Chester Cup
Encyclopedia
The Chester Cup is a flat
horse race
in Great Britain
open to thoroughbred
s aged four years or older. It is run at Chester
over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards (3,755 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.
The event was established in 1824, and it was originally called the Tradesmen's Cup. It was initially a limited handicap with a minimum weight of , but it later became a full handicap. It was renamed the Chester Cup in 1893.
The race was formerly contested over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 97 yards. It was extended by 20 yards in 1992, and its present length was introduced in 1994.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
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Leading jockey
(4 wins):
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Leading trainer
(4 wins):
The 1983 running was abandoned because of a waterlogged course.
Recurring sporting events established in 1824 – this race is included under its original title, Tradesmen's Cup.
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
open to thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s aged four years or older. It is run at Chester
Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse, known as the Roodee, is according to official records the oldest racecourse still in use in England. Horse racing at Chester dates back to the early sixteenth century. It is also thought to be the smallest racecourse of significance in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong ...
over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards (3,755 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.
The event was established in 1824, and it was originally called the Tradesmen's Cup. It was initially a limited handicap with a minimum weight of , but it later became a full handicap. It was renamed the Chester Cup in 1893.
The race was formerly contested over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 97 yards. It was extended by 20 yards in 1992, and its present length was introduced in 1994.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- LeamingtonLeamington (horse)Leamington was a Thoroughbred racehorse, and an influential sire in the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. He was not only a fast horse, but also showed great staying ability....
– 1857, 1859 - Dalby – 1865, 1866
- Pageant – 1877, 1878
- Dare Devil – 1892, 1893
- Chivalrous – 1922, 1923
- Sea PigeonSea PigeonSea Pigeon was a racehorse who excelled in both National Hunt and flat racing.As a son of the great Derby winner Sea Bird II, Sea Pigeon was bred to be a high class horse on the flat, but his efforts as a three-year-old were slightly lacklustre - trained by Jeremy Tree, he ran in the 1973 Epsom...
– 1977, 1978 - Top Cees – 1995, 1997
- Rainbow High – 1999, 2001
- Anak Pekan – 2004, 2005
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Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
(4 wins):
- Sam Darling – Independence (1831), Colwick (1832), Pickpocket (1833), Cardinal Puff (1839)
- Lester PiggottLester PiggottLester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....
– Sandiacre (1958), Aegean Blue (1966), Major Rose (1968), John Cherry (1976)
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Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
(4 wins):
- Barry HillsBarry HillsBarry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...
– Arapahos (1980), Rainbow High (1999, 2001), Daraahem (2009)
Winners since 1975
- Weights given in stones and poundPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
s.Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer SP Time 1975 Super Nova 5 7-07 Ernie Johnson Charlie Hall 1976 John Cherry 5 9-04 Lester Piggott Lester PiggottLester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....Jeremy Tree Jeremy TreeArthur Jeremy Tree, was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.