Cheltenham Racecourse History | ||||
Although racing took place in Cheltenham as early as 1815 on Nottingham Hill, these were minor flat races, and the first occasion racing was staged on Cleeve Hill was on Tuesday 25th August 1818 when the opening race was won by Miss Tidmarsh, owned by Mr E Jones. However, the first time results were included in the Racing Calendar was in 1819 when a Flat card was witnessed by the Duke of Gloucester who donated 100 Guineas to the prize fund. By 1831 races were being staged at Prestbury, although not on the present day course, and three years later the Grand Annual Steeplechase was run for the first time. In 1839 Lottery won the Grand Annual having previously triumphed in the first Aintree Grand National, but the next year the meeting transferred to Andoversford for a brief period, only to return to Prestbury in 1847. The year 1902 was important in Cheltenham’s history because races moved to Prestbury Park, their present home, for the first time and the Festival was in its infancy. The new stands were completed in 1914 and the present day Festival races, as we know them, began to take shape. The Cheltenham Gold Cup, over 3 ¼ miles, was run for the first time in 1924, with the Champion Hurdle following three years later. The Festival has evolved over the past century into the glorious feast of racing it is today, and it can now be enjoyed from new stands which were opened in November 2015. Currently Cheltenham hosts 15 days racing annually, including the 4 day Festival. |
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Cheltenham continues to thrive today, whereas nearby Gloucester closed its gates for the final time in 1876. | ||||
The earliest record of racing in the Gloucestershire county town of Gloucester was on Friday 24th September 1734 on an oblong course of about a mile and a half around, with a straight run in of just under 2 furlongs, laid out in a meadow near the River Severn. The meeting opened with a £50 Purse which went to White Stockings for Mr Major, beating Lord Portmore’s Mouse and Lord Weymouth’s Whittington. One day later the £30 Purse was won by the Duke of Ancaster’s Crab, with the result shown below. Races continued to be staged on a regular basis until they lapsed after the 1842 meeting and were not re-introduced until October 1861 when the Badminton Stakes went to Violet, while the Gloucestershire Handicap, over a mile, saw Mr T Bell’s Gleam beat Lord Coventry’s Flitch. The final meeting took place on Wednesday 4th October 1876. Saturday 25th September 1734 |
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I am grateful to Ordnance Survey (© Crown Copyright) for permission to use the map shown below. | ||||
With grateful thanks to Richard and Jink Morris-Adams for donating many of the later badges shown below. | ||||
1910 Ladies | 1913 Ladies | 1924 Ladies | 1925 Ladies | 1929 Ladies |
1920 Ladies | 1921 Ladies | 1921 Gents | 1922 Gents | 1922 Ladies |
1924 The GOLD CUP was won by RED SPLASH trained by F Withington and ridden by F Rees. |
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1923 Gents | 1923 Ladies | 1924 Gents | 1925 Gents | 1926 Ladies |
1925 The GOLD CUP was won by BALLINLODE trained by F Morgan and ridden by T E Leader. 1926 The GOLD CUP was won by KOKO trained by A Bickley and ridden by J Hamey. 1927 The GOLD CUP was won by THROWN IN trained by O Anthony and ridden by Mr H Grosvenor. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by BLARIS trained by W Payne and ridden by G Duller. 1928 The GOLD CUP was won by PATRON SAINT trained by H S Harrison and ridden by F B Rees. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by BROWN JACK trained by A Hastings and ridden by L B Rees. |
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1928 Gents | 1928 Ladies | 1929 Ladies A | 1929 Ladies | 1930 Ladies A |
1929 The GOLD CUP was won by EASTER HERO trained by J Anthony and ridden by F B Rees. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by ROYAL FALCON trained by R Gore and ridden by F B Rees. 1930 The GOLD CUP was won by EASTER HERO trained by J Anthony and ridden by T Cullinan. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by BROWN TONY trained by J Anthony and ridden by T Cullinan. 1931 Neither the GOLD CUP nor the CHAMPION HURDLE were contested due to frost. 1932 The GOLD CUP was won by GOLDEN MILLER trained by A Briscoe and ridden by T Leader. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by INSURANCE trained by A Briscoe and ridden by T Leader. |
