Northumberland Plate
Encyclopedia
The Northumberland Plate is a flat
handicap horse race
in Great Britain
open to thoroughbred
s aged three years or older. It is run at Newcastle
over a distance of 2 miles and 19 yards (3,236 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.
, and it was part of a meeting first staged at Killingworth
in 1623. It was transferred to its present venue at Gosforth Park
in 1882.
The Northumberland Plate originally took place on a Wednesday, and for many years the meeting was a holiday for local mine workers. The race became popularly known as the "Pitmen's Derby". The meeting ceased to be a holiday in 1949, and the race was switched to a Saturday in 1952.
The Northumberland Plate is now one of the richest two-mile handicaps in the world. It has been sponsored by John Smith's
since 2003.
Most successful horse (3 wins):
----
Leading jockey
since 1985 (2 wins):
----
Leading trainer
since 1985 (3 wins):
.
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...
handicap 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 three years or older. It is run at Newcastle
Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.-History:...
over a distance of 2 miles and 19 yards (3,236 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.
History
The event was established in 1833, and the inaugural running was won by Tomboy. It was initially held at Town MoorTown Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Town Moor is a large area of common land in Newcastle upon Tyne. It covers an area of around 400ha, and is larger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath combined, stretching from the city centre and Spital Tongues in the south out to Cowgate/Kenton Bar to the west, Gosforth to the north and...
, and it was part of a meeting first staged at Killingworth
Killingworth
Killingworth, formerly Killingworth Township, is a town north of Newcastle Upon Tyne, in North Tyneside, United Kingdom.Built as a planned town in the 1960s, most of Killingworth's residents commute to Newcastle, or the city's surrounding area. However, Killingworth itself has a sizeable...
in 1623. It was transferred to its present venue at Gosforth Park
Gosforth Park
Gosforth Park is a park north of Gosforth in the borough of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It houses Newcastle Racecourse, a Marriott hotel, two golf courses, a garden centre and a football centre....
in 1882.
The Northumberland Plate originally took place on a Wednesday, and for many years the meeting was a holiday for local mine workers. The race became popularly known as the "Pitmen's Derby". The meeting ceased to be a holiday in 1949, and the race was switched to a Saturday in 1952.
The Northumberland Plate is now one of the richest two-mile handicaps in the world. It has been sponsored by John Smith's
John Smith's Brewery
John Smith's is a brewery founded in 1758 by Backhouse & Hartley at Tadcaster in North Yorkshire, England. John Smith bought the brewery in 1847. John Smith's is the sixth highest selling beer brand in the United Kingdom, and the highest selling ale brand. The brewery is currently owned by...
since 2003.
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins):
- Underhand – 1857, 1858, 1859
----
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:...
since 1985 (2 wins):
- Willie CarsonWillie 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...
– Al Maheb (1990), Celeric (1996) - Kevin DarleyKevin DarleyKevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain...
– Far Cry (1999), Bay of Islands (2000)
----
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...
since 1985 (3 wins):
- Paul ColePaul 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....
