaire. The annual horserace attracts approximately 90,000 fans to Flemington Racecourse and the two-mile contest has a purse of $6.2 million (AUS). It is known as \u201cThe race that stops a nation,\u201d and politicians […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":62440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,10,16,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Longshot Rekindling Wins Melbourne Cup, Makes Man $1 Million<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n