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1930 Gents | 1931 Gents | 1931 Ladies | 1932 Ladies | 1932 Ladies A |
1933 The GOLD CUP was won by GOLDEN MILLER trained by A Briscoe and ridden by W Stott. |
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1932 Gents | 1933 Ladies A | 1933 Ladies | 1933 Gents | 1934 Ladies A |
1934 The GOLD CUP was won by GOLDEN MILLER trained by A Briscoe and ridden by G Wilson. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by CHENANGO trained by I Anthony and ridden by D Morgan. |
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1934 Gents | 1934 Ladies | 1935 Ladies | 1935 Gents | 1936 Ladies |
1935 The GOLD CUP was won by GOLDEN MILLER trained by A Briscoe and ridden by G Wilson. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by LION COURAGE trained by F Brown and ridden by G Wilson. 1936 The GOLD CUP was won by GOLDEN MILLER trained by O Anthony and ridden by E Williams. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by VICTOR NORMAN trained by M Balir and ridden by H Nicholson. |
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1937 Ladies | 1937 Gents | 1938 Ladies | 1938 Gents | 1939 Gents |
1937 The GOLD CUP was not held because of flooding. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by FREE FARE trained by E Gwilt and ridden by G Pellerin. 1938 The GOLD CUP was won by MORSE CODE trained by I Anthony and ridden by D Morgan. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by OUR HOPE trained by R Gubbins and ridden by Capt. R Harding. 1939 The GOLD CUP was won by BRENDAN'S COTTAGE trained by G Beeby and ridden by G Owen. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by AFRICAN SISTER trained by C Piggott and ridden by K Piggott. |
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1936 Ladies A | 1937 Ladies | 1939 Ladies | 1949 Ladies | 1950 Ladies |
1939 Ladies Alternative | 1940 Gents | 1940 Ladies | 1941 Ladies | 1946 Ladies |
1940 The GOLD CUP was won by ROMAN HACKLE trained by O Anthony and ridden by E Williams. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by SOLFORD trained by O Anthony and ridden by S Magee. 1946 The GOLD CUP was won by PRINCE REGENT trained by T Dreaper and ridden by T Hyde. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by DISTEL trained by M Arnott and ridden by R O'Ryan. |
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1946 Ladies | 1947 Ladies | 1947 Gents | 1948 Ladies | 1948 Gents |
1947 The GOLD CUP was won by FORTINA trained by H Christie and ridden by Mr R Black. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by NATIONAL SPIRIT trained by V Smyth and ridden by D Morgan. 1948 The GOLD CUP was won by COTTAGE RAKE trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by A Brabazon. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by National Spirit trained by V Smyth and ridden by R Smyth. |
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1949 Gents | 1950 Ladies | 1950 Gents | 1951 Ladies A | 1951 Gents |
1949 The GOLD CUP was won by COTTAGE RAKE trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by A Brabazon. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by HATTON'S GRACE trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by A Brabazon. 1950 The GOLD CUP was won by COTTAGE RAKE trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by A Brabazon. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by HATTON'S GRACE trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by A Brabazon. |
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1951 Ladies | 1952 Gents | 1952 Ladies A | 1953 Ladies | 1953 Gents |
1951 The GOLD CUP was won by SILVER FAME trained by G Beeby and ridden by M Moloney. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by HATTON'S GRACE trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by A Brabazon. 1952 The GOLD CUP was won by MONT TREMBLANT trained by F Walwyn and ridden by D Dick. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by SIR KEN trained by W Stephenson and ridden by T Moloney. 1953 The GOLD CUP was won by KNOCK HARD trained by M V O'Brien and ridden by T Moloney. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by SIR KEN trained by W Stephenson and ridden by T Moloney. |
