Frankie Dettori’s legendary Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996 – when he won all seven races on the card at odds of 25,051-1 – has been voted the greatest achievement in Flat racing
Frankie Dettori’s legendary Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996 has been crowned the best achievement in Flat racing over the past century.
In a survey by bookmaker Coral to mark their centenary, the unforgettable day when the jockey accomplished what had previously been deemed nearly impossible – claiming victory in all seven races on the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Stakes card – emerged as runner-up only to Red Rum’s trio of Grand National triumphs in the poll of 2,000 racing enthusiasts.
The outcome proves particularly apt, as Monday, September 28th, represents the 30th anniversary of the Magnificent Seven. The combined starting price odds for Dettori’s historic seven-timer stood at a whopping 25,051-1, with the extraordinary accomplishment costing British bookmakers an estimated £40 million.
Coral’s David Stevens, reflecting on that momentous day, said: “Frankie had been champion jockey a couple of times by this stage, so he had an established following among punters, and Saturdays in betting shops were much more racing focused then, with football betting yet to really take off as it has now, but at the start of the day we had no concerns about him going through the card.
“It really was unthinkable, no jockey had ridden all seven winners at one meeting, let alone on a high quality, competitive card like this Ascot one, so it was a case of taking the Frankie bets as usual, not expecting we’d be paying them back many, many times over the following week.
“Several hours later however, the atmosphere at HQ was shell-shocked, that’s probably the best way to describe the mood.
“In those days it wasn’t until Monday, and even Tuesday, that the full extent of the financial hit was known, but by midweek, estimates that the industry had been hit to the tune of £40 million – equivalent to more than £80 million today – would have been about right.
“We didn’t see it straight away as we counted the cost, but of course with the benefit of time, what Frankie achieved that day was the best advertisement for racing and betting there could have been.
“Thousands of small staking racing fans won money that day, in several cases life changing amounts, and the sport was front page news for several weeks. Three decades on from that incredible day, it’s entirely fitting that Frankie’s Magnificent Seven has been voted the greatest Flat racing achievement of the last 100 years, with only Red Rum’s Grand National heroics beating it overall.”
In third place on the poll was Sir AP McCoy winning the British Jump Racing Champion Jockey title for 20 consecutive seasons, while Lester Piggott winning the Epsom Derby a record nine times and Frankel retiring with a perfect 14-0 record completed the top 5.
What is the greatest achievement in British racing in the last 100 Years?
- Red Rum winning the Grand National three times
- Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996
- Sir AP McCoy winning the British Jump Racing Champion Jockey title for 20 consecutive seasons
- Lester Piggott winning the Epsom Derby a record nine times
- Frankel retiring with a perfect 14-0 record
- Aldaniti & Bob Champion winning the 1981 Grand National
- Arkle winning three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups in 1964, 1965, and 1966
- Brigadier Gerard winning 17 of his 18 career races
- Golden Miller winning five consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups
- Shergar winning the 1981 Epsom Derby by ten lengths
- Sir Gordon Richards being crowned British Champion Jockey a record 26 times
- Dawn Run winning the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Kauto Star winning five King George VI Chases
- Nijinsky winning the English Triple Crown
- Sea The Stars winning six consecutive Group 1 races