RACEHORSE Celerity finally got off the mark at the 106th attempt at Haydock on Friday night.
The horse people loved to mock had the last laugh for trainer Laura Williamson – who even managed to overshadow singer Ronan Keating at the fixture.
After 105 runs come rain or shine without a win, Celerity had the record no horse in Britain wanted.
Rated just 46 and having been sent off a whopping 200-1 just three runs previously, hopes weren’t high at Haydock.
Punters were happy to let the horse leave the stalls in the Bet At racingtv.com Fillies’ Handicap at 33-1.
But that came back to bite as jockey Erika Parkinson shot past the line nearly two lengths clear for an emotional win.
A nearly lost for words Williamson said afterwards: “I’m completely overwhelmed. You can never ever give up hope, can you? She’s an absolute legend and she’s actually been running really well of late.
“She seems to have hit a bit of form and everything has fallen into place today.
“It was a fantastic ride by Erika. I honestly didn’t think that the extra furlong would work but it has and I’m just so pleased for the owner Rick Heath.
“I’m very blessed with a lot of my owners who are in it for the love of the horse, Rick is a local guy and wants to support his local tracks.
“It’s not all about winning, it’s about enjoying your horses and she has a home for life.
“We’ve never doubted her enthusiasm for the game. She’s got a little bit of a mind of her own and she doesn’t like being hit behind the saddle.
“As you can see she takes her races really well – she looks amazing – and we actually gave her a proper break for the first time.
“She came to my house in Wales and she wintered out and she’s come back I think a better horse.”
Winning jockey Parkinson added: “Once we were clear I thought we just had to keep her there.
“She likes to go from the front and when horses come to her she just pushes on and she really did that today.”
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