The Chester Cup

The Chester Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open tothoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards (3,755 metres) at Chester racecourse in May.

History

The event was established in 1824, and it was originally called the Tradesmen's Cup. It was initially a limited handicap with a minimum weight of 8 st 2 lb.
For a period the race was known as the Tradesmen's Plate. During this time it was open to horses aged three or older.
The race was renamed the Chester Trades' Cup in 1874. From this point it was often referred to as the Chester Cup, and that became its usual title in 1884.
The Chester Cup was formerly contested over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 77 yards. It was abandoned in 1969, and extended by 20 yards in 1970.
The distance of the race was changed to 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 117 yards in 1992. It was increased to its present length in 1994.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Leamington – 1857, 1859
Dalby – 1865, 1866
Pageant – 1877, 1878
Dare Devil – 1892, 1893
Chivalrous – 1922, 1923
Sea Pigeon – 1977, 1978

Leading jockey (4 wins):

Sam Darling – Independence (1831), Colwick (1832), Pickpocket (1833), Cardinal Puff (1839)
Lester Piggott – Sandiacre (1958), Aegean Blue (1966), Major Rose (1968), John Cherry (1976)

Leading trainer (4 wins):

Barry Hills – Arapahos (1980), Rainbow High (1999, 2001), Daraahem (2009)

Winners since 1975

Weights given in stones and pounds.


Year Winner Jockey             Trainer           SP
1975 Super Nova Ernie Johnson Charlie Hall 11/2
1976 John Cherry Lester Piggott Jeremy Tree 5/1
1977 Sea Pigeon Mark Birch Peter Easterby 7/1
1978 Sea Pigeon Mark Birch Peter Easterby 10/1
1979 Charlotte's Choice Willie Carson Bill Wightman 10/1
1980 Arapahos Steve Cauthen Barry Hills 7/2
1981 Donegal Prince Paddy Young Paul Kelleway 12/1
1982 Dawn Johnny Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 14/1
1983 no race [a]
1984 Contester Geoff Baxter Peter Cundell 22/1
1985 Morgans Choice Willie Carson John Hill 13/2
1986 Western Dancer Paul Cook Con Horgan 14/1
1987 Just David Michael Roberts Alec Stewart 10/1
1988 Old Hubert Taffy Thomas Alan Bailey 33/1
1989 Grey Salute Pat Eddery John Jenkins 7/1
1990 Travelling Light Alan Munro Lynda Ramsden 5/2 F
1991 Star Player Frankie Dettori John Baker 9/2
1992 Welshman Jimmy Quinn Michael Blanshard 11/1
1993 Rodeo Star Nicky Carlisle Nigel Tinkler 9/1
1994 Doyce Gary Bardwell Robert Williams 14/1
1995 Top Cees Kieren Fallon Lynda Ramsden 8/1
1996 Merit Jimmy Quinn Paul Cole 11/2
1997 Top Cees Jimmy Fortune Lynda Ramsden 11/2
1998 Silence in Court Allan Mackay Alan Bailey 13/2
1999 Rainbow High Michael Hills Barry Hills 4/1 F
2000 Bangalore Gary Bardwell Amanda Perrett 16/1
2001 Rainbow High Richard Hughes Barry Hills 9/2
2002 Fantasy Hill Pat Eddery John Dunlop 8/1
2003 Hugs Dancer Dean McKeown James Given 9/1
2004 Anak Pekan Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis 2/1 F
2005 Anak Pekan Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis 16/1
2006 Admiral John Egan Tim Pitt 28/1
2007 Greenwich Meantime Paul Hanagan Richard Fahey 14/1
2008 Bulwark Jim Crowley Ian Williams 33/1
2009 Daraahem Richard Hills Barry Hills 7/1
2010 Mamlook Richard Hughes David Pipe 7/1 F
2011 Overturn Eddie Ahern Donald McCain 11/2
2012 Ile de Re Jim Crowley Donald McCain 10/1
2013 Address Unknown Jamie Spencer Richard Fahey 12/1

The 1983 running was abandoned because of a waterlogged course.


Earlier winners 

1824: Doge of Venice
1825: Hymettus
1826: Brutandorf
1827: Grenadier
1828: Fylde
1829: Halston
1830: Felt
1831: Independence
1832: Colwick
1833: Pickpocket
1834: The Cardinal
1835: Birdlime
1836: Tanworth
1837: General Chasse
1838: King Cole
1839: Cardinal Puff
1840: Dey of Algiers
1841: Cruiskeen
1842: Alice Hawthorn
1843: Millepede
1844: Red Deer
1845: Intrepid
1846: Corranna
1847: St Lawrence
1848: Peep-o-Day-Boy
1849: Malton
1850: Mounseer
1851: Nancy
1852: Joe Miller
1853: Goldfinder
1854: Epaminondas
1855: Scythian
1856: One Act
1857: Leamington
1858: Vanity
1859: Leamington
1860: St Albans
1861: Ben Webster
1862: Tim Whiffler
1863: Asteroid
1864: Flash in the Pan
1865: Dalby
1866: Dalby
1867: Beeswing
1868: Paul Jones
1869: Knight of the Garter
1870: Our Mary Ann
1871: Glenlivat
1872: Inveresk
1873: Field Marshal
1874: Organist
1875: Freeman
1876: Tam o'Shanter
1877: Pageant
1878: Pageant
1879: Reefer
1880: Fashion
1881: Windsor
1882: Prudhomme
1883: Biserta
1884: Havock
1885: Merry Prince
1886: Eastern Emperor
1887: Carlton
1888: Kinsky
1889: Mill Stream
1890: Tyrant
1891: Vasistas
1892: Dare Devil
1893: Dare Devil
1894: Quaesitum
1895: Kilsallaghan
1896: The Rush
1897: Count Schomberg
1898: Up Guards
1899: Uncle Mac
1900: Roughside
1901: David Garrick
1902: Carabine
1903: Vendale
1904: Sandboy
1905: Imari
1906: Feather Bed
1907: Querido
1908: Glacis
1909: Santo Strato
1910: Elizabetta
1911: Willonyx
1912: Rathlea
1913: The Guller
1914: Aleppo
1915: Hare Hill
1916–18: no race
1919: Tom Pepper
1920: Our Stephen
1921: no race
1922: Chivalrous
1923: Chivalrous
1924: Rugeley
1925: Spithead
1926: Hidennis
1927: Dark Japan
1928: St Mary's Kirk
1929: First Flight
1930: Mountain Lad
1931: Brown Jack
1932: Bonny Brighteyes
1933: Dick Turpin
1934: Blue Vision
1935: Damascus
1936: Cho-sen
1937: Faites vos Jeux
1938: Mr Grundy
1939: Winnebar
1940–45: no race
1946: Retsel
1947: Asmodee II
1948: Billet
1949: John Moore
1950: Heron Bridge
1951: Wood Leopard
1952: Le Tellier
1953: Eastern Emperor
1954: Peperium
1955: Prescription
1956: Golovine
1957: Curry
1958: Sandiacre
1959: Agreement
1960: Trelawny
1961: Hoy
1962: Golden Fire
1963: Narratus
1964: Credo
1965: Harvest Gold
1966: Aegean Blue
1967: Mahbub Aly
1968: Major Rose
1969: no race
1970: Altogether
1971: Random Shot
1972: Eric
1973: Crisalgo
1974: Attivo


Information provided from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Cup