The British Champions Long Distance Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 7 furlongs and 209 yards (3,209 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.
Group 2 race | |
Location | Ascot Racecourse Ascot, England |
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Inaugurated | 1873 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Sponsor | QIPCO |
Website | Ascot |
Race information | |
Distance | 1m 7f 209y (3,209 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
Weight | 8 st 13 lb (3yo); 9 st 7 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares |
Purse | £500,000 (2021) 1st: £283,550 |
2023 | ||
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Trawlerman | Kyprios | Sweet William |
History
The event was originally held at Newmarket under the title Jockey Club Cup. It was established in 1873, and was initially contested over 2¼ miles.
The distance of the race was shortened to 1½ miles in 1959. It was extended to its current length in 1963. The event was given Group 3 status in 1971.
For a period the Jockey Club Cup was staged during Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Meeting. It was switched to the venue's Champions Day fixture in 2000. It had a prize fund of £65,000 in 2010.[1]
The race was transferred to Ascot and given its present name in 2011. It became part of the newly created British Champions Day, and its purse was increased to £200,000. It now serves as the long-distance final of the British Champions Series and was upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 from its 2014 running.[2]
Records
Most successful horse (5 wins):
- Further Flight – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
Leading jockey (7 wins):
- Sir Gordon Richards – Brumeux (1930), Brulette (1932), Felicitation (1934), Foxglove II (1938), Shahpoor (1943), Vic Day (1948, 1949)
Leading trainer (7 wins):
- Barry Hills – Further Flight (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), Rainbow High (1999), Tastahil (2010)
Winners since 1978
Earlier winners
- 1873: Flageolet
- 1874: Gang Forward
- 1875: Carnelion
- 1876: Braconnier
- 1877: Verneuil
- 1878: Silvio
- 1879: Jannette
- 1880: Chippendale
- 1881: Corrie Roy
- 1882: Chippendale
- 1883: Ladislas
- 1884: St Gatien
- 1885: St Gatien
- 1886: St Gatien
- 1887: Carlton
- 1888: Reve d'Or
- 1889: Sheen
- 1890: Wild Monk
- 1891: Patrick Blue
- 1892: Buccaneer
- 1893: Lady Rosebery
- 1894: Callistrate
- 1895: Florizel II
- 1896: Canterbury Pilgrim
- 1897: Count Schomberg
- 1898: Merman
- 1899: Mazagan
- 1900: Osbech
- 1901: King's Courier
- 1902: Black Sand
- 1903: Mead
- 1904: Zinfandel
- 1905: Pretty Polly
- 1906: Bachelor's Button
- 1907: Radium
- 1908: Radium
- 1909: Amadis
- 1910: Lagos
- 1911: Willonyx
- 1912: Aleppo
- 1913: Aleppo
- 1914: Son-in-Law
- 1915: Son-in-Law
- 1916: Hurry On
- 1917: Brown Prince
- 1918: Queen's Square
- 1919: Gay Lord
- 1920: no race
- 1921: Nippon
- 1922: Bucks Hussar
- 1923: Tranquil
- 1924: Plack
- 1925: Bucellas
- 1926: Bongrace
- 1927: Mont Bernina
- 1928: Invershin
- 1929: Fairway
- 1930: Brumeux
- 1931: Noble Star
- 1932: Brulette
- 1933: Nitsichin
- 1934: Felicitation
- 1935: Quashed
- 1936: Quashed
- 1937: Buckleigh
- 1938: Foxglove II
- 1939: no race
- 1940: Atout Maitre[lower-alpha 1]
- 1941: no race
- 1942: Afterthought
- 1943: Shahpoor
- 1944: Ocean Swell
- 1945: Amber Flash
- 1946: Felix
- 1947: Laurentis
- 1948: Vic Day
- 1949: Vic Day
- 1950: Colonist II
- 1951: Eastern Emperor
- 1952: Blarney Stone
- 1953: Ambiguity
- 1954: Yorick
- 1955: Romany Air
- 1956: Donald
- 1957: Flying Flag
- 1958: French Beige
- 1959: Vacarme
- 1960: Parthia
- 1961: Apostle
- 1962: Pardao
- 1963: Gaul
- 1964: Oncidium
- 1965: Goupi
- 1966: Hermes
- 1967: Dancing Moss
- 1968: Riboccare
- 1969: High Line
- 1970: High Line
- 1971: High Line
- 1972: Irvine
- 1973: Parnell
- 1974: Petty Officer
- 1975: Blood Royal
- 1976: Bright Finish
- 1977: Grey Baron
- The 1940 running took place at Nottingham over 2 miles and 4 furlongs
See also
- Horse racing in Great Britain
- List of British flat horse races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1873 – this race is included under its original title, Jockey Club Cup.