Ascot Gold Cup
Group 1 race | |
![]() The Ascot Gold Cup, 1834 by James Pollard | |
Location | Ascot Racecourse Ascot, England |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1807 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Website | Ascot |
Race information | |
Distance | 2m 4f (4,023 metres) |
Track | Turf, right-handed |
Qualification | Four-years-old and up |
Weight | 9 st 0 lb (4yo); 9 st 2 lb (5yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares 10 lb for S. Hemisphere 4yo |
Purse | £250,000 (2011) 1st: £154,698 |
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
It is Britain's most prestigious event for "stayers" – horses which specialise in racing over long distances. It is traditionally held on day three of the Royal Ascot meeting, which is known colloquially (but not officially) as Ladies' Day. Contrary to popular belief the actual title of the race does not include the word "Ascot".
History
The event was established in 1807, and it was originally open to horses aged three or older. The inaugural winner, Master Jackey, was awarded prize money of 100 guineas. The first race took place in the presence of King George III and Queen Charlotte.
The 1844 running was attended by Nicholas I of Russia, who was making a state visit to England. That year's winner was unnamed at the time of his victory, but he was given the name "The Emperor" in honour of the visiting monarch. In return Nicholas offered a new trophy for the race — the "Emperor's Plate" — and this became the title of the event for a short period. Its original name was restored after nine years, during the Crimean War.
The Gold Cup is the first leg of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown, followed by the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup. The last horse to win all three races in the same year was Double Trigger in 1995.
The Gold Cup is one of three perpetual trophies at the Royal Ascot meeting, along with the Royal Hunt Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners. A number of horses have won it more than once, and the most successful is Yeats, who recorded his fourth victory in 2009.
Records
Most successful horse (4 wins):
- Yeats – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Leading jockey (11 wins):
- Lester Piggott – Zarathustra (1957), Gladness (1958), Pandofell (1961), Twilight Alley (1963), Fighting Charlie (1965), Sagaro (1975, 1976, 1977), Le Moss (1979), Ardross (1981, 1982)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- William Chifney – Anticipation (1816), Belville (1818), Marcellus (1823), Memnon (1827), Zinganee (1829)
- John Scott – Glaucus (1834), Touchstone (1836, 1837), Woolwich (1851), West Australian (1854)
- Tom Jennings, Sr. – Gladiateur (1866), Mortemer (1871), Henry (1872), Verneuil (1878), Gold (1890)
- John Porter – Blue Gown (1868), Isonomy (1879, 1880), Althorp (1886), William the Third (1902)
- Alec Taylor, Jr. – Love Wisely (1896), Bayardo (1910), Aleppo (1914), Gay Crusader (1917), Gainsborough (1918)
- Henry Cecil – Le Moss (1979, 1980), Ardross (1981, 1982), Paean (1987)
- Aidan O'Brien – Yeats (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Fame and Glory (2011)
Leading owner (5 wins): (includes part ownership)
- Sue Magnier – Yeats (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Fame and Glory (2011)
Winners since 1949
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
1949 | Alycidon | 4 | Doug Smith | Walter Earl | 18th Earl of Derby | |
1950 | Supertello | 4 | Doug Smith | John Waugh | Wilfred Harvey | 4:25.00 |
1951 | Pan | 4 | Roger Poincelet | Etienne Pollet | Eugène Constant | 4:22.40 |
1952 | Aquino | 4 | Gordon Richards | Sam Armstrong | Maharanee of Baroda | 4:29.60 |
1953 | Souepi | 5 | Charlie Elliott | George Digby | George Digby | 4:35.20 |
1954 | Elpenor | 4 | Jacques Doyasbère | Charlie Elliott | Marcel Boussac | 4:32.80 |
1955 | Botticelli | 4 | Enrico Camici | Enrico della Rocchetta | Mario della Rocchetta | 4:29.02 |
1956 | Macip | 4 | Serge Boullenger | Charlie Elliott | Marcel Boussac | 4:48.80 |
1957 | Zarathustra | 6 | Lester Piggott | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | Terence Gray | 4:23.93 |
1958 | Gladness | 5 | Lester Piggott | Vincent O'Brien | John McShain | 4:30.18 |
1959 | Wallaby | 4 | Freddie Palmer | Percy Carter | Geoffroy de Waldner | 4:34.02 |
1960 | Sheshoon | 4 | George Moore | Alec Head | Prince Aly Khan | 4:28.42 |
1961 | Pandofell | 4 | Lester Piggott | Freddie Maxwell | H. Warwick Daw | 4:30.32 |
1962 | Balto | 4 | Freddie Palmer | Max Bonaventure | André Rueff | 4:48.04 |