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1952 Ladies | 1954 Ladies | 1955 Ladies | 1961 Ladies | 1962 Ladies |
1954 Gents | 1954 Ladies A | 1955 Gents | 1956 Gents | 1956 Ladies |
1954 The GOLD CUP was won by FOUR TEN trained by J Roberts and ridden by T Cusack. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by SIR KEN trained by W Stephenson and ridden by T Moloney. 1955 The GOLD CUP was won by GAY DONALD trained by J Ford and ridden by A Grantham. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by CLAIR SOLEIL trained by H R Price and ridden by F Winter. 1956 The GOLD CUP was won by LIMBER HILL trained by W Dutton and ridden by J Power. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by DOORKNOCKER trained by W Hall and ridden by H Sprague. 1957 The GOLD CUP was won by LINWELL trained by I Herbert and ridden by M Scudamore. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by MERRY DEAL trained by A Jones and ridden by G Underwood. |
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1957 Gents | ||||
1958 Ladies | 1958 Gents | 1959 Gents | 1959 Ladies | 1960 Gents |
1958 The GOLD CUP was won by KERSTIN trained by C Bewicke and ridden by S Hayhurst. |
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1961 Gents | 1962 Gents | 1963 Gents | 1964 Gents | 1964 Ladies |
1961 The GOLD CUP was won by SAFFRON TARTAN trained by D Butchers and ridden by F Winter. |
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1963 Ladies | 1964 Ladies A | 1967 Ladies | 1970 Ladies | 1975 Ladies |
1965 Gents | 1965 Ladies | 1966 Gents | 1966 Ladies | 1967 Gents |
1965 The GOLD CUP was won by ARKLE trained by T Dreaper and ridden by P Taaffe. |
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1967 Ladies A | 1968 Gents | 1969 Ladies | 1969 Gents | 1970 Gents |
1968 The GOLD CUP was won by FORT LENEY trained by T Dreaper and ridden by P Taaffe. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by PERSIAN WAR trained by C H Davies and ridden by J Uttley. 1969 The GOLD CUP was won by WHAT A MYTH trained by Ryan Price and ridden by P Kelleway. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by PERSIAN WAR trained by C H Davies and ridden by J Uttley. 1970 The GOLD CUP was won by L’ESCARGOT trained by Dan Moore (Ire) and ridden by T Carberry. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by PERSIAN WAR trained by C H Davies and ridden by J Uttley. 1971 The GOLD CUP was won by L’ESCARGOT trained by Dan Moore (Ire) and ridden by T Carberry. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by BULA trained by Fred Winter and ridden by P Kelleway. |
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1971 Gents | 1972 Gents | 1972 Gents | 1973 Gents | 1973 Ladies |
1972 The GOLD CUP was won by GLENCARAIG LADY trained by Francis Flood (Ire) and ridden by F Berry. |
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1974 Gents | 1975 Gents | 1976 Gents | 1977 Gents | 1978 Gents |
1974 The GOLD CUP was won by CAPTAIN CHRISTY trained by Pat Taaffe (Ire) and ridden by B Beasley. |
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1979 Gents | 1980 Gents | 1981 Gents | 1982 Junior | 1982 Gents |
1979 The GOLD CUP was won by ALVERTON trained by Peter Easterby and ridden by Jonjo O’Neil. |
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1983 Junior | 1983 Gents | 1984 Senior | 1984 Gents | 1985 Senior |
1983 The GOLD CUP was won by BREGAWN trained by M Dickinson and ridden by G Bradley. |
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1985 Gents | 1986 Senior | 1986 Gents | 1987 Senior | 1987 Gents |
1986 The GOLD CUP was won by DAWN RUN trained by Paddy Mullins (Ire) and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by SEE YOU THEN trained by N Henderson and ridden by Steve Smith Eccles. 1987 The GOLD CUP was won by THE THINKER trained by A Stephenson and ridden by R Lamb. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by SEE YOU THEN trained by N Henderson and ridden by Steve Smith Eccles. |
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1988 Gents | 1989 Gents | 1989 Senior | 1989 Junior | 1990 Gents |
