Royal Hunt Cup
Encyclopedia
The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat
handicap horse race
in Great Britain
open to thoroughbred
s aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot
over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, and it was extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course, and it usually features a large field.
The Royal Hunt Cup is currently held on the second day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup
and the Queen's Vase
, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Most successful horse (2 wins):
----
Leading jockey
(4 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(5 wins):
The 2005 running took place at York
.
in 1941.
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 Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
History
The event was established in 1843, and it was originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards. The inaugural running was won by Knight of the Whistle, with a triple dead-heat for second between Bourra Tomacha, Epaulette and Garry Owen.The race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, and it was extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course, and it usually features a large field.
The Royal Hunt Cup is currently held on the second day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
and the Queen's Vase
Queen's Vase
The Queen's Vase is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Master Vote – 1947, 1948
----
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):
- Charles Wood – Thuringian Prince (1875), The Mandarin (1879), Elzevir (1883), Gay Hermit (1887)
- 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....
– Spaniard's Close (1963), Casabianca (1965), Kamundu (1969), Jumping Hill (1976)
----
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...
(5 wins):
- James Jewitt – Sweetbread (1882), Elzevir (1883), Shillelagh (1888), Suspender (1892), Knight of the Thistle (1897)
Winners since 1980
- 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 1980 Tender Heart 4 9-00 Joe Mercer Joe Mercer (jockey)Joseph Mercer is a retired English Thoroughbred race horse jockey. He was active as a jockey from 1947 to 1985 and rode a total of 2,810 winners in Britain, a figure exceeded only by Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Doug Smith at the time of Mercer’s retirement, and subsequently only...John Sutcliffe, Jr. 1981 Teamwork 4 8-06 Greville Starkey Greville StarkeyGreville Starkey was an English jockey who rode almost 2,000 winners during a 33-year career on the flat.Starkey scaled the heights of his profession during his 33-year career in which he rode 1,989 winners on the Flat...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...1982 Buzzards Bay 4 8-12 Joe Mercer Joe Mercer (jockey)Joseph Mercer is a retired English Thoroughbred race horse jockey. He was active as a jockey from 1947 to 1985 and rode a total of 2,810 winners in Britain, a figure exceeded only by Sir Gordon Richards, Lester Piggott and Doug Smith at the time of Mercer’s retirement, and subsequently only...Hugh Collingridge 1983 Mighty Fly 4 9-03 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...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...1984 Hawkley 4 8-06 Tyrone Williams Patrick Haslam Patrick HaslamPatrick Haslam is a racehorse trainer based in Middleham, North Yorkshire. He is notable for having trained a winner on every race course in England, Scotland and Wales.- External links :*...1985 Come On The Blues 6 8-02 Chris Rutter Clive Brittain Clive BrittainClive Brittain is a British race-horse trainer. He began training as an apprentice in 1949, and on his own as a licensed trainer in the early 1970s. He currently trains at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk...1986 4 7-12 Richard Quinn 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....1:39.55 1987 Vague Shot 4 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...Robert Williams 1:46.53 1988 Governorship 4 9-06 John Reid John A. ReidJohn Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid (born August 6, 1955 in Banbridge County Down, Northern Ireland is a retired flat race jockey.Reid served as an apprentice in his native Ireland to Leslie Crawford, before moving to England and joining Verley Bewicke. His first Classic victory came...Charlie Nelson 1:40.96 1989 True Panache 4 9-04 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:...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...F 1:40.92 1990 Pontenuovo 5 7-07 Gary Bardwell 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...1:40.18 1991 Eurolink the Lad 4 8-09 John Reid John A. ReidJohn Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid (born August 6, 1955 in Banbridge County Down, Northern Ireland is a retired flat race jockey.Reid served as an apprentice in his native Ireland to Leslie Crawford, before moving to England and joining Verley Bewicke. His first Classic victory came...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....1:42.75 1992 Colour Sergeant 4 7-08 David Harrison Lord Huntingdon 1:38.07 1993 Imperial Ballet 4 8-12 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:...Henry Cecil Henry CecilSir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes....1:47.40 1994 Face North 6 8-03 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...Reg Akehurst 1:41.46 1995 Realities 5 9-00 Michael Kinane Michael KinaneMichael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....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...1:40.08 1996 Yeast 4 8-06 Kieren Fallon Kieren FallonKieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....William Haggas F 1:39.39 1997 Red Robbo 4 8-06 Olivier Peslier Olivier PeslierOlivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races....Reg Akehurst 1:40.30 1998 Refuse to Lose 4 7-11 Jason Tate James Eustace 1:43.21 1999 Showboat 5 8-06 Neil Pollard 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...1:38.59 2000 Caribbean Monarch 5 8-10 Kieren Fallon Kieren FallonKieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....Sir 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...1:41.91 2001 Surprise Encounter 5 8-09 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...Ed Dunlop 1:40.27 2002 Norton 5 8-09 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...Terry Mills 1:40.31 2003 Macadamia 4 8-13 Dane O'Neill 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...1:39.87 2004 Mine 6 9-05 Richard Quinn James Bethell 1:40.85 2005 New Seeker New Seeker (horse)New Seeker was a racehorse owned by Elite Racing Club.He was foaled on 1 March 2000. His sire was Green Desert and his dam was Ahbab.New Seeker raced solely on the Flat. His first race was on 21 September 2002 and his final race was on 30 May 2008....
5 9-00 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...Clive Cox 1:37.54 2006 Cesare 5 8-08 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...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...1:40.62 2007 Royal Oath 4 9-00 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...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...1:39.78 2008 Mr Aviator 4 9-05 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...Richard Hannon Richard HannonRichard Hannon is a British horse trainer based in East Everleigh Stables, Marlborough, Wiltshire.Hannon's family has a tradition of horse training—his father was also a horse trainer, his son Richard is currently the assistant trainer, and his son-in-law Richard Hughes is the stable jockey. ...1:39.63 2009 Forgotten Voice 4 9-01 Johnny Murtagh Johnny MurtaghJohnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world...Jeremy Noseda Jeremy NosedaJeremy Noseda is a British racehorse trainer.After six years working for John Dunlop, and five years as assistant to John Gosden, he joined Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation in late 1993, and played a significant role in training such horses as Lammtarra, Halling and Balanchine.He started...F 1:40.41 2010 Invisible Man 4 8-09 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...Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin SuroorSaeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation....1:37.16 2011 Julienas 4 8-08 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...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...1:38.53
The 2005 running took place at York
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
.
Earlier winners
* The race was run at NewburyNewbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
in 1941.