Dead Cert.

Here's a picture of jockey Frank Hayes astride Sweet Kiss in the 1923 Belmont Park Steeplechase.

You could this a picture of Schrödinger's Jockey.

Because at some point during that race (and nobody is sure when) - he died of a heart attack.

But, since living horse with deceased jockey still attached crossed the finish line in first place, the bookies had to pay out at 20-1.

I don't know how popular drag racing is with bookies (this is motoring blog after all so I must have been leading somewhere with that story)  I think it may be legal but here's a discussion in Autoweek from 2022 on the subject.  In that, 16-time Funny Car champion, John Force said, “If it’s a way to generate revenue, why not?"

What the hell is a Funny Car Champion!?  Excuse me while I look it up...

...ah, so it's one of these:

I had a Matchbox one of those as a child - never realised it was an actual thing.

Anyway, John Force is getting on a bit now - he's 75 in fact - but still drag racing - and a lot luckier than Frank Hayes - check this out:

And while he did cross the winning line first while still attached to his transport - and also very much alive, thank goodness - it was only because his opponent slowed down. Surely there should be some rule about on infringing on your opponent's track space?

He was awarded the win so the bookies should be paying out.

Any other betting stories in the news this week?