While 2020 was a challenging year for sports, the hard work of great jockeys, trainers, and horse racing associations allowed fans to enjoy some great moments, but with a shuffled calendar. Here are the most memorable racing moments that fans will always remember despite the scrambled schedule, empty stands, and track shutdowns. You can also check bettingroyalascot.co.uk for racing betting tips and other information on the 2021 Royal Ascot.
Twilight Payment Wins the Melbourne Cup
Irish raider Twilight Payment went down the books of history last spring as he led the Melbourne Cup filled to claim Australia’s biggest horseracing trophy. The 8-year-old gelding trained by Joseph O’Brien held all challengers at bay as soon as the race started, handing owner Lloyd Williams his 7th cup.
The win was Twilight Payment’s second time running in the Melbourne Cup, and the horse was keen to make it a fast-run race under jockey Jye McNeil. Despite a memorable late run by Tiger Moth, Twilight Payment won by 0.4 lengths.
Bivouac demolish sprinters at the Sprint Classic
Glen Boss’s arrogance over the closing stages resulted in Bivouac’s domination in the VRC Sprint Classic. Glen plotted his course out wide to catch up with the James Cummings-trained horse, but he hadn’t moved in on him even with 200 meters to go. By the time Bivouac crossed the line, Glen was already standing for his trademark headshake to honor how good Bivouac was.
Cox Wins Four Breeders’ Cup Races
During the beautiful Breeders’ Cup competition, the sun shone brightest on Louisville-native Brad Cox after four of his horses claimed a win at the event. The 40-year-old California-based trainer won $6 million at the Breeders Cup Classic for the fourth time after Kentucky Derby winner Authentic recorded the first-line finish at Keenland in November.
The Louisville-native trained four winners within two days, Aunt Pearl, Essential Quality, Knicks Go, and Monomoy Girl. This quartet of victories helped Cox match Richard Mandela’s feat at Santa Anita Park in 2003.
Serengeti Empress Retires From Racing
The 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner, Serengeti Empress, retired from racing last November and is set to becoming the leading sire into Mischief when the 2021 breeding season begins. According to a tweet released by Spendthrift Farm’s Mark Toothaker and Hayley Amoss, the four-year-old offspring of Alternation will be bred at the Taylor Made Farm for owner Joel Politi.
Serengeti Empress recorded seven wins across 19 career starts before retiring, earning over $2 million in revenue. The elite runner also recorded additional victories in the G2 Pocahontas Stakes, the G1 Ballerina Stakes, Azeri Stakes, and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes.
Monomoy Girl Makes a Comeback
After remaining unraced over a year after winning the Breeder’s Cup Distaff in 2018, Monomoy Girl made a comeback last year at Churchill Downs. The Brad Cox trained horse made an incredible comeback under longtime jockey Florent Geroux, finishing a seemingly effortless victory by open lengths after completing the race in 1:36:51.