The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase race, run over 3 miles 2.5 furlongs with 22 fences and held during the Cheltenham Festival during the second week of March each year. The Cheltenham Festival meeting runs over 4 days from Tuesday-Friday with the Cheltenham Gold Cup race run on Friday afternoon.
History Of The Cheltenham Gold Cup
The first horse race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup was a flat race run over 3 miles during a 3 day meeting in 1819 and won by a horse called Spectre on a course on Cleeve Hill which overlooks the current Cheltenham racecourse site. The races on Cleeve Hill became popular over the next decade and then interest diminished as steeplechasing became popular.
On 12th March 1924 the Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run as a chase race at Prestbury Park and won by a horse called Splash for a prize money of £685.
It was not until some years later that the Cheltenham Festival and the Cheltenham Gold Cup race became the prestigous events that they are today.
Famous Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners
Golden Miller - won 5 consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup races from 1932 to 1936 and in 1934 became the only horse ever to win the Aintree Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.
Cottage Rake - won 3 consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup races from 1948-1950.
Arkle - won 3 consecutive Chelteham Gold Cup races in 1963-1965.
L'Escargot - won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice in 1970 and 1971.
Best Mate - won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in 2002-2004, the first three-timer since Arkle.
