Famous Races and Racers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bonecrusher

It seems a terrible shame that these two truly beautiful animals couldn't have tied in a dead heat. Nevertheless, this has gone down in history as one of the most exciting horse races that has ever taken place. Both horses came into the race with impeccable form. Added to the excitement was the fact that they had never met in a race before. Our Waverly Star started out wide, while Bonecrusher started from the back, as was his usual form. By the 800 metre mark, Bonecrusher started to move towards the front and was immediately followed by Our Waverly Star. They both left the rest of the field behind them in their dust as they pounded to the finishing line. Bonecrusher had the initial lead by a short body length, then Waverley Star pulled him back and took the head of the field. Bonecrusher fought back in the straight, they tore down to the finish - and Bonecrusher won by a neck, ladies and gentlemen! And, according to Bill Collins, the race caller for the day, "Bonecrusher races into equine immortality!" Following the race, both horses continued their careers. Bonecrusher became sick with a virus, but eventually recovered to win to win more races before his retirement. Our Waverley Star had twenty more starts but seemed to lose heart. He only won three of those.
Quote used in this question can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_of_the_Century_(Horse_Racing)

Answer: Ian Thorpe

This race included the four fastest men in the history of the event. Thorpe and Hackett were from Australia, Hoogenband from the Netherlands, and Phelps from the USA. The four champions should have all won gold, but the final placings were as follows: Ian Thorpe won the gold (he broke the Olympic record but not his own world record), Pieter van den Hoogenband took out the silver and Michael Phelps gathered in the bronze (he broke the US record). Grant Hackett came home fifth. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!

Answer: Juan Manuel Fangio

This race took place in the fifth round of the 1953 World Championship. It earned the title of the Race of the Century because of the long drawn out duel between the two leading drivers over the sixty lap course. The lead passed between the two men on almost every corner of the long engagement. Finally, after 500 kilometres of racing, the race concluded with only five seconds separating the four lead cars.

The winner on that day was the British driver Mike Hawthorn.

Answer: Plymouth

The length of this race is 608 nautical miles. After leaving Cowes, it passes round the Fastnet Rock. This is a small islet in the Atlantic Ocean off Ireland and is the most southern point of that country. The yachts then turn back and complete the race at Plymouth on the south coast of Devon in England.

The history of this race goes back to 1925 when the first event was held. Fastnet Rock, the half way point of the race, is also known as Ireland's Teardrop. It was the final glimpse of their native land that Irish emigrants ever saw as they left their homes in the 19th century to begin new lives in other faraway lands.

Answer: Australia

This event is a series of yacht races between two vessels. The defender is the previous winner who holds the cup at their yacht club. The challenger is the current yacht the defender faces. The cup was first awarded by the Royal Yacht Squadron in England way back in 1851. It was for a race that took place off the south of England around the Isle of Wight. The 19th century racing yacht America won the race on that occasion, and since that time, this trophy has become known as the America's Cup. The Royal Yacht Squadron donated the Cup to the New York Yacht Club at that time, and today it is one of the most sought out trophies in the world of yacht racing. It's actually quite a fine piece of work.

From 1857 until 1983, the trophy was held by the New York Yacht Club. In the world of international sport, this is looked upon as the longest winning streak of any competition. But alas, in that year of 1983, Australia's Royal Perth Yacht Club, with their yacht Australia II, stole away that Mona Lisa of yachting trophies, while the hearts of American yachting enthusiasts shattered into a million pieces. The excitement reached fever pitch in Australia as well, when a very jubilant Prime Minster, Bob Hawke, announced cheerfully, during an on-air TV interview after Australia won the 7th and final race: "Any employer who sacks anyone for failing to turn up to work today - is a bum!"

Answer: The entire city rioted

The team from the city of New York included Dennis Leary and the three Biglin brothers, John, James and Bernard. The Ploughkeepsie team, all local men from that city, were William Stevens, Homer Wooden, William Burger and Ezekiel Beneway. Thousands and thousands of spectators attended the event because rowing was so popular a sport at that time in American history. Huge amounts of money were wagered on the outcome. Everyone cheered themselves hoarse. Until the finish, that is. The Biglin Brothers team won, but the local team protested at the conclusion of the race that they'd been cut off at the finish.

The referee and judges were quickly rushed away to secure premises to rule on the outcome. These brave men decided that the Biglin New York team had won the race fair and square. They were subsequently almost lynched and only just managed to escape with their lives. That evening the entire town rioted and fights broke out everywhere between team supporters. Police called in from other areas nearby couldn't do a thing. It had all got out of hand. The riot had to finally subside of its own accord. After all, one can only throw so many punches before having one's own block knocked off. Following this event the Biglin Brothers team then went on to become world championships at this most peaceful sport.

Answer: Eddie Merckx

Merckx was born on 17th June 1945 in Belgium. He is considered by biking enthusiasts around the world as the greatest rider that ever took seat on a bike. His career wins include the Tour de France five times, most other major tournaments at least twice, the Giro d'Italia five times, the Vuelta a Espana once, and the World Championship four times. That's just to name a few of course. The list is too long to include in here.

Merckx retired in 1978 following years of constant pain from a bike accident in 1969. Following this retirement he has devoted his life to the pursuit of art, and as an ambassador for the Father Damien foundation, an organisation that deals with leprosy and other illnesses in third world countries. In 1996, the King of Belgium awarded him the royal title of Baron, and in the year 2000 he was chosen Belgium's sportsman of the century. That same year he was awarded a visit to Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, an honour he holds most dear.

Answer: Three

These are the MotoGP, the Moto2 and the Moto3. In 2010 all two stroke engines were replaced by four stroke ones, and that is the standards they have raced with since. The first Grand Prix of motorcycle racing was held in 1949. A normal year in the world of motorcycle racing includes a specific number of events which are set beforehand.

These are held in different countries all around the world. In 2008, for example, there were eighteen rounds held in sixteen different nations.

Answer: It doesn't involve water

This race is held at Alice Springs, a town that is almost in the dead centre of Australia. It is situated on the Todd River. River is a complimentary term because it's usually dry. Australia is the driest continent in the world and contains vast deserts and semi-arid land, except for the fertile strip all around the coastline.

The Henley-on-Todd race is held in September every year. The celebrations last all day long with the only liquid present being that which is swallowed with great gusto. It's the only dry regatta race in the world. Thankfully. Participants, usually the worse for wear by the time they compete, race along the dry and sandy river bank in bottomless boats. "No Fishing" signs are solemnly erected for the event each year as well. The race began in 1962 and has been held annually ever since. I'm sorry to inform you all though that it originally began as a joke - poking sly Australian fun at the solemn British annual regattas on the Thames in that mighty nation.

Answer: Marathon

The distance for the marathon is 42.195 kilometres or 26 miles and 385 yards. It was arbitrarily chosen at the 1908 London games and was the distance from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium in London. When Windsor Castle was selected for the beginning of the race, the then Princess Mary requested that it begin beneath the castle's nursery windows, and so it did.

The games had been scheduled to be held in Italy that year. However, the 1906 eruption of Mt Versuvius, with its resultant damage, saw the venue hastily changed to London.

The White City Stadium was built in super quick time to be ready for the event. The marathon is held as a tribute to the original run made way back in 490 BC by the messenger who died after speeding to deliver a message from the battle between the Greeks and the Persians in that year. That brave little runner has well and truly left his mark on the world. And each year, during the 500 or so marathons that are held annually all over the world, that memory, even for one fleeting second, must surely occur to all the athletes and spectators who take part in each event.