-Background:Born into a prominent London, England family, Tree was always known by his middle name, Jeremy. His father was Ronald Tree, an American-born British journalist, investor and Conservative Member of Parliament for the...1977 Sea Pigeon Sea PigeonSea Pigeon was a racehorse who excelled in both National Hunt and flat racing.As a son of the great Derby winner Sea Bird II, Sea Pigeon was bred to be a high class horse on the flat, but his efforts as a three-year-old were slightly lacklustre - trained by Jeremy Tree, he ran in the 1973 Epsom...7 8-08 Mark Birch Peter Easterby Peter EasterbyMiles Henry 'Peter' Easterby is a retired British racehorse trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer three times....1978 Sea Pigeon Sea PigeonSea Pigeon was a racehorse who excelled in both National Hunt and flat racing.As a son of the great Derby winner Sea Bird II, Sea Pigeon was bred to be a high class horse on the flat, but his efforts as a three-year-old were slightly lacklustre - trained by Jeremy Tree, he ran in the 1973 Epsom...8 9-07 Mark Birch Peter Easterby Peter EasterbyMiles Henry 'Peter' Easterby is a retired British racehorse trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer three times....1979 Charlotte's Choice 4 8-04 Willie Carson Willie CarsonWilliam Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.-Life and career:Best known as "Miserable Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire...Bill Wightman 1980 Arapahos 5 9-05 Steve Cauthen Steve CauthenSteve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat...Barry Hills Barry HillsBarry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...1981 Donegal Prince 5 8-04 Paddy Young Paul Kelleway 1982 Dawn Johnny 5 8-08 Walter Swinburn Walter SwinburnWalter R. Swinburn is a retired flat racing jockey who competed in Great Britain and Ireland as well as internationally.Swinburn was born in Oxford...Michael Stoute Michael StouteSir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972...no race 1983 1984 Contester 4 8-02 Geoff Baxter Peter Cundell 1985 Morgans Choice 8 7-11 Willie Carson Willie CarsonWilliam Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.-Life and career:Best known as "Miserable Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire...John Hill 1986 Western Dancer 5 9-00 Paul Cook Con Horgan 4:10.49 1987 Just David 4 9-08 Michael Roberts Michael Roberts (jockey)Michael Roberts is a South African jockey currently residing in Suffolk, England, with his wife Verna and two daughters, Melanie and Carolyn. Roberts has had a successful career, winning many English and South African races multiple times. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey in 1992...Alec Stewart 3:57.26 1988 Old Hubert 7 7-08 Taffy Thomas Alan Bailey 4:34.58 1989 Grey Salute 6 8-07 Pat Eddery Pat EdderyPatrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...John Jenkins 3:57.99 1990 Travelling Light 4 9-01 Alan Munro Alan Munro (jockey)Alan Munro is a top English flat racing jockey and considered one of the most successful English jockeys in the history of the sport.He has won many major races including the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby in 1991...Lynda Ramsden F 4:10.18 1991 Star Player 5 8-10 Frankie Dettori Frankie DettoriLanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...John Baker 4:13.41 1992 Welshman 6 7-08 Jimmy Quinn Jimmy Quinn (jockey)James "Jimmy" Quinn is an Irish professional horse racing flat jockey. One of the highlights of Quinn's career came when he won the Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse with Kingsgate Native....Michael Blanshard 3:57.96 1993 Rodeo Star 7 7-13 Nicky Carlisle Nigel Tinkler 4:02.51 1994 Doyce 5 7-10 Gary Bardwell Robert Williams 4:03.18 1995 Top Cees 5 8-08 Kieren Fallon Kieren FallonKieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....Lynda Ramsden 4:03.35 1996 Merit 4 7-10 Jimmy Quinn Jimmy Quinn (jockey)James "Jimmy" Quinn is an Irish professional horse racing flat jockey. One of the highlights of Quinn's career came when he won the Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse with Kingsgate Native....Paul Cole Paul ColePaul F. I. Cole is a British racehorse trainer. Since 1987 he has been based at Whatcombe Estate in Oxfordshire, the former stables of Dick Dawson and Arthur Budgett....4:06.63 1997 Top Cees 7 8-11 Jimmy Fortune Jimmy Fortune (jockey)Jimmy Fortune is an Irish thoroughbred jockey who, through 2008, has 76 wins from 528 rides. He apprenticed with Jim Bolger in Ireland. He was first licensed in 1987 and his first win came in 1988 at Thirsk riding Hitchinstown...Lynda Ramsden 4:23.18 1998 Silence in Court 7 9-00 Allan Mackay Alan Bailey 4:06.63 1999 Rainbow High 4 9-00 Michael Hills Barry Hills Barry HillsBarry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...F 4:00.64 2000 Bangalore 4 7-10 Gary Bardwell Amanda Perrett Amanda PerrettAmanda