Bet365 Gold Cup
Encyclopedia
The Bet365 Gold Cup is a Grade 3 National Hunt
chase in Great Britain
which is open to horses
aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs (5,934 metres), and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.
at the instigation of Colonel Bill Whitbread, the company's chairman, who had twice ridden in the Grand National
as an amateur jockey. It was the first commercial sponsorship in British sport, and the longest-running until it ended in 2001.
In recent years the race has been sponsored by At the Races
(2002–03), Betfred
(2004–07) and Bet365
(2008–10). The record for the longest-running sponsorship of a British horse race is now held by the Hennessy Gold Cup, which was launched seven months after the "Whitbread".
The Bet365 Gold Cup takes place at a meeting which features both jump and flat races. Other events at this meeting include the Celebration Chase
, the Gordon Richards Stakes
and the Sandown Mile
.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
----
Leading jockey
(3 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(7 wins):
The 1973 edition was run at Newcastle
over 3 miles and 6 furlongs.
Proud Tarquin (1974), Cahervillahow (1991) and Givus a Buck (1993) all finished first but were disqualified.
Recurring sporting events established in 1957 – this race is included under its original title, Whitbread Gold Cup.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
chase 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...
which is open to horses
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...
aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs (5,934 metres), and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.
History
The event was established in 1957, and it was originally called the Whitbread Gold Cup. It was sponsored by Whitbread BrewersWhitbread
Whitbread PLC is a global hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company headquartered in Dunstable, United Kingdom. Its largest division is Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with around 580 hotels and over 40,000 rooms. Its Costa Coffee chain has around 1,600 stores across 25...
at the instigation of Colonel Bill Whitbread, the company's chairman, who had twice ridden in the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
as an amateur jockey. It was the first commercial sponsorship in British sport, and the longest-running until it ended in 2001.
In recent years the race has been sponsored by At the Races
At the Races
At The Races is a British television channel, originally co-founded with Channel 4, but now owned by a partnership between British Sky Broadcasting, Arena Leisure Plc and 30 UK racecourses....
(2002–03), Betfred
Betfred
Betfred is a United Kingdom-based bookmaker, named after its co-founder Fred Done.Pronounced to rhyme with "bone". It was first established as a single shop in Ordsall, Salford, in 1967. Its turnover is over £3.5 billion having risen from £550 million in 2003. The company has more than 1350 betting...
(2004–07) and Bet365
Bet365
bet365 Group Limited, is a United Kingdom based gambling company. bet365 is one of the world’s leading online gambling groups with over 6 million customers in 200 different countries...
(2008–10). The record for the longest-running sponsorship of a British horse race is now held by the Hennessy Gold Cup, which was launched seven months after the "Whitbread".
The Bet365 Gold Cup takes place at a meeting which features both jump and flat races. Other events at this meeting include the Celebration Chase
Celebration Chase
The Celebration Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped...
, the Gordon Richards Stakes
Gordon Richards Stakes
The Gordon Richards Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.The event was established in 1963, and...
and the Sandown Mile
Sandown Mile
The Sandown Mile is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile and 14 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April....
.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Larbawn – 1968, 1969
- Diamond Edge – 1979, 1981
- Topsham Bay – 1992, 1993
- Ad Hoc – 2001, 2003
----
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:...
(3 wins):
- Ron Barry – Titus Oates (1971), Charlie Potheen (1973), The Dikler (1974)
----
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...
(7 wins):
- Fulke WalwynFulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....
