Ayr Gold Cup
Encyclopedia
The Ayr Gold Cup is a flat
horse race
in Scotland
which is open to thoroughbred
s aged three years or older. It is run at Ayr
, over a distance of 6 furlong
s (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.
The event was established in 1804, and it was originally restricted to horses bred and trained in Scotland. It was initially contested over two separate heats of 2 miles, and for a long period thereafter it was a single race of 2 miles. It became a handicap in 1855, and its distance was cut to 6 furlongs in 1908. The Ayr Gold Cup is now the richest sprint handicap in Europe. It is presently sponsored by William Hill
.
Among its most popular winners was Roman Warrior, who became a national hero in Scotland after carrying top weight to win by a short head in 1975; he remains the last Scottish-trained horse to have won the race.
The current maximum number of runners is 27, taken from the highest-weighted horses entered for the race. Those eliminated are offered the chance to compete for the Ayr Silver Cup,and the next 27 to accept the offer run in that consolation race. Those still elimanted from the Silver are then offered the chance contest the Ayr Bronze Cup, which was introduced in 2009. Again, there are a maximum of 27 runners in this race. The results of the Bronze and Silver Cups, both run over the same course and distance, may hint at a possible draw advantage in the Gold Cup, although often the winners in each race have been drawn far apart.
The draw now takes place in public two days before the event at Ayr Racecourse. As the names of the runners are drawn, the trainer (or representative) is given 60 seconds to choose an available stall number for the horse.
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 Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
which is 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 Ayr
Ayr Racecourse
Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened on 1907. The track is a left-handed, oval track, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a straight run-in of half a mile. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing...
, over a distance of 6 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.
The event was established in 1804, and it was originally restricted to horses bred and trained in Scotland. It was initially contested over two separate heats of 2 miles, and for a long period thereafter it was a single race of 2 miles. It became a handicap in 1855, and its distance was cut to 6 furlongs in 1908. The Ayr Gold Cup is now the richest sprint handicap in Europe. It is presently sponsored by William Hill
William Hill (bookmaker)
William Hill plc is one of the largest bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Its headquarters is in the north London suburb of Wood Green and in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
.
Among its most popular winners was Roman Warrior, who became a national hero in Scotland after carrying top weight to win by a short head in 1975; he remains the last Scottish-trained horse to have won the race.
The current maximum number of runners is 27, taken from the highest-weighted horses entered for the race. Those eliminated are offered the chance to compete for the Ayr Silver Cup,and the next 27 to accept the offer run in that consolation race. Those still elimanted from the Silver are then offered the chance contest the Ayr Bronze Cup, which was introduced in 2009. Again, there are a maximum of 27 runners in this race. The results of the Bronze and Silver Cups, both run over the same course and distance, may hint at a possible draw advantage in the Gold Cup, although often the winners in each race have been drawn far apart.
The Draw
There is often much debate concerning the effect of the draw (the allocation of stall positions from which the horses start the race), and whether there is any advantage in being drawn low, middle or high. Horses with the highest stall numbers run on the stands' side, while those with low numbers are on the far side. However, there are no apparent trends when comparing the draw positions of previous winners.The draw now takes place in public two days before the event at Ayr Racecourse. As the names of the runners are drawn, the trainer (or representative) is given 60 seconds to choose an available stall number for the horse.
Winners since 1986
- 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...
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