1963 | Twilight Alley | 4 | Lester Piggott | Noel Murless | Lady Sassoon | 4:52.95 |
no race 1964 [a] | ||||||
1965 | Fighting Charlie | 4 | Lester Piggott | Freddie Maxwell | Lady Mairi Bury | 4:34.47 |
1966 | Fighting Charlie | 5 | Greville Starkey | Freddie Maxwell | Lady Mairi Bury | 4:34.56 |
1967 | Parbury | 4 | Joe Mercer | Derek Candy | Herbert Holt | 4:36.05 |
1968 | Pardallo | 5 | Bill Pyers | Mick Bartholomew | Suzy Volterra | 4:35.84 |
1969 | Levmoss | 4 | Bill Williamson | Seamus McGrath | Seamus McGrath | 4:25.60 |
1970 | Precipice Wood | 4 | Jimmy Lindley | Rosemary Lomax | Bobby McAlpine | 4:27.35 |
1971 | Random Shot [b] | 4 | Geoff Lewis | Arthur Budgett | Mrs G. Benskin | 4:41.39 |
1972 | Erimo Hawk [c] | 4 | Pat Eddery | Geoffrey Barling | Y. Yamamoto | 4:28.69 |
1973 | Lassalle | 4 | Jimmy Lindley | Richard Carver, Jr. | Zenya Yoshida | 4:33.46 |
1974 | Ragstone | 4 | Ron Hutchinson | John Dunlop | 16th Duke of Norfolk | 4:35.01 |
1975 | Sagaro | 4 | Lester Piggott | François Boutin | Gerry Oldham | 4:48.60 |
1976 | Sagaro | 5 | Lester Piggott | François Boutin | Gerry Oldham | 4:26.15 |
1977 | Sagaro | 6 | Lester Piggott | François Boutin | Gerry Oldham | 4:28.25 |
1978 | Shangamuzo | 5 | Greville Starkey | Michael Stoute | Mrs E. Charles | 4:27.30 |
1979 | Le Moss | 4 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | Carlo d'Alessio | 4:25.22 |
1980 | Le Moss | 5 | Joe Mercer | Henry Cecil | Carlo d'Alessio | 4:28.40 |
1981 | Ardross | 5 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | Charles St George | 4:51.23 |
1982 | Ardross | 6 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | Charles St George | 4:35.24 |
1983 | Little Wolf | 5 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | Lord Porchester | 4:24.36 |
1984 | Gildoran | 4 | Steve Cauthen | Barry Hills | Robert Sangster | 4:18.81 |
1985 | Gildoran | 5 | Brent Thomson | Barry Hills | Robert Sangster | 4:25.19 |
1986 | Longboat | 5 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | Dick Hollingsworth | 4:22.11 |
1987 | Paean | 4 | Steve Cauthen | Henry Cecil | Lord Howard de Walden | 4:33.26 |
1988 | Sadeem [d] | 5 | Greville Starkey | Guy Harwood | Sheikh Mohammed | 4:15.67 |
1989 | Sadeem | 6 | Willie Carson | Guy Harwood | Sheikh Mohammed | 4:22.68 |
1990 | Ashal | 4 | Richard Hills | Harry Thomson Jones | Hamdan Al Maktoum | 4:28.58 |
1991 | Indian Queen | 6 | Walter Swinburn | Lord Huntingdon | Sir Gordon Brunton | 4:23.90 |
1992 | Drum Taps | 6 | Frankie Dettori | Lord Huntingdon | Yoshio Asakawa | 4:18.29 |
1993 | Drum Taps | 7 | Frankie Dettori | Lord Huntingdon | Yoshio Asakawa | 4:32.57 |
1994 | Arcadian Heights | 6 | Michael Hills | Geoff Wragg | John Pearce | 4:27.67 |
1995 | Double Trigger | 4 | Jason Weaver | Mark Johnston | Ron Huggins | 4:20.25 |
1996 | Classic Cliche | 4 | Michael Kinane | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 4:23.20 |
1997 | Celeric | 5 | Pat Eddery | David Morley | Christopher Spence | 4:26.19 |
1998 | Kayf Tara | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 4:32.36 |
1999 | Enzeli | 4 | Johnny Murtagh | John Oxx | HH Aga Khan IV | 4:18.85 |
2000 | Kayf Tara | 6 | Michael Kinane | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 4:24.53 |
2001 | Royal Rebel | 5 | Johnny Murtagh | Mark Johnston | Peter Savill | 4:18.92 |
2002 | Royal Rebel | 6 | Johnny Murtagh | Mark Johnston | Peter Savill | 4:25.64 |
2003 | Mr Dinos | 4 | Kieren Fallon | Paul Cole | Constantine Shiacolas | 4:20.15 |
2004 | Papineau | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 4:20.90 |
2005 | Westerner [e] | 6 | Olivier Peslier | Elie Lellouche | Ecurie Wildenstein | 4:19.49 |
2006 | Yeats | 5 | Kieren Fallon | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Nagle | 4:20.45 |
2007 | Yeats | 6 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Nagle | 4:20.78 |
2008 | Yeats | 7 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Nagle | 4:21.14 |
2009 | Yeats | 8 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Nagle | 4:20.73 |
2010 | Rite of Passage | 6 | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | Dr Ronan Lambe | 4:16.92 |
2011 | Fame and Glory | 5 | Jamie Spencer | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier et al. | 4:37.51 |
a The race was abandoned in 1964 because of waterlogging.
b c Rock Roi finished first in 1971 and 1972, but he was disqualified both times.
d Royal Gait was first in 1988, but he was relegated to last place following a stewards' inquiry.
e The 2005 running took place at York.
