Shock results are one of the main reasons why horse racing remains one of the most popular sports in the world.
Victories against all odds in the world’s most famous races make headlines across the world, and ensures that each runner included in a field should be considered before making a final selection.
That will be the case before this year’s Kentucky Derby, as experts will study the results from the prep series found here: twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/road-to-the-derby/
So, which victors rank among the biggest shock winners in horse racing history?
Powerful Glory
One of the biggest shocks in racing history was recorded last year, as Powerful Glory defied odds of 200/1 to win the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes.
The victory saw the runner become the biggest-price winner of a Group One in Europe since 1971.
Qirat
Racing was unpredictable in the United Kingdom throughout 2025, with big priced winners pulling off shock results in many of the key Group One races.
This was also the case in the G1 Sussex Stakes, as Qirat won at odds of 150/1. At the time, the victor became the biggest priced winner of a British Group One since 1822.
The contender failed to build on that showing, failing to place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and City of York Stakes.
Lunar Fox
The prize for the biggest-priced Group One winner in racing history was recorded in Australia, with Lunar Fox defying odds of 300/1 to land the Australian Guineas at Flemington.
It was a victory that few could have foreseen, with the exotics on the day paying out just under $1 million.
Arcangues
There are few racing events on the planet that offer as much value as the Breeders’ Cup, but still, few winners have been as shocking as Arcangues.
The French-bred runner was a proven Group One winner on the flat, but he was massively overlooked in the Classic, being sent off at 133/1.
However, his class prevailed, beating Bertrando in the closing stages at Santa Anita.
Emblem Road
Achieving a career-best in one of the most lucrative races on the calendar is a challenging feat, but Mitab Almulawah-trained Emblem Road in the 2022 Saudi Cup achieved that.
The American-bred runner was sent off at odds of 80/1, and managed to hold off a high-quality field that also included Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer and Mandaloun.
Rich Strike
One of the most iconic moments in recent Kentucky Derby history came in 2022, as Rich Strike became the second-biggest outsider in history to win the opening leg of the Triple Crown at 80/1.
The victory gave Eric Reed a first Grade One success, with the runner’s late move upsetting heavy favorite Epicenter.
Sarava
While most upsets are celebrated, one that upset the entire nation except for those involved with him was Sarava’s victory in the 2002 Belmont Stakes.
The 70/1 chance was given little chance in the final leg of the Triple Crown, but caused a major upset to end War Emblem’s bid for sporting immortality in front of the largest crowd in Belmont Park history.
Mon Mome
The Grand National is traditionally one of the most challenging races of the season to find the winner, and that was certainly the case in 2009 when 100/1 chance Mon Mome landed the honours by a 12-length margin, becoming the biggest-priced winner of the race since Foinavon in 1967.
However, the victory was no fluke, with the horse later showing his class to finish third in the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Norton’s Coin
Sometimes you make your own luck in horse racing, and that was the case in the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Norton’s Coin lined up in the feature at the Cheltenham Festival after connections missed the deadline for application in their primary target.
However, the Sirrel Griffiths-trained runner delivered a run of a lifetime to land the biggest price in jumps racing at odds of 100/1.
The shock was made even more spectacular given that the legendary Desert Orchid was only third.
Jim Dandy
One of the biggest upsets in U.S. racing history was delivered in the 1930 Travers Stakes, with sloppy conditions suiting the run style of Jim Dandy, who bested Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox, to win at odds of 100/1.
His eight length victory remains one of the most iconic in history, and the success is the birthplace of Saratoga’s nickname as the ‘Graveyard of Champions’.
Mine That Bird
Another iconic upset in the Kentucky Derby came back in 2009, as Mine That Bird rallied from the back of the field to land the opening leg of the Triple Crown at odds of 50/1.
The manner of victory was striking, with the three-year-old finishing nearly seven lengths clear of the field, marking the biggest winning margin in over 60 years.