– Taxidermist (1958), Mill House (1967), Charlie Potheen (1973), The Dikler (1974), Diamond Edge (1979, 1981), Special Cargo (1984)
Winners
- 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; Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer 1957 Much Obliged 9 10-12 Johnny East Neville Crump 1958 Taxidermist 6 10-08 Mr John Lawrence John Lawrence, 2nd Baron OakseyJohn Geoffrey Tristram Lawrence, 4th Baron Trevethin, 2nd Baron Oaksey is a British aristocrat, horse racing journalist and television commentator/presenter, and former amateur jockey. He is the son of the noted jurist Geoffrey Lawrence, 1st Baron Oaksey. He prefers to be called Oaksey although...Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1959 Done Up 9 10-13 Harry Sprague Ryan Price H. Ryan PriceHenry Ryan Price 16 August 1912 - 16 August 1986) was a British Thoroughbred horse trainer in both flat and National Hunt racing.Born in Hindhead, Surrey, he is known by his middle name, Ryan. He began his career in horse racing as a jockey based at East Lavant in West Sussex. In 1937, he...1960 Plummers Plain 7 10-00 Ron Harrison Syd Dale 1961 Pas Seul 8 12-00 Dave Dick Bob Turnell 1962 Frenchman's Cove 7 11-03 Stan Mellor 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...1963 Hoodwinked 8 10-09 Pat Buckley Neville Crump 1964 Dormant 7 09-07 Pat Buckley Neville Crump 1965 Arkle ArkleArkle was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, his grandsire was the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath by Mrs. Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin...8 12-07 Pat Taaffe Pat TaaffePat Taaffe died in 1992 in Dublin Hospital, aged just 62. His health had been poor for some time.Taaffe is a National Hunt jockey who famously rode Arkle to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1964 and 1966...Tom Dreaper Tom DreaperThomas William Dreaper was a successful Irish steeplechase racehorse trainer. He is best known for being the trainer of Arkle and Flyingbolt....1966 What a Myth 9 09-08 Paul Kelleway Ryan Price H. Ryan PriceHenry Ryan Price 16 August 1912 - 16 August 1986) was a British Thoroughbred horse trainer in both flat and National Hunt racing.Born in Hindhead, Surrey, he is known by his middle name, Ryan. He began his career in horse racing as a jockey based at East Lavant in West Sussex. In 1937, he...1967 Mill House 10 11-11 David Nicholson David Nicholson (horse racing)David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1968 Larbawn 9 10-09 Macer Gifford Michael Marsh 1969 Larbawn 10 11-04 Josh Gifford Josh GiffordJosh Gifford is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was a four-time Champion Jockey, riding 642 winners in his career....Michael Marsh 1970 Royal Toss 8 10-00 Richard Pitman Richard PitmanRichard Pitman, is a retired jump jockey who rode 470 winners in his career including Lanzarote in the 1974 Champion Hurdle). He also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse twice, the Whitbread Gold Cup once and the Hennessy Gold Cup once....Tim Handel 1971 Titus Oates 9 11-13 Ron Barry Ron BarryRon Barry was a professional, British, jump jockey with a career spanning 1960 to 1980s.He won the Bet365 Gold Cup three times in 1971, 1973, and 1974. In 1969, he won the Scottish Grand National, the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, and the Mackeson Gold Cup...Gordon W. Richards Gordon W. RichardsThis article is about the racehorse trainer. For the jockey, see Gordon Richards----Gordon W. Richards was a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing...1972 Grey Sombrero 8 09-10 Bill Shoemark David Gandolfo 1973 Charlie Potheen 8 12-00 Ron Barry Ron BarryRon Barry was a professional, British, jump jockey with a career spanning 1960 to 1980s.He won the Bet365 Gold Cup three times in 1971, 1973, and 1974. In 1969, he won the Scottish Grand National, the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, and the Mackeson Gold Cup...Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1974 The Dikler 11 11-13 Ron Barry Ron BarryRon Barry was a professional, British, jump jockey with a career spanning 1960 to 1980s.He won the Bet365 Gold Cup three times in 1971, 1973, and 1974. In 1969, he won the Scottish Grand National, the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup, and the Mackeson Gold Cup...Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1975 April Seventh 9 09-13 Steve Knight Bob Turnell 1976 Otter Way 8 10-10 Jeff King Oliver Carter 1977 Andy Pandy 8 10-12 John Burke Fred Rimell 1978 Strombolus 7 10-00 Tommy Stack Tommy StackTommy Stack is a former National Hunt racing jockey and current National Hunt trainer. As a jockey, he is probably best-known for piloting Red Rum to a third Grand National victory. Stack was National Hunt Champion Jockey for the 1974-75 and 1976-77 seasons. He got his first trainer's license in...Peter Bailey 1979 Diamond Edge 8 11-11 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1980 Royal Mail 10 11-05 Philip Blacker Stan Mellor 1981 Diamond Edge 10 11-07 Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1982 Shady Deal 9 10-00 Richard Rowe Richard Rowe (horse racing)Richard Rowe is a National Hunt racehorse trainer and a former jockey in the United Kingdom.