1988 The GOLD CUP was won by CHARTER PARTY trained by D Nicholson and ridden by R Dunwoody. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by CELTIC SHOT trained by Fred Winter and ridden by P Scudamore. 1989 The GOLD CUP was won by DESERT ORCHID trained by D Elsworth and ridden by S Sherwood. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by BEECH ROAD trained by T Balding and ridden by R Guest. 1990 The GOLD CUP was won by NORTON’S COIN trained by S Griffiths and ridden by G McCourt. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by KRIBENSIS trained by M Stoute and ridden by R Dunwoody. 1991 The GOLD CUP was won by GARRISON SAVANNAH trained by Mrs J Pitman and ridden by M Pitman. The CHAMPION HURDLE was won by MORLEY STREET trained by T Balding and ridden by J Frost. |
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1990 Junior | ||||
1990-91 Senior | 1990-91 Junior | 1991-92 Member | 1992-3 Junior | 1992-3 Member |
1992 The GOLD CUP was won by COOL GROUND trained by T Balding and ridden by A Maguire. |
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1993-4 Junior | 1993-4 Senior | 1994-5 Member | 1994-5 Senior | 1995-6 Member |
1996 The GOLD CUP was won by IMPERIAL CALL trained by F Sutherland (Ire) and ridden by C O’Dwyer. |
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1996-7 Member | 1997-8 Member | 1997-8 Senior | 1998-9 Senior | 1998-9 Member |
1999 The GOLD CUP was won by SEE MORE BUSINESS trained by P Nicholls and ridden by M Fitzgerald. |
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1999-2000 Member | 1999-2000 Senior | 2000 Guest Red | 2000 Guest Pink | 2000 Guest Orange |
2001 The GOLD CUP nor CHAMPION HURDLE was contested due to foot and mouth. |
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2000-01 Member | 2000-01 Senior | 2001-02 Senior | 2001-02 Member | 2001 Guest Pink |
2003 The GOLD CUP was won by BEST MATE trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden by J Culloty. |
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2002-03 Member | 2002-03 Senior | 2003-04 Member | 2003-04 Senior | 2004-05 Senior |
2005 The GOLD CUP was won by KICKING KING trained by T Taaffe (Ire) and ridden by B Geraghty. |
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2004-05 Member | 2005-06 Not Festival | 2005-06 Member | 2005-06 Senior | 2006-07 Member |
2007 The GOLD CUP was won by KAUTO STAR trained by P Nicholls and ridden by R Walsh. |
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2006-07 Senior | 2007-08 Senior | 2007-08 Member | 2008-09 Member | 2008-09 Not Festival |
2010 The GOLD CUP was won by IMPERIAL COMMANDER trained by N Twiston-Davies and ridden by P Brennan. |
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2009-10 Member | 2010-11 Not Festival | 2010-11 Member | 2011-12 Not Festival | 2011-12 Junior |
2013 The GOLD CUP was won by BOBS WORTH trained by N Henderson and ridden by B Geraghty. |
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2011-12 Passcard | 2014-15 Not Festival | 2012-13 Passcard | ||
2016 The GOLD CUP was won by DON COSSACK trained by G Elliott (Ire) and ridden by B Cooper. |
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2011-12 Member | 2012-13 Full Member | 2012-13 Non-Festival | 2012-13 Junior | 2013-14 Not Festival |
2017 The GOLD CUP was won by SIZING JOHN trained by Jessica Harrington (Ire) and ridden by Robbie Power. |
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2013-14 Full Member | 2014-15 Junior | 2014-15 Member | 2014-15 South West Junior | 2015-16 Junior |
2019 The GOLD CUP was won by AL BOUM PHOTO trained by Willie Mullins (Ire) and ridden by Paul Townend. |
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2015-16 Full Member | 2015-16 South West Junior | Chez Roux 16th March 2016 | Chez Roux 18th March 2016 | 2016 Gold Cup |
2016-17 Full Member | 2016-17 Non-Festival | 2016-17 South West Junior | Chez Roux 15th March 2017 | Chez Roux 17th March 2017 |
2017 Gold Cup | 2017-18 Full Member | 2017-18 Not Festival | 2017-18 (18-24) Member | 2017-18 South West Junior |
Chez Roux 14th March 2018 | Chez Roux 16th March 2018 | 2018-19 Full Member | 2018-19 (18-24) Member | 2018-19 Not Festival |
2020 Magners Gold Cup | 2020 Owners/Trainers | 2019-20 Not Festival | 2019-20 Including Festival | 2020-21 Including Festival |
2020-21 Member | 2021-22 Including Festival | 2021-22 Including Festival | 2021-22 Member | 2022-23 Member |
2023-24 Member Including | 2023-24 Member Excluding |