FORMER Darlington FC chairman George Houghton claimed winnings of £600,000 yesterday after betting on his own horse – bought for just £6,000 four months ago.

Lyric Poet won by 17 lengths in the 3.45pm at Wolverhampton.

Mr Houghton bet £100,000 on the three-year-old at odds of 6-1.

The businessman is remembered in Darlington as being chairman of the football club when it went into administration in February last year.

The decision kick-started a series of events which led to the club being relegated from the Football League.

Last night, he told The Northern Echo he planned to celebrate his win by watching a film.

He said: “Instead of losing money in stupid football, I now do something I can make some money at.

“I’m off to see my grandson tonight – we’re watching Sorcerer’s Apprentice I think.”

Mr Houghton bought the gelding for about £6,000 in April.

The horse was previously owned by famous racehorse owner Sheikh Mohammed, who paid $700,000 when it was a yearling.

Mr Houghton said: “The problem is that some of these top trainers have so many horses they don’t know them.

“I thought it was a beautiful horse and a bit of a steal so I bought it.”

The horse was ridden by William Carson, the grandson of former champion jockey, Willie Carson.

Mr Houghton said Mr Carson Sr works with him to assess potential horses to buy.

The businessman said he was unable to watch the race yesterday as he is having trouble with his hip.

Since leaving Darlington, he told The Northern Echo he had been working in the US.

The horse is trained by Giles Bravery, of Newmarket.

He said: “It’s a nice horse that’s come into a bit of maturity this year – it’s got better with a bit of sun on its back.

“It wasn’t the greatest race and maybe some of the other horses under-performed and ours over-performed.

“It’s nice for Mr Houghton, who has been a supporter of racing for a long time, to have a winner like this.”