My horse won at 300/1 - while I was stuck in a meeting

When Crokes Cross entered the history books of horse racing, her owner Kevin Mercer should have been there to cheer her on.

The seven-year-old mare equalled the UK racing record for the longest-priced winner at odds of 300/1.

But although the win happened at Kelso racecourse in the Scottish Borders - about 25 miles (40km) from Kevin's home in Fountainhall, he was not there to see it.

Instead, he was in a meeting for his work with Hawick-based animal feed company Harbro.

The 43-year-old only learned about the unexpected victory as his mobile began to light up with messages.

The purchasing and distribution manager grew up in the countryside so horses have always been part of his life and are now part of his career.

"Part of my job involves dealing with racehorse trainers to supply the feed into most of the huge number of racing yards in Scotland and the north of England," he said.

It was after sponsoring a race at Kelso - and enjoying the hospitality - that he and a group of friends decided to take a bigger role in the sport.

"They thought - after some drink - that it would be a good idea to try and get involved in ownership of horses," he explained.

They have had five or six horses with local trainer Stuart Coltherd since then as a syndicate of family and friends, but it is Kevin's name that is registered as co-owner of Crokes Cross alongside its trainer.

A big crowd saw the shock result but Kevin was not among them [Getty Images]

However, he was not at the track as it fought out a thrilling finish before taking the honours ahead of stablemate Changemyluck earlier this month.

"I wasn't at Kelso, I had a meeting at one of our production sites, so I was otherwise engaged that day," he said.

"I didn't actually tell any of the guys that I was in the meeting with that the horse was running."

He soon knew something had happened when the other members of his syndicate - which includes his mother, auntie, sister and friends he knows through football - started to contact him.

"Everyone was chuffed to bits and I'm sitting in a meeting with my phone on silent and it's lighting up and buzzing away with everyone trying to get in touch," he said.