Which was the last horse to win the English & Irish 2,000 Guineas?

The last horse to win the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas was the Galileo colt, Churchill, owned by

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier and trained by Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle, Co. Tipperary. Named Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt in 2016, after winning five of his six races, Churchill headed straight to Newmarket for the 2,000 Guineas without a preparatory race. Ridden by regular partner Ryan Moore, Churchill was sent off 6/4 favourite and, having taken the lead over a furlong from home, stayed on well under pressure to beat Barney Roy – who stumbled badly on the downhill run into the famous ‘Dip’ – by a length.

Exactly three weeks later, Churchill lined up for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, in which he faced just five opponents, all of whom were officially rated at least 4lb inferior. Unsurprisingly, Churchill was sent off 4/9 favourite to win his second Classic and did so in some style. Patiently ridden by Ryan Moore, Churchill made progress on the wide outside inside the final quarter-of-a-mile before sweeping into the lead approaching the final furlong and extending his advantage all the way to the finish. He eventually passed the post two-and-a-half lengths ahead of second favourite Thunder Snow with another four-and-a-half lengths back to the third horse.

What is past posting?

In casino games, the term ‘past posting’ refers to any instance of placing a bet after the outcome of that bet is known. The term derives from a once popular horse racing scam, in which scammers found ways to place bets on races that had already been run or, at least, to give the appearance of being able to do so. A classic example of past posting, in this sense, is demonstrated in the 1973 caper film, ‘The Sting’, starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw.

Of course this issue doesn’t apply to all casino games, such as slots, nor obviously is it something that can occur online, so when you’re playing online on Slot Strike Casino you know it’s all above board, and not the stuff of motion pictures! However, in table games, the idea of past posting is to introduce extra chips to the table, at a time at which no more bets are permitted, and thereby gain an illegal advantage.

Historically, past posting has been attempted in table games such as blackjack, craps and roulette; the technique typically involves placing chips on winning areas at a moment when the dealer is already distracted, or deliberately distracting the dealer at a crucial moment. At a crowded roulette table, for example, the dealer needs to focus attention on the roulette wheel as the ball bounces around, so may be oblivious to illegal late bets.

In blackjack, past posting is often attempted after the scammer has been paid out on a winning hand. A skilled blackjack ‘mechanic’ may place, say, a £10 bet with two £5 chips but, on payment, switch the original chips for one £500 chip and one £5 chip and claim that the dealer has made a mistake.

Are there Horse Themed Slots Games?

If you were an avid amusements arcade goer ‘back in the day’ you may well remember that exciting / naff (delete as applicable!) seaside game where you popped a few coins in and got to bet on and watch your horse take on others, with the promise of cold hard cash if you won. It wasn’t a slots game, but instead a full on track with cheap looking plastic horse figures. I’m not exactly talking it up, and let’s just say that the first reference to it online when I did a search was on a website called World of Crap. But even with that being the case, nostalgia kicks in when I think back to those halcyon days.

Technology has moved on an awful lot since that marvellous monstrosity though, and it’s done so in the area of slots faster than just about any other. A casual visit to sites like Avenger Slots Casino immediately reveals fun and addictive horse themed games such as Bronco Spirit (look out for those shiny gold horse coins!) and Mustang Gold. These slots game are perfect for those with a love of horses and combine that aesthetic with all of excitement of playing slots. There are no doubt horse themes slot machine in real life too, but I can’t say I’ve ever been lucky enough to chance upon one, so I’ll opt for couch potato mode instead .

We’re in a time where the racing season has now started again (thank god!) and Royal Ascot is just around the corner too. With that in mind, why not kill some time on these or other horse slots, and even other themed slots game, while you’re waiting for the big races to hit our screens. If your luck is in, it might boost your betting bank for when you see a generously prices outsider, or dead cert! Whatever your approach to slots and betting is, have fun and good luck!

Where, and what, are the Railway Fences?

Sandown Park Racecourse, in Esher, Surrey, is renowned as a difficult test of jumping ability, even for seasoned steeplechasers, and owes its reputation, at least in part, to a line of three fences, collectively known as the ‘Railway Fences’. As the name suggests, the Railway Fences are situated towards the end of the back straight, also known as the ‘Railway Straight’, which runs alongside the South Western Main Line between Surbiton and Hersham.

The back straight at Sandown Park consists of seven fences in total, including an open ditch and the water jump, but it is the proximity of the remaining three that makes the Railway Fences a key stage of any steeplechase run at the course. Jockeys must maintain balance, rhythm and impulsion as they approach each fence, so riding an experienced, agile steeplechaser, capable of shortening its stride quickly, when required, is a huge advantage when riding over the Railway Fences. By contrast, inexperienced horses or those with moderate jumping ability, who cannot physically ‘put themselves’ right at a fence, are much more likely to lose their rhythm – and, consequently, any winning chance – over the Railway Fences.

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