Drinks on the house, from the best racehorse you’ve never heard of

A pub landlord in England promised tipplers a free drink if American wonder horse Flightline won Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic by more than eight lengths.

The colt had won his previous five races by a combined 63 lengths, so speculation wasn’t about whether he’d win the famous race, but by how far.

ALSO READ: How upstart Flightline elbowed his way in among the true greats

It ended up being 8.25 lengths back to runner-up Olympiad and publican Freddie Tulloch was the target of much ribbing from clientele at the Queens Arms in Lambourn, the famous racing town in Berkshire.

Free drinks

Not that Freddie minded, despite the flood of free drinks. After all, it was a good marketing ploy and more boozers than usual packed into the bar to watch the action on TV from Keeneland racecourse in Kentucky.

Also, clever devil that he is, Freddie clocked spread-betting odds on a winning margin and “laid off” some of his potential losses with local bookies.

Britain’s Racing Post told this story, quoting Freddie: “It wasn’t my finest hour, but I thought it was quite good to say eight lengths – I was only a quarter of a length out from saving a few quid.

“…they took around 40 minutes working the distance out. There were suggestions it was seven lengths and three-quarters … all this while everyone was gasping for a drink waiting at the bar! Because I’m quite nice and thought it looked like more than eight lengths, I gave in quite early.”

Flightline next term

Soon after Flightline’s stunning performance (starting at odds of 2-5) – bringing his career record to six from six, including four Grade 1s and elevating him to the best-ranked horse of all time (turf and dirt) – he was retired to stud by his conglomerate of owners.

There was brief speculation about Flightline continuing to race as a five-year-old next term, but money quickly put a stop to that.

The well-bred son of Tapit, who cost $1-million as a yearling in 2018, is said by bloodstock experts to be worth $60-million. An insurance company covering him for a single race would want a $2.4-million premium, according to the LA Times. There aren’t many races with prize money to cover that.

There’s also his ongoing stud earnings to consider, which could be huge if he’s good at gene transfer.

No more galloping; off to Lane’s End Farm for a different form of exercise.

Valued at $184-million

But not before a 2.5% share of him was auctioned off by the owners as a valuation/marketing exercise. An agent for an anonymous buyer paid $6.4-million – which would value the colt at $184-million, a number that has sparked much debate.

They don’t call it the sport of kings for nothing.

Flightline’s elevation to the pinnacle of global horseracing has been meteoric – from a handful of appearances over 18 months and one feature slot on American prime time sports television.

Sports Illustrated refers to Flightline as “The best racehorse you’ve never heard of” and, after the weekend, said simply, “Hello and goodbye.”