Perrett is an English horse racing trainer and runs the Coombelands Racing Stables in Pulborough, West Sussex, England. Since she took over Coombelands in 1996 from her father, former champion trainer Guy Harwood, horses trained there have won over three hundred races and generated over...4:03.00 2001 Rainbow High 6 9-13 Richard Hughes Richard Hughes (jockey)Richard Hughes is an Irish flat jockey who most commonly rides in Great Britain. Born in Dublin, he is the son of successful National Hunt trainer, Dessie Hughes. His main provider of rides has been trainer Richard Hannon who is also his father in law andfrom 2001 to 2007 he was also retained by...Barry Hills Barry HillsBarry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...4:01.23 2002 Fantasy Hill 6 8-09 Pat Eddery Pat EdderyPatrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...John Dunlop John L. DunlopJohn L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995....4:00.20 2003 Hugs Dancer 6 8-11 Dean McKeown Dean McKeownDean Russell McKeown is a currently bannedBritish Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He embarked on his professional career as a teenager, earning his first win in 1977. While never a Champion jockey, McKeown has won a number of important Conditions races in the United Kingdom including three...James Given 4:04.89 2004 Anak Pekan 4 8-02 Philip Robinson Philip P. RobinsonPhilip Peter Robinson is an English flat racing jockey.The son of Peter Robinson, a jockey and trainer, he rode his first winner in 1978 at Great Yarmouth. He was British flat racing Champion Apprentice in 1979 and 1980. One of his most famous victories was his win on Pebbles, trained by Clive...Michael Jarvis Michael JarvisMichael Jarvis was a Thoroughbred horse trainer in England. Based in Newmarket, Jarvis trained numerous Group One winners including three winners of the British Haydock Sprint Cup. Jarvis's horses also won important races in Ireland, Germany and Italy. He kept approximately 80 horses in...F 4:10.90 2005 Anak Pekan 5 9-06 Philip Robinson Philip P. RobinsonPhilip Peter Robinson is an English flat racing jockey.The son of Peter Robinson, a jockey and trainer, he rode his first winner in 1978 at Great Yarmouth. He was British flat racing Champion Apprentice in 1979 and 1980. One of his most famous victories was his win on Pebbles, trained by Clive...Michael Jarvis Michael JarvisMichael Jarvis was a Thoroughbred horse trainer in England. Based in Newmarket, Jarvis trained numerous Group One winners including three winners of the British Haydock Sprint Cup. Jarvis's horses also won important races in Ireland, Germany and Italy. He kept approximately 80 horses in...4:14.60 2006 Admiral 5 8-01 John Egan Tim Pitt 4:03.34 2007 Greenwich Meantime 7 9-02 Paul Hanagan Richard Fahey 3:58.89 2008 Bulwark 6 9-04 Jim Crowley Ian Williams 4:06.57 2009 Daraahem 4 9-00 Richard Hills Barry Hills Barry HillsBarry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...4:04.01 2010 Mamlook 6 8-12 Richard Hughes Richard Hughes (jockey)Richard Hughes is an Irish flat jockey who most commonly rides in Great Britain. Born in Dublin, he is the son of successful National Hunt trainer, Dessie Hughes. His main provider of rides has been trainer Richard Hannon who is also his father in law andfrom 2001 to 2007 he was also retained by...David Pipe David Pipe (racehorse trainer)The son of the prolific horseracing trainer Martin Pipe David Pipe is the trainer of the David Johnson owned Comply or Die, who ridden by Timmy Murphy won the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree racecourse....F 4:03.74 2011 Overturn 7 8-13 Eddie Ahern Eddie AhernEddie Ahern is an Irish professional jockey.In 1997 he became champion apprentice in Ireland., Ahern has won 1084 races. In 2007 Ahern won the Hayes Golden Button Challenge. In December 2007 Ahern was banned from racing for 3 months for a whip offence...Donald McCain, Jr. Donald McCain, Jr.Donald McCain, Jr. is an English racehorse trainer and former jockey whose father, Ginger McCain, trained four Grand National winning horses.McCain, Jr., has trained four Cheltenham Festival winners as well as the 2011 Grand National winner, Ballabriggs....3:59.39
The 1983 running was abandoned because of a waterlogged course.
See also
- Horseracing in Great Britain
- List of British flat horse races
Recurring sporting events established in 1824 – this race is included under its original title, Tradesmen's Cup.