Gold Cup

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 The Gold Cup, the chasing crown, is a grade 1 race over 3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards and 22 fences of the New Course and is open to 5-year-olds and above. Although the first race at Cheltenham known as the Gold Cup was in July 1819, it was a flat race over 3 miles on the Cleeve Hill course and was won by Spectre owned by Mr Bodenham, and the race did continue for a number of years afterwards. However, it has no real connection with the present day pinnacle of National Hunt racing which was first contested on 12th March 1924 over 3 miles 3 furlongs. The race was not staged in 1931 due to frost, nor in 1937 due to flooding, and the Second World War prevented the race being held in both 1943 and 1944.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Gold Cup was on 12th March 1924 over 3 miles 3 furlongs and was won by Red Splash (5/1) owned by Major Humphrey Wyndham, trained by Fred Withington and ridden by Dick Rees, beating Conjuror II (7/1) and Gerald L (5/1).
Gold Cup 1945 Grade 1 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 RED ROWER D L Jones Stalbridge Lord Stalbridge 11/4 fav
2 SCHUBERT C Beechener Beechener Mrs Kieth Cameron 11/2
3 PALADIN P Conlon J Hall Mr J Hall 100/30
4 NOBLETOI Mr W Odlam Odlam Mr Odlam 50/1
5 CHAKA Ron Smyth H Smyth Mr Smyth 10/1
6 RED PRINCE T Carey G Beeby Mr G Beeby 7/1
7 INDIA II T Farmer G Bowsher Mr Bowsher 50/1
8 RIGHTUN T Rimell G Wilson Mr Wilson 20/1
9 PEACEFUL WALTER S Magee Chandler Mr Chandler 50/1
10 ELSICH F Wren W Redmond Mr K Edwards 50/1
11 FLYING SAINT T Isaac Vic Smyth Mr Smyth 7/1
12 NATIONAL HOPE R Young Young Mr Young 50/1
13 THE HACK J Moloney Yates Mr Yates 20/1
14 POET PRINCE R Burford Ivor Anthony Mr D Sherbrooke 11/2
15 WAY OUT J T Taylor T Taylor Mr Taylor 50/1
16 FARTHER WEST P Lay Kilpatrick Mr Kilpatrick 33/1
        Over round 138%
This race took place on Saturday 17th March 1945 when Red Rower beat Schubert and Paladin by 3 lengths and 1/2 lengths