Which was the last Cheltenham Gold winner trained on British soil?

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is run over 3 miles, 2 furlongs on the New Course at Prestbury Park on the fourth, and final, day of the celebrated Cheltenham Festival in March each year. Worth £625,000 in guaranteed prize money, it is the most valuable weight-for-age steeplechase in the British National Hunt calendar and, arguably, the most prestigious race of ist kind to be find anywhere in the world. Valuable and prestigious it may be, but, since 2019 – when, coincidentally, the first-ever Cheltenham Gold Cup, dating from 1924, was reinstated as a perpetual trophy – the race has been ‘farmed’ by horses trained in Ireland.

In 2019, Al Boum Photo finally brought an end to the Gold Cup ‘hoodoo’ of perennial Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins, who had previously saddled the runner-up on six separate occasions. In 2020, shortly before the first coronavirus lockdown in Britain, Al Boum Photo won the ‘Blue Riband’ event again, thereby becoming the first horse since Best Mate, in 2003, to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years running. Mullins was also responsible for the 2023 winner, Galopin Des Champ and, in between times, Co. Waterford trainer weighed in with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard, who finished first and second, in reverse order, in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

To answer the headline question, though, the last Cheltenham Gold Cup winner trained on the British mainland was Native River, who, in 2018, fought a ding-dong battle with market rival Might Bite for most of the way, before asserting on the run-in to win by 4½ lengths in very game fashion. Trained by the now-retired Colin Tizzard in Milborne Port, near Sherborne, Dorset, Native River had finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2017 and went on to finish fourth in both 2019 and 2021.

What is the Jockey Club?

What is the Jockey Club? Originally founded in London in 1750, the Jockey Club moved to Newmarket soon afterwards, where it established its own rules of racing, initially applicable only to Newmarket Heath, but subsequently adopted nationally and internationally. Indeed, until 1993, when the governance of horse racing was ceded to the newly-formed British Horseracing Board (BHB), the Jockey Club was officially reponsible for the control and regulation of the sport in Britain.

The Jockey Club retained its regulatory responsibilities until 2006, when they, too, were ceded to the newly-formed Horserace Regulatory Authority (HRA). A year later, the BHB and HRA merged to form the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), such that governance and regulation of horse racing were, once again, performed by a single body.

Nowadays headquarterd in central London, the Jockey Club is the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the country. It operates a total of 15 racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Kempton Park and Newmarket, to name but a handful, and has various other commercial interests, including the National Stud. The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter, such that all the profits from its commercial activities are returned to racing.

Which is the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic more than once?

Which is the only horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic more than once? Run over 2,000 metres, or approximately a mile and a quarter, on a dirt surface, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the most valuable and prestigious race run during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Established, as a one-day fixture, in 1984 and expanded to two days in 2007, the Breeders’ Cup consists of a series of 14 Grade 1 races, run over a variety of distances, on dirt and turf, at one of a selection of venues throughout North America.

Nowadays worth $6 million in total prize money, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is always hotly contested and, as such, is notoriously difficult to win once, never mind twice. However, one horse, the quirky but hugely talented Tiznow, did manage to win back-to-back renewals in 2000 and 2001.

Trained by Jay Robbins in California and ridden, in all bar one of his races, by Chris McCarron, Tiznow did not race as a juvenile, but quickly made up into a useful three-year-old. On his first attempt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November, 2000, he made most of the running as was driven out in the closing stages to beat the so-called ‘Iron Horse’, Giant’s Causeway, trained by Aidan O’Brien, by a neck. A year later, at Belmont Park, Tiznow was involved in another tight finish, eventually edging out the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Sakhee, trained by John Dunlop, by a nose.

 

Belmont Stakes 2024: McPeek Will Run Mystik Dan

Belmont Stakes 2024: McPeek Will Run Mystik Dan Trainer Kenny McPeek has decided to run Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the $2 million Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga. Mystik Dan will face off against Preakness winner Seize the Grey, marking the first meeting of Derby and Preakness winners since 2013. Sierra Leone will also be in the field, who has been one of the best horses this year and narrowly lost out to Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby by a nose.

McPeek Leaning Toward Running Mystik Dan

Trainer Kenny McPeek is cautiously optimistic about entering Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan at the prestigious $2 million Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga. During a national conference call last week, McPeek mentioned that the final decision hinged on Mystik Dan’s performance and recovery from a key workout session over the weekend.

“We’re going to get our horse ready, and assuming everything goes right over the next few days, through the weekend, we’re looking forward to being part of it,” McPeek stated. He expressed confidence about the weekend’s preparations but underlined the importance of meticulous attention to the horse’s condition. Mystik Dan is a unique character in McPeek’s stable. “He’s a little tricky in that he’s a quiet type, and we don’t want to miss anything,” the trainer noted, signaling his awareness of the horse’s nuances.

Mystik Dan did everything McPeek was looking for, and as a result, he was entered in this week’s Belmont Stakes. He’ll face a significant challenge in the form of Preakness winner Seize the Grey, setting the stage for the first encounter between the Derby and Preakness titlists since Orb and Oxbow in 2013. Additionally, Sierra Leone will be in the field along with Mindframe, both of whom lead the field as the favorites going into the weekend.

Fans and analysts alike keenly await the outcome, with high hopes for an exciting race when both top contenders meet on the track. For those looking to add an extra layer of excitement, it’s a great opportunity to bet on 2024 Belmont Stakes online.

Mystik Dan’s Road to the Belmont Stakes

Mystik Dan’s journey to the Belmont Stakes has been an exhilarating saga, capturing the attention of racing enthusiasts and analysts nationwide. His Kentucky Derby victory, achieved by a nose over Sierra Lone, demonstrated not just his speed but also his indomitable spirit. Sierra Leon’e sentry into the Belmont adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming race as he figures to be the favorite come post-time.

In the Preakness, Mystik Dan finished a respectable second, trailing 2-1/4 lengths behind the formidable Seize the Grey. McPeek expressed his preference for the Belmont due to logistical reasons—remaining at Saratoga eliminates the need for shipping Mystik Dan to other races, like the Grade 1 Haskell on July 20 at Monmouth Park. McPeek sees this as a strategic advantage, allowing them to stay focused and conserve the horse’s energy for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 24, also at Saratoga, and possibly the Pennsylvania Derby before setting sights on the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Both Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna were on a significant workout on Saturday morning over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track. The two horses trained in conjunction, though not directly against each other, reflecting McPeek’s meticulous approach to their conditioning.

“We want to run, we do; we just got to make sure that all boxes are checked, t’s are crossed, and i’s are dotted,” McPeek remarked, underscoring the importance of thorough readiness.

The anticipation builds as the racing world watches McPeek’s next moves, hoping to see Mystik Dan strive for glory in the prestigious Belmont Stakes.

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