Big Buck's
Encyclopedia
Big Buck's is a National Hunt
racehorse
trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls
and specialising in racing over hurdles. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival Big Buck's made history by winning 3 consecutive World Hurdle
s, beating Grands Crus by one and a half lengths. He also confirmed his status as the greatest staying hurdler in history.
Barbers Shop. He then ran in the Bathwick Tyres Andover Novices' Chase and was just beaten by Moon Over Miami
.
winning by 2 lengths.
he went on to come in 3rd in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase
and then went to the Cheltenham Festival
for the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase
where he finished 7th behind Finger OnThe Pulse.
After the Festival he went to the Aintree to win the Mildmay Novices' Chase
by 2 1/4 lengths, beating Battlecry (Horse).
While Ruby Walsh was injured Sam Thomas rode him in the Hennessy Gold Cup, where Big Buck's blundered and unseated Thomas.
where he finished first, beating Don't Push It
. He went on to win the Cleeve Hurdle
, beating the odds-on favourite Punchestowns by four lengths. This was his prep race for the World Hurdle
.
On 12 March 2009 was the World Hurdle where Kasbah Bliss was the odds on favourite to win and Punchestowns the 100-30 second favourite.
Big Buck's and Punchestowns both jumped the last fence together, but Big Bucks made a mistake. It didn't take anything out of him and he won by 1 3/4 lengths, with Powerstation third and Kasbah Bliss in fourth.
Big Buck's went to Aintree for the Liverpool Hurdle
but not many horses could complete in both the Cheltenham and Aintree double. He went on to beat Mighty Man
by 3 1/4 lengths, who won this race in 2006 & 2007
. In every race prior to the World Hurdle Big Buck's destroyed all opponents not even coming off the bridle once. When it came to the big event itself, it was billed a straight head to head between Big Buck's the reigning and unbeaten champion and the fast progressing Grands Crus. They both traveled well throughout the race and two out Big Buck's went to the lead being pushed out by jockey Ruby Walsh
. However at the time Grands Crus looked to be traveling slightly the better, as Tom Scudamore looked to still be on the bridle, and went alongside the greatest staying hurdler of all time at the last and jumped it well. Big Buck's, who is known to be very idle in front, caught sight of Grands Crus and quickly accelerated away to win a third consecutive World Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths, confirming his status as the greatest of all time in the staying hurdle division.
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...
racehorse
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...
trained in Britain by 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...
and specialising in racing over hurdles. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival Big Buck's made history by winning 3 consecutive World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
s, beating Grands Crus by one and a half lengths. He also confirmed his status as the greatest staying hurdler in history.
4 Year Old Season
Big Buck's won the Mar-key Group Beginners' Chase beating the Queen's horseHorse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
Barbers Shop. He then ran in the Bathwick Tyres Andover Novices' Chase and was just beaten by Moon Over Miami
Moon Over Miami
Moon Over Miami may refer to:* Moon Over Miami , 1941 musical* Moon Over Miami , 1993 comedy* "Moon Over Miami"...
.
5 Year Old Season
He started the season with a win in the Mc Seafoods Novices' Chase ridden by Ruby WalshRuby Walsh
Ruby 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:...
winning by 2 lengths.
he went on to come in 3rd in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase
Kingmaker Novices' Chase
The Kingmaker Novices' 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 Warwick over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
and then went to the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
for the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase
Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase
The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase is a Listed National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
where he finished 7th behind Finger OnThe Pulse.
After the Festival he went to the Aintree to win the Mildmay Novices' Chase
Mildmay Novices' Chase
The Mildmay Novices' Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Mildmay course at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped...
by 2 1/4 lengths, beating Battlecry (Horse).
While Ruby Walsh was injured Sam Thomas rode him in the Hennessy Gold Cup, where Big Buck's blundered and unseated Thomas.
6 Year Old Season
He ran his first race this season in 2009 at CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
where he finished first, beating Don't Push It
Don't Push It
Don't Push It is a Grand National-winning thoroughbred racehorse.- Debut :Don't Push It began his career on the 5th December 2004 at Warwick Racecourse in a National Hunt Flat race . He finished 3rd.- 2005-2006 Season :...
. He went on to win the Cleeve Hurdle
Cleeve Hurdle
The Cleeve Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
, beating the odds-on favourite Punchestowns by four lengths. This was his prep race for the World Hurdle
World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
.
On 12 March 2009 was the World Hurdle where Kasbah Bliss was the odds on favourite to win and Punchestowns the 100-30 second favourite.
Big Buck's and Punchestowns both jumped the last fence together, but Big Bucks made a mistake. It didn't take anything out of him and he won by 1 3/4 lengths, with Powerstation third and Kasbah Bliss in fourth.
Big Buck's went to Aintree for the Liverpool Hurdle
Liverpool Hurdle
The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped...
but not many horses could complete in both the Cheltenham and Aintree double. He went on to beat Mighty Man
Mighty Man
Mighty Man is a fictional hero created by Erik Larsen some years before he began drawing professional comics, possibly in his adolescence. He has been a major character in Larsen's self-created title Savage Dragon and its spin-off Freak Force, as well as in Gary Carlson's Big Bang Comics series...
by 3 1/4 lengths, who won this race in 2006 & 2007
2010-2011 Season
In the 2010-2011 season Big Buck's was once again aimed at the Ladbrokes World HurdleWorld Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
. In every race prior to the World Hurdle Big Buck's destroyed all opponents not even coming off the bridle once. When it came to the big event itself, it was billed a straight head to head between Big Buck's the reigning and unbeaten champion and the fast progressing Grands Crus. They both traveled well throughout the race and two out Big Buck's went to the lead being pushed out by jockey Ruby Walsh
Ruby Walsh
Ruby 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:...
. However at the time Grands Crus looked to be traveling slightly the better, as Tom Scudamore looked to still be on the bridle, and went alongside the greatest staying hurdler of all time at the last and jumped it well. Big Buck's, who is known to be very idle in front, caught sight of Grands Crus and quickly accelerated away to win a third consecutive World Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths, confirming his status as the greatest of all time in the staying hurdle division.