Rich Strike Who Just Clinched $1.8 Million With Historical Win, Was Purchased for Six Times Less Amount

Published 05/08/2022, 11:41 AM EDT

The roar at the end of the road for Rich Strike is one of the loudest fans have heard for a long time. Facing odds of 80-1, Rich Strike won the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It was just an incredible race. The horse entered the field as an unlikely favorite and raced from behind to score a sensational victory. Surprisingly, the owner bought the horse for a meager sum and won the race.

Almost six times the money spent, as the name suggests, Rich Strike is a star. His owners couldn’t believe what just happened and looked excited. To sum up, an incredible Kentucky Derby.

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Rich Strike strikes gold

Unbelievably, Rich Strike was not in the derby until Friday. But, at the last moment, the horse got a place in the starting line-up and shocked the audience in attendance. The horse was bought by Rick Dawson for $30,000 as the colt made his way in a low-level claiming race by former owner Calumet Farm, who bred the horse. As the odds were not in favor of the horse at the start, he came from behind and won the race.

He earned $1.86 million for his second career victory. Hence, this is six times the amount that the owner received from the horse’s buying price. The favorite to win the race, Epicenter, took the lead at the closing stages but Rich Strike came back stunningly. Epicenter had earlier defeated the horse in the Louisiana Derby.

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Trained by Eric Reed, the owner suffered heartbreak after he lost nearly two dozen horses after lightning struck his barn. Hence, this is a great victory for owner Rick Dawson, trainer Eric Reed and jockey Sonny Leon.

Eric Reed stunned at the victory

The horse’s late surge stunned most of the fans who were present for the derby. Notably, his trainer Reed believed in his horse and predicted a victory before. He couldn’t believe his eyes and couldn’t contain his excitement.

“I couldn’t even breathe. This is … the reason everybody does this. Cause we’re not supposed to be here, but I knew this horse loved the track and he’s been training so good all year,” said Reed.

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For a horse that had no plans to take part in the race, then made a stunning comeback and to go all the way is unheard of. This is one of the best Kentucky derbies in recent times.

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Written by:

Jacob Gijy is a US Sports and NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Gijy finished his Post Graduation in Psychology and worked in a hospital for 2 years before his passion for sports compelled him to find his way to sports journalism. A fan of the great Tim Duncan, he is always ready to pick up a debate with anyone who does not offer the power forward, the respect he deserves.

Edited by:

Deepakshi Chaudhary

Rich Strike Who Just Clinched $1.8 Million With Historical Win, Was Purchased for Six Times Less Amount

Rich Strike strikes gold

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Eric Reed stunned at the victory