How many times did Walter Swinburn win the Derby?

The late Walter Swinburn, who suffered a fatal head injury after falling from a window at his home in Belgravia, Central London in December, 2016, aged 55, was best known as the jockey of Shergar, on whom he won the Derby for the first time in 1981. Affectionately nicknamed the ‘Choirboy’ because of his youthful looks, Swinburn was just 19 years old when he partnered Shergar to a record 10-length success at Epsom. Indeed, his unparalleled rout of seventeen rivals led BBC commentator Peter Bromley to exclaim, ‘There’s only one horse in it. You need a telescope to see the rest!’

Swinburn won the Derby again in 1986 on Shahrastani who, like Shergar, was owned by
Shāh Karim al-Husayni, a.k.a. Aga Khan IV, trained by Michael Stoute and won the Sandown Classic Trial in impressive fashion en route to Epsom. In a contentious renewsal, Shahrastani, was sent off 11/2 second favourite behind the unbeaten Dancing Brave, but took the lead two furlongs out and held on by an ever-diminishing half a length.

Nine years later, in 1995, Swinburn won his third and final Derby on Lammtara, owned by Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, following the murder of his original trainer, Alex Scott, the previous September. Making just his second start ever, and returning from a 302-day absence, Lammtara was sent off at 14/1 at Epsom, but produced a strong burst inside the final furlong to lead close home and beat Tamure by a length.

Which British racecourse has the longest circuit?

The British racecourse with the longest, uninterrupted circuit is Pontefract in West Yorkshire. Pontefract, which has no straight course, is a left-handed, undulating oval, 2 miles and 125 yards in circumference. Pontefract was established in 1790, but has undergone major redevelopment more than once in its history. As far as the layout of the course is concerned, in April, 1983, the original horseshoe, approximately a mile and a half in extent, was extended to form a complete oval, with no gaps or chutes.

Indeed, Pontefract now stages the aptly-named Pontefract Marathon Handicap, over a distance of 2 miles 5 furlongs and 139 yards, in April each year. The longest Flat handicap run in Britain, the Pontefract Marathon Handicap is just four yards shorter than the Queen Alexandra Stakes, a condition stakes race run at Royal Ascot, which has the distinction of being the longest Flat race run under rules not only in Britain, but anywhere in the world.

With pronounced undulations and a sharp turn into the home straight, which is only two furlongs long, Pontefract Racecourse can hardly be described as ‘galloping’. However, the last three-quarters of a mile is essentially uphill, steeply so for the final three furlongs, so the emphasis is very much on stamina. Sprint races are run around a left-hand bend, but any draw bias in these races is minimal.

 

Since 1980, how many Derby winners have won the King George in the same season?

To avoid any confusion, the ‘King George’, in this case, refers to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is run over a mile and a half at Ascot in July. Since 1980, a total of seven Derby winners have won the race in the same season as their success in the Epsom Classic; interestingly, since 2000, just two have done so.

In 1981, after winning the Derby by a record 10 lengths, Shergar, trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Walter Swinburn, made short work of six rivals at Ascot, winning by 4 lengths at odds of 2/5. Reference Point, trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Steve Cauthen, and Nashwan, trained by Dick Hern and ridden by Willie Carson, justified favouritism in both the Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in 1987 and 1989, respectively.

In 1991, Generous, trained by Paul Cole and ridden by Alan Munro, won the Derby by 5 lengths and the King George by a record 7 lengths. In 1995, Lammtara, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, returned from a 302-day absence to win the Derby under Walter Swinburn, breaking the track record in the process, and followed up in the King George, under Frankie Dettori.

In 2001, Galileo, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Mick Kinane, beat a strong field, headed by 2,000 Guineas winner Golan, at Epsom and justified odds-on favouritism at Ascot. After a lengthy hiatus, in 2021, the Frankel colt Adayar, trained by Charlie Appleby, became the latest three-year-old to complete the Derby – King George double.

Which was the most successful horse in the Queen Mother Champion Chase?

The Queen Mother Champion Chase was inaugurated, as the National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase, in 1959, before being renamed in 1980 to commemorate the eightieth birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In its history, a total of twelve horses, including Sprinter Sacre – the third highest-rated steeplechaser in the history of Timeform, behind only Arkle and Flying Bolt – have won the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice. However, just one has won the two-mile steeplechasing championship three times.

The horse in question was, of course, Badsworth Boy, who was trained at Poplar House Stables in Harewood, West Yorkshire by three different members of the Dickinson family. On the first occasion he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase, in 1983, Badsworth Boy was saddled by Michael Dickinson, who had taken over the training licence from his father, Tony, three years earlier. Badsworth won by a ‘distance’ – later measured as 36 lengths – from Artifice and stable companion Rathgorman.

Michael Dickinson was still at the helm when Badsworth Boy followed up in 1984, beating the enigmatic Little Bay by 10 lengths. However, by the time Badsworth Boy lined up, as a 10-year-old, for his hat-trick attempt in 1985, Michael Dickinson had departed Poplar House Stables for pastures new – as private trainer to Robert Sangster at Manton, Wiltshire – and handed his licence on to his mother, Monica. Nevertheless, under the watchful eye of ‘Mrs. D.’, Batchworth Boy, who was suffering from arthritis and othe ailments, beat Far Bridge by 10 lengths to earn a place in Cheltenham Festival folklore.

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