-Career as a jockey:* 1982 - Whitbread Gold Cup winner Shady Deal* 1988 - Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner Yeoman Broker...Josh Gifford Josh GiffordJosh Gifford is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was a four-time Champion Jockey, riding 642 winners in his career....1983 Drumlargan 9 10-10 Mr Frank Codd Edward O'Grady 1984 Special Cargo 11 11-02 Kevin Mooney Fulke Walwyn Fulke WalwynFulke Thomas Tyndall Walwyn was a British jockey and racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He was born in Wrexham and died in Newbury.He was educated at Malvern College....1985 By the Way 7 11-00 Robert Earnshaw Monica Dickinson 1986 Plundering 9 10-06 Simon Sherwood Fred Winter Fred Winter (horse racing)Frederick Thomas Winter was a British National Hunt racing racehorse jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Jockey four times and British jump racing Champion Trainer eight times. He is the only person to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National as both...1987 Lean Ar Aghaidh 10 09-10 Guy Landau Stan Mellor 1988 Desert Orchid Desert OrchidDesert Orchid , affectionately known as Dessie, was an English racehorse. The gallant grey achieved iconic status within National Hunt racing, where he was much loved by supporters for his front-running attacking style, iron will and extreme versatility. He was rated the fifth best National Hunt...9 11-11 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth David ElsworthDavid Elsworth is a horse trainer living in the United Kingdom. He is perhaps best known for being the trainer of Desert Orchid, 1988 Grand National winner Rhyme 'n' Reason and 1990 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Barnbrook Again - just three horses amongst a host of top-class performers over...1989 Brown Windsor 7 10-00 Michael Bowlby Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...1990 Mr Frisk 11 10-05 Mr Marcus Armytage Marcus ArmytageMarcus Armytage is a journalist and former National Hunt jockey who won the Grand National as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk. He was educated at Eton College....Kim Bailey 1991 Docklands Express 9 10-03 Anthony Tory Kim Bailey 1992 Topsham Bay 9 10-01 Hywel Davies David Barons 1993 Topsham Bay 10 10-01 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...David Barons 1994 Ushers Island 8 10-00 Charlie Swan Howard Johnson 1995 Cache Fleur 9 10-01 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...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....1996 Life of a Lord 10 11-10 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'BrienAidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....1997 Harwell Lad 8 10-00 Mr Rupert Nuttall Robert Alner Robert AlnerRobert Alner is a British racehorse trainer specializing in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Droop, near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, England. He trained the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cool Dawn in 1998....1998 Call It a Day 8 10-10 Adrian Maguire Adrian MaguireAdrian Maguire, born 29 April 1971 in Kilmessan, County Meath, Ireland, is a racehorse trainer and former jockey.Maguire began his career in Irish pony racing at the age of nine, in which he rode more than 200 winners. In 1990 he rode his first winner under rules, at Sligo, before his first victory...David Nicholson David Nicholson (horse racing)David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....1999 Eulogy 9 10-00 Barry Fenton Richard Rowe Richard Rowe (horse racing)Richard Rowe is a National Hunt racehorse trainer and a former jockey in the United Kingdom.-Career as a jockey:* 1982 - Whitbread Gold Cup winner Shady Deal* 1988 - Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner Yeoman Broker...2000 Beau 7 10-09 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....2001 Ad Hoc 7 10-04 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2002 Bounce Back 6 10-09 Tony McCoy Tony McCoyAnthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....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....2003 Ad Hoc 9 10-10 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2004 Puntal PuntalPuntal is a National Hunt racehorse, who won the Betfred Gold Cup in 2004 and who ran in five consecutive Grand Nationals from 2003 to 2007 with limited success. He was formally trained in France before moving to Martin Pipe in 2002...8 11-04 Danny Howard 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....2005 Jack High 10 10-00 Garrett Cotter Ted Walsh Ted WalshTed Walsh is an amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer, based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. He was born and raised in Co. Cork. As a rider, one of his most important wins was on Attitude Adjuster in the 1986 Cheltenham Festival Foxhunter Chase...2006 Lacdoudal LacdoudalLacdoudal is a National Hunt racehorse, owned by Mrs R. J. Skan. He won the Betfred Gold Cup in 2006 when he was ridden by Richard Johnson and trained by Philip Hobbs.-References:* *...7 11-05 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....2007 Hot Weld 8 10-00 Graham Lee Graham Lee (jockey)Graham Lee is a successful Irish National Hunt jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to May 2006, he was the main stable jockey for Howard Johnson, but was replaced by Paddy Brennan, allegedly after a disagreement over his return from an injury. Lee became the main stable jockey and deputy...Ferdy Murphy 2008 Monkerhostin 11 10-13 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....2009 Hennessy 8 10-07 Tony McCoy Tony McCoyAnthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....Carl Llewellyn 2010 Church Island 11 10-05 Adrian Heskin Michael Hourigan 2011 Poker de Sivola 8 10-12 Timmy Murphy Timmy MurphyTimothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...Ferdy Murphy
The 1973 edition was 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 3 miles and 6 furlongs.
Proud Tarquin (1974), Cahervillahow (1991) and Givus a Buck (1993) all finished first but were disqualified.
See also
- Horseracing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
Recurring sporting events established in 1957 – this race is included under its original title, Whitbread Gold Cup.