141st-time lucky: jockey finally ends painful losing streak in Hong Kong

After a record losing streak of 140, jockey Lyle Hewitson has finally ridden his first winner in Hong Kong.

In echoes of Sunderland's miserable 2002-03 season, when they lost their final 15 Premier League games, or serial racehorse loser Quixall Crosset, Hewitson must have wondered where a win was coming from.

But the South African-born 22-year-old broke the record for the longest losing streak in Hong Kong history when partnering Last Kingdom to land the last race on Sunday's card at Sha Tin.

Hewitson enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom in South Africa. He became the first apprentice to win the jockeys' title in more than 40 years in the 2017-18 campaign, before retaining that title with 219 winners last season. He moved to Hong Kong in September.

Hewitson told Hong Kong Racing: “Someone said that hard work brings good luck – I can tell you I have been putting in the hard yards. It's a cauldron of fire here; if you’re not doing well you can burn to ashes if you let it.

“I carried on with my optimism and positive attitude. I was lucky enough to find someone like Douglas [Whyte, trainer] who was happy to give me the opportunity.”

He added: “I was pretty relaxed and really happy with the result, but when I got back and saw the smile on the face of the owner and someone like Douglas who has given me opportunities, I got a little bit emotional."

Last Kingdom was a Graded winner in France before transferring to Hong Kong. He made every yard and knuckled down bravely to win in a tight finish to the closing mile handicap.

Douglas Whyte: full of praise for Lyle Hewitson after his victory at Sha TinCredit: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

Last Kingdom's trainer Douglas Whyte, a former South African jockey who switched to Hong Kong, added: "As I have always said, Hong Kong can be a very difficult place and Lyle has had a really tough introduction.

“For me, he has been riding well and has given horses plenty of opportunities; he just needed an ounce of luck.

"It was the ride that won the race and well done to him, he deserved it. He should realise that the ride won him the race.”

Other famous sporting losing runs

Sunderland 15 Premier League defeats: In a dire run at the end of the 2002-03 season Sunderland picked up just one point between Boxing Day and the end of the season in May. Their losing streak was a record and the Black Cats were relegated with just 19 points.

Quixall Crosset, the 103-race maiden: Described as Britain's worst racehorse, Quixall Crossett's Wikipedia page claims the famous loser "failed to demonstrate the slightest trace of any racing ability". He raced 103 times, failing to win, and was retired in 2001. In Japan, Haru Urara captured the nation's heart for his famous 113-race losing run.

Detroit Lions, 19 successive NFL defeats: It took almost two years and 19 defeats for the Lions to end their hopeless run of form between 2007 and 2009. Their 2008 campaign saw them lose all 16 games, before finally ending the run with a win over the Redskins the following year.

Robin Deakin, 51 consecutive boxing defeats: He calls himself 'Real Life Rocky Balboa' but his record is far from box office. After 51 straight defeats – and a nine-year wait – he beat Deniss Kronilovs on points in 2015.

Britain's worst football team, Fort William: In July 2019, Scottish side Fort William ended a horrendous 73-match winless run, across 840 days. They have won just once in the Scottish Highland Football League this season.

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