– Windsor Castle (1997), Cyrian (1998), Archduke Ferdinand (2001)
Winners since 1985
- 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 1985 Trade Line 4 7-10 Tyrone Williams Ron Sheather 1986 Sneak Preview 6 8-12 Simon Whitworth Henry Candy F 1987 Treasure Hunter 8 7-07 Lindsay Charnock Jimmy FitzGerald 3:32.69 1988 Stavordale 5 9-02 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...Harry Thomson Jones Harry Thomson JonesHarry Thomson Jones , often known as Tom Jones, was a British racehorse trainer whose career lasted from 1951 to 1996...F 3:25.36 1989 Orpheus 3 7-07 Richard Fox Richard Fox (jockey)Richard Daniel Stuart Fox was a Irish-born British jockey and actor.Fox was born on March 6, 1954, in Cork, Ireland. He began apprenticeship to Irish horse trainer Seamus McGrath when he was 14 years old....Guy Harwood Guy HarwoodGuy Harwood is a retired British racehorse trainer. Harwood was born in Pulborough, West Sussex, in 1939. Harwood began riding at the age of 18 and won 40 point-to-point races and 14 National Hunt races over the next few years...JF 3:29.68 1990 Al Maheb 4 8-11 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...Alec Stewart 3:28.96 1991 Tamarpour 4 7-07 Ernie Johnson Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....3:26.00 1992 Witness Box 5 9-09 George Duffield George DuffieldGeorge Duffield MBE is a retired English flat racing jockey.He served a seven year apprenticeship with Jack Waugh, and rode his first winner on 15 June 1967 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse on a horse called Syllable, trained by Waugh.He became stable jockey for trainer John C...John Gosden John GosdenJohn Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of...3:25.48 1993 Highflying 7 7-11 Joe Fanning George M. Moore 3:25.10 1994 Quick Ransom 6 8-08 Jason Weaver Jason Weaver (jockey)Jason Weaver is a former British flat racing jockey who had much of his major success in the mid 1990s. In total, Weaver rode more than 1,000 winners in a career which spanned fourteen years.-Biography:...Mark Johnston 3:24.86 1995 Bold Gait 4 9-10 David Harrison James Fanshawe James FanshaweJames Fanshawe is a British racehorse trainer.He principally trains flat horses such as multiple Group 1 winner Soviet Song. However, he has twice won the Champion Hurdle in 1992 with Royal Gait James Fanshawe is a British racehorse trainer.He principally trains flat horses such as multiple Group...3:27.36 1996 Celeric CelericCeleric is a retired, British Thoroughbred racehorse. He improved from running in minor handicaps to Group One level, and recorded his most important win in the 1997 Ascot Gold Cup. In the same year he was named European Champion Stayer at the Cartier Racing Awards. He won thirteen of his forty-two...4 9-04 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...David Morley F 3:27.33 1997 Windsor Castle 3 8-10 Richard Quinn 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....3:45.35 1998 Cyrian 4 7-13 Tim Sprake 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....3:47.19 1999 Far Cry 4 8-10 Kevin Darley Kevin DarleyKevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain...Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....JF 3:24.32 2000 Bay of Islands 8 8-04 Kevin Darley Kevin DarleyKevin Darley is a retired jockey, and a co-president of the Jockeys' Association of Great Britain...David Morris 3:26.09 2001 Archduke Ferdinand 3 8-04 Francis Norton 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....3:26.70 2002 Bangalore 6 9-05 Seb Sanders Seb SandersSeb Sanders is a flat race jockey.He came into racing by getting a job with trainer Bryan McMahon, and it was for McMahon that Sanders rode his first winner on 12 June 1990 on Band On The Run....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...3:29.10 2003 Unleash 4 8-11 Jamie Spencer Jamie SpencerJamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....3:31.13 2004 Mirjan 8 8-03 Paul Hanagan Len Lungo Len LungoLen Lungo is a Scottish champion race horse trainer and former jockey.Born 1949.Len Lungo is based at Hetland Hill stables in Dumfriesshire overlooking the Solway Firth....3:37.54 2005 Sergeant Cecil 6 8-08 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...Rod Millman 3:29.37 2006 Toldo 4 8-02 Nelson de Souza George M. Moore 3:27.48 2007 Juniper Girl 4 8-11 Luke Morris Michael Bell F 3:46.01 2008 Arc Bleu 7 8-02 Adrian Nicholls Tony Martin 3:37.71 2009 Som Tala 6 8-08 Tony Culhane Mick Channon Mick ChannonMichael Roger "Mick" Channon is a sportsman who enjoyed a career as a striker with Southampton and England in the 1970s and later became a hugely successful racehorse trainer.-Southampton:...3:45.10 2010 Overturn 6 8-07 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....3:28.05 2011 Tominator 4 8-05 Paul Pickard Reg Hollinshead 3:29.48
Earlier winners
* The 1946 running took place at AintreeAintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
.