'He starts slow': NFL star Chad Johnson beats a real racehorse in jaw-dropping race at Cincinnati's River Downs
Chad Johnson, the former NFL wide receiver famously known as Chad 'Ochocinco,' once did something very wild. He raced a real horse and won. This unusual race happened back in 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
At the time, Johnson was playing for the Cincinnati Bengals and was one of the fastest players in the league. He called the race 'just for fun,' but what he pulled off surprised everyone. Even thousands of fans were there to watch it live.
Chad Johnson raced a horse named Restore the Roar at River Downs in 2007
In May 2007 at Cincinnati's River Downs racetrack, Chad Johnson rode Restore the Roar, a four-year-old colt. Johnson was given a 100-meter head start and had to run just half that distance, 100 meters; the horse had to run an eighth of a mile (about 200 meters).
Arranged for charity, the funds raised were given to Marvin Lewis's head coach of the Bengals.
— _mlfootball (@_mlfootball)
Before the race, Johnson told the Associated Press,
'He has two extra legs, so I get a two-leg lead. It's all for fun. The important thing is helping people in need.'
Johnson even joked,
'I got six gears, he starts slow. By the time he gets going, I should be crossing.'
In front of nearly 8,000 fans, Johnson took off with incredible speed.
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The crowd cheered as he stayed ahead of the horse and crossed the finish line before the colt could catch him.
'When I crossed and looked back, he was way behind,' Johnson said after the race. 'So I'm officially the fastest in the world.'
Patricia Cooksey praised Chad Johnson for his incredible speed
Restore the Roar was ridden by well-known jockey Patricia Cooksey, who gave Johnson full credit. 'He beat us by a lot. He was a blur,' she said. 'When I looked over, all I could see were his legs moving like a windmill.'
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Even Johnson's teammate and quarterback at the time, Carson Palmer, doubted the race idea. Palmer told the Associated Press,
'I don't think he understands how fast horses are… I've been to the Kentucky Derby. I'll secretly put money on the horse.'
But Johnson proved everyone wrong. After the race, he even joked with Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Dustin Dow,
'Floyd Mayweather, you're next. I want to play Kobe and LeBron one-on-one. Jeff Gordon, let's race laps.'
Even at 46 now, Johnson still talks big on his podcast Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and he still believes he could beat a horse today.
FAQs
1. Did Chad Johnson really race a horse?
Yes, he did! Chad Johnson raced a real horse in 2007 and he actually won.
2. Where did Chad Johnson race the horse?
The race happened at River Downs racetrack in Cincinnati, Ohio.
3. Why did Chad Johnson race a horse?
He did it for fun and to raise money for a charity started by his coach, Marvin Lewis.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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