THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AINTREE, England — Big Buck’s became the first horse to win 17 straight British jump races when he cruised to an easy victory Thursday on the opening day of the Aintree Festival.
The French-bred Big Buck’s, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Paul Nicholls, won the 3-mile Liverpool Hurdle by seven lengths to break the 59-year world record he held jointly with Sir Ken, who ran in the 1950s.
"Each win is very precious, but obviously to do 17 and go into the record books is very precious to us," owner Andy Stewart said.
The 9-year-old Big Buck’s hasn’t lost since switching from racing over the bigger fences to the hurdles at the start of 2009, confirming his status as one of the greatest long-distance jumps horses of all time.
On the day Ginger McCain, the legendary late trainer who saddled Red Rum to three victories in the world-famous Grand National Steeplechase, was immortalized in a bronze statue, his son Donald celebrated a win for Cloudy Lane in an incident-filled Fox Hunters’ Chase.
The 4-1 favourite emerged triumphant after 13 of the 26 entrants fell in a race run over the fences to be used in Saturday’s Grand National.
It was a bittersweet day for Donald McCain, though, with one of his horses — Gottany O’s — dying after a fall during the second race of the day.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was booed by Liverpool’s racegoers when his face appeared on the big screens as his mount, What A Friend, raced in the Bowl Chase.
The 3-mile race was won by Irish 50-1 shot Follow The Plan.
Big Buck’s went off as a 2-9 favourite and only took the lead with two hurdles remaining, building a big enough lead to idle home in the final 50 metres as he took in the acclaim of the crowd.
"We are totally flattered by the reception he has been given by everyone here," Stewart said. "He hasn’t had an off-day since unseating in the Hennessy Gold Cup (in 2008)."
British bookmaker William Hill said it received a bet for half a million pounds ($800,000) on Big Buck’s before the race.
"This ranks as one of the biggest bets ever taken on racing," said William Hill spokeswoman Kate Miller.