Wildest Horse Race Finishes! | Top 8, Featuring Chautauqua, Mine That Bird, Pakistan Star & Zenyatta

All horse racing lovers gravitate towards a racehorse that can produce a scintillating burst of speed from last-to-first in a matter of seconds.

There's just something special about a horse who settles at the back of the field before charging home in the blink of an eye.

Horses like Chautauqua and Zenyatta made names for themselves by producing barnstorming finishes.

We've collected eight of the greatest fast-finishing horses over the journey:

Chautauqua x 2:
One of the most electrifying sprinters the world has seen, capable of pulling off the seemingly impossible on his day.

TJ Smith Stakes (2015, 2016, 2017)
Chairman's Sprint Prize (2016)
Lightning Stakes (2016)
Manikato Stakes (2015)
Hawkesbury Guineas (2014)
Bobbie Lewis Quality (2014)
Gilgai Stakes (2014, 2015)
Rubiton Stakes (2015)
McEwen Stakes (2015)

Zenyatta:
By Street Cry from Machiavellian, she won 19 races from 20 career starts and famously lost to Blame in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic, which would be her final race.

2010 Santa Margarita Handicap
2009 Breeders' Cup Classic
2008 Breeders' Cup Distaff
2010 2009 2008 Lady's Secret Stakes
2010 2009 2008 Clement Hirsch Handicap
2010 2009 2008 Vanity Handicap
2009 2008 Milady Handicap
2010 2008 Apple Blossom Handicap
2008 El Encino Stakes

Drosselmeyer:
Belmont Stakes (2010)
Breeders' Cup Classic (2011)

Winx:
W.S. Cox Plate (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Warwick/Winx Stakes (2016, 2017, 2018)
Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2017, 2018, 2019)
George Ryder Stakes (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Chipping Norton Stakes (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
George Main Stakes (2016, 2017, 2018)
Doncaster Handicap (2016)
Caulfield Stakes (2016)
Turnbull Stakes (2017, 2018)
Queensland Oaks (2015)
Epsom Handicap (2015)

Mine That Bird:
Under the guidance of jockey Calvin Borel, Mine That Bird caused one of the greatest upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby by producing an incredible performance for the ages.

Kentucky Derby (2009)
Silver Deputy Stakes (2008)
Swynford Stakes (2008)
Grey Stakes (2008)
2nd 2009 Preakness Stakes
3rd 2009 Belmont Stakes

New York Central:
2020 Saudia Sprint

Pakistan Star:
2018 The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup
2018 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup

What's your favourite freakish finish over the years?

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[terrythetuffkunt]

CHATAQUA BRINGS A TEAR TO MY EYE EVERY TIME.
WHAT A CHAMPION !!!!

[secretariatgirl]

So glad to see Mine that Bird get some respect! I've met him twice, most recently at Ruidoso Downs last year in celebration of his 10 year Derby anniversary. He stood patiently for 1.5 hours as we had our picture taken with him! Also met him at his home in Roswell! LOVE THIS GUY!

[TheSelfReliantWoman]

Zenyatta and Winx are both such incredible mares

[josephhale]

Been watching races since 80s. Never seen anything like min that bird 🐦 🐎🐴💨💯

[flamingfrancis]

How fitting that Chautauqua appears twice in this compilation. The champion with the afterburners. Let's hope he does well in his new career in showjumping...watch this space.
And the miighty Kinstown Town deserves a spot especially the finish in the 1982 Cox Plate where Australia's best ever race caller gave him no chance with 300 metres to go.

[briansymmes]

I was at Sha Tin when Chautauqua won from the back, it was insane, people were nearly ripping up their tickets after the first few furlongs.

[patrickduncanjr.]

I got 8 different sets of goosebumps watching this. Horse racing is so exciting !

[MrTrigger]

God, I love horse racing. I only went one to Hollywood Park with my dad, many moons back, but I can remember the exciting energy...horses brought to starting gate, serious gamblers chewing at the bit, superstitious, calculated, name, color, numbers are all applied to the art of betting. Horses are in ready, snorting breathe from their efficient nostrils plays in the air, jockeys set their seat for the ride, sound opens the gate, the announcer says the words “They’re Off”! Everyone’s eyes are huge with anticipation as they listen to the race-caller’s incredible telling of the race.

[dickfitswell]

I love a underdog that stuns. Like Mine That Bird. It was almost like announcer didn't even see him sneak down the rail

[karaamundson]

I love these back-to-front races. Zenyatta, Winx, o you fillies. 💛

[jamesellis]

To see a horse come from dead last to win the race is just simply amazing!

[lukepercy]

Chautauqau makes it in the list twice👌👌👌 Winx is the best horse I've seen at the track, but damned if The Grey Flash wasn't the most exciting. Those two races were unreal. Both the 2nd horses had the run of the race. Anyone that backed English will still be watching the replay 🤣 Great vid, all 8 were sensational 👌

[lawrencedockery]

One of the best things about Mine That Bird is that A) he was 50-1 and B) at multiple times he's so far back that Tom Durkin forgets to mention him

[susanharris]

Thanks so much for posting these. There is never enough horse racing on TV or anywhere else.

[scrambledeggs]

I've never been to a horse race b4 n I saw this horse(Chautauqua) race in a like a boss vid compilation and I just had to see the original and I can tell that horse is not ordinary, that last race of him seemed like he's was running on air, so smooth n elegant, makes me wish I knew how to ride a horse or knew more about horses for that matter, JUST WOW!

[knottymatt]

Winx, what an absolute legend of a horse!

[blacksheep]

Mind that bird will never be in the conversation as the GOAT but his race in the greatest race of all will always be one of the greatest races and rides of all time lol that was sick 😂😂

[JShizzzz]

It's amazing what it takes to be a backmarker jockey. All credit to those who are more comfortable riding leaders, but to be able to time a run to perfection from the back of the field is something special. Too early, the horse gets too tired by the post. Too late, you settle for second. Every single one of these winners was timed to absolute perfection.

[Laura-nxcl]

Although Zenyatta lost the 2010 Classic, the way she closed to only lose by a nose was absolutely incredible and such an underrated race

[Eddieification]

The Mine That Bird one always makes me smile. Borel cut through the field like he was riding a motorbike!