Lights of Broadway first raced in late 2010, but after just two outings changed trainers and was unseen for almost a year.
It was Jo Hughes who took over her training, and on the 9th of January 2012, she would witness the horse she worked with do something unimaginable.
Lights of Broadway had been entered into a 12 strong field at Taunton for the EBF Mares’ Novice Hurdle. She was the least fancied horse on the ticket by a mile, setting off with super long odds of 200/1.
She raced well, much better than in previous outings, tracking the leaders, but her big chance came when the favourite, Night Rose, fell two out. The race was Night Rose’s to lose at that point, so when she went down Lights of Broadway took her shot, clinching the win by 3/4 of a length.
“I did think she was capable of running well and the better ground and shorter trip have helped.”
It was the biggest win in terms of odds since Mao Chinn Tire took first place at the same price in 2010 at Wetherby.
Lights of Broadway would win two more races during her career, and oddly enough, they were both 12 strong fields too – one at Chepstow and one at Catterick. She was retired at the end of 2016.
As for any winning bets, Ladbrokes reported their biggest bet on the horse was £5 each way which will have returned somewhere in the region of £1,250. We don’t know if there were any bigger bets elsewhere, but with long odds like those, it would be a huge surprise to find out that anyone had lumped on.