Earlier winners
- 1807: Master Jackey
- 1808: Brighton
- 1809: Anderida
- 1810: Loiterer
- 1811: Jannette
- 1812: Flash
- 1813: Lutzen
- 1814: Pranks
- 1815: Aladdin
- 1816: Anticipation
- 1817: Sir Richard
- 1818: Belville
- 1819: Anticipation
- 1820: Champignon
- 1821: Banker
- 1822: Sir Huldibrand
- 1823: Marcellus
- 1824: Bizarre
- 1825: Bizarre
- 1826: Chateau Margaux
- 1827: Memnon
- 1828: Bobadilla
- 1829: Zinganee
- 1830: Lucetta
- 1831: Cetus
- 1832: Camarine
- 1833: Galata
- 1834: Glaucus
- 1835: Glencoe
- 1836: Touchstone
- 1837: Touchstone
- 1838: Grey Momus
- 1839: Caravan
- 1840: St Francis
- 1841: Lanercost
- 1842: Beeswing
- 1843: Ralph
- 1844: The Emperor
- 1845: The Emperor
- 1846: Alarm
- 1847: The Hero
- 1848: The Hero
- 1849: Van Tromp
- 1850: The Flying Dutchman
- 1851: Woolwich
- 1852: Joe Miller
- 1853: Teddington
- 1854: West Australian
- 1855: Fandango
- 1856: Winkfield
- 1857: Skirmisher
- 1858: Fisherman
- 1859: Fisherman
- 1860: Rupee
- 1861: Thormanby
- 1862: Asteroid
- 1863: Buckstone
- 1864: The Scottish Chief
- 1865: Ely
- 1866: Gladiateur
- 1867: Lecturer
- 1868: Blue Gown
- 1869: Brigantine
- 1870: Sabinus
- 1871: Mortemer
- 1872: Henry
- 1873: Cremorne
- 1874: Boiard
- 1875: Doncaster
- 1876: Apology
- 1877: Petrarch
- 1878: Verneuil
- 1879: Isonomy
- 1880: Isonomy
- 1881: Robert the Devil
- 1882: Foxhall
- 1883: Tristan
- 1884: St Simon
- 1885: St Gatien
- 1886: Althorp
- 1887: Bird of Freedom
- 1888: Timothy
- 1889: Trayles
- 1890: Gold
- 1891: Morion
- 1892: Buccaneer
- 1893: Marcion
- 1894: La Fleche
- 1895: Isinglass
- 1896: Love Wisely
- 1897: Persimmon
- 1898: Elf
- 1899: Cyllene
- 1900: Merman
- 1901: Santoi
- 1902: William the Third
- 1903: Maximum
- 1904: Throwaway
- 1905: Zinfandel
- 1906: Bachelor's Button
- 1907: The White Knight
- 1908: The White Knight
- 1909: Bomba
- 1910: Bayardo
- 1911: Willonyx
- 1912: Prince Palatine
- 1913: Prince Palatine
- 1914: Aleppo
- 1915–16: no race
- 1917: Gay Crusader
- 1918: Gainsborough
- 1919: By Jingo!
- 1920: Tangiers
- 1921: Periosteum
- 1922: Golden Myth
- 1923: Happy Man
- 1924: Massine
- 1925: Santorb
- 1926: Solario
- 1927: Foxlaw
- 1928: Invershin
- 1929: Invershin
- 1930: Bosworth
- 1931: Trimdon
- 1932: Trimdon
- 1933: Foxhunter
- 1934: Felicitation
- 1935: Tiberius
- 1936: Quashed
- 1937: Precipitation
- 1938: Flares
- 1939: Flyon
- 1940: no race
- 1941: Finis
- 1942: Owen Tudor
- 1943: Ujiji
- 1944: Umiddad
- 1945: Ocean Swell
- 1946: Caracalla
- 1947: Souverain
- 1948: Arbar
* The race was run at Newmarket during the wartime periods of 1917–18 and 1941–44.
See also
References
- galopp-sieger.de – Ascot Gold Cup.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Gold Cup (2011).
- pedigreequery.com – Ascot Gold Cup – Ascot.
- tbheritage.com – Ascot Gold Cup.
- Abelson, Edward (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 88–92. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.
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