During the first post-war Gand National, in 1946, a 100-1 outsider “Gullible Cyclist” shocked the crowd by leaving the course near the first fence. The horse and jockey then caught a bus to the finish line, where they rejoined the race, coming second by a short head.
The Jockey Club attempted to disqualify the horse and rider, but amazingly they discovered that these actions were not explicitly banned by the rule book. “Gullible Cyclist” won the second prize purse, but the on-course bookies refused to acknowledge this and pay out.
There was a subsequent riot in Liverpool, and the bus company’s garage was set on fire.