Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the biggest race of the Cheltenham Festival and the showpiece race on day four of the festival. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 race over three miles and two and a half furlongs with a total of 22 fences.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the biggest races in the National Hunt calendar and has a massive prize purse of around half a million pounds. Horses of five-years-old and older can enter.

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History of the Gold Cup 

The history of the Gold Cup began in 1924 when the first version of the race took place. Near exact replicas of this race have been run from as early as 1819 but it has only been recognised as the official Cheltenham Gold Cup since 1924.

The history of the Gold Cup is special because so many trainers in National Hunt Horse racing save their best performers for this race and also the Grand National. The history of the Gold Cup is also home to some of the most unique records of the Cheltenham Festival. In 1983 Michael Dickinson became the only trainer to have five horses finish first to fifth.

Records in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Due to the Cheltenham Gold Cup being such a big race, records in the Cheltenham Gold Cup are often held in higher esteem around the National Hunt world because the race is more difficult to be successful in.

Golden Miller is the most successful horse in the history of the Gold Cup with five wins back to back between 1932 and 1936.

Pat Taaffe has ridden more winners in the Cheltenham Gold Cup than any other jockey; Arkle (1964-66) and Fort Leney (1968).

Tom Dreaper holds one of the trainer records in the Cheltenham Gold Cup having trained five winners of the race; Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964, 1965, 1966), Fort Leney (1968).

Betting in the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Betting in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is among the busiest of any race in the National Hunt calendar. Betting in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is traditionally dominated by short priced favourites with punters enjoying bets on outsiders that could come through the field and upset the odds.

The scene on the Cheltenham racecourse for betting in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a unique one to behold. There are thousands of people all huddled around the bookmaking stalls at Cheltenham for this race. The scene has often been described as a picture of complete chaos.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Famous Horses

There are many Cheltenham Gold Cup famous horses that have made their names in the race and cemented their place in the history of the Gold Cup. Best Mate and Kauto Star are the two that come to mind in terms of the modern era.

Best Mate won the race three times on the spin between 2002 and 2004. Kauto Star first won the race in 2007, was beaten in 2008 and remarkably came back to win again in 2009.