‘Like a Monty Python skit' – Incredible jockey running race goes viral as fans hail ‘greatest thing ever seen'
The remarkable race aired on Peruvian TV channel, Monterrico, on June 22 of this year.
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Typically, fans at a horse racing track will expect to see Thoroughbreds striding out of the blocks to the finish line.
However, in this race, the jockeys themselves are the ones going through their paces.
This year's event saw 16 jockeys running a 100 metre sprint race for bragging rights over their competitors and to raise some money for charity.
As soon as they got away, two runners started tangling with one another, while the race winner was all smiles with his rival runners for the unique race.
Seeing footage of it online, fans were left stunned and believed they had come across The Holy Grail of horse racing events.
One said: "This may be the greatest thing I have ever seen."
A third wrote: "Can we bet on this because if so that would be fun."
Another said: "I've never seen it before. And I love it."
A fifth said: "Look at their little legs go!"
Jockey who 'jumped off horse' flees country after investigation launched into incident
The race happens at a Peruvian event known as Jockey Fest, the country's largest equestrian festival held at the Monterrico Racetrack, though admission is completely free and is held between midday and 7pm.
The jockey foot race itself started at 3:55pm this year, though there are some other races that occur throughout the day which gives attendees to bet on their favourite horse and rider.
Its aim is to "open the doors of the Jockey Club to new generations and promote equestrian sports as part of our cultural identity", according to president of the Jockey Club of Peru, Danilo Chávez.
Part of this strategy is to make it trend on social media, with many of the jockeys involved becoming social media stars as a result
The 2024 edition of the event saw as many as 15,000 fans turn out for the event, with horse racing in Lima - capital of Peru and where the track is located - dating back to 1864 and the venue itself being opened in 1960.
Chávez adds: "It's one of the ways to connect with new audiences and show that the Hippodrome can also be a modern and fun meeting place."
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