In Friday's fifth race at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana, somebody was going to win for the first time. But who knew that would be three somebodies?
In a $15,000 maiden claiming race -- that's for winless horses -- the finish was a triple dead heat for first place. How unusual is this? A lot more rare than a major league perfect game.
From 1998 on, there have been six perfect games in the majors, including two in 2012. Friday night's triple dead heat to win was the first in a thoroughbred race since 1997.
Rarely has that old racetrack saying, "Hold all tickets," been as applicable. When the stewards were done examining the finish-line photo, Chessie Slew (25-1), Memories of Trina (8-1) and All in the Art (5-1) all paid to win, at $15, $6.60 and $4.60, respectively. They covered the six furlongs in 1:13.59.
Here's what the last triple dead heat to win looked like, about 17 years ago at Hollywood Park.
