"Birmingham (horse) Birmingham (foaled 1827) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1830. A cheaply bought foal, who almost died before he ever appeared on a racecourse, Birmingham developed into a ""celebrated racer"" finishing first in twenty-four races from thirty-nine starts between July 1829 and June 1833. At a time when British horse racing was centred on a small number of major racecourses, Birmingham was campaigned at relatively minor courses in the English Midlands before defeating The Derby winner Priam to record a 15/1 upset in the St Leger. Birmingham"
"Kiplingcotes Derby Kiplingcotes Derby (also spelt Kipling Cotes), run at Kiplingcotes in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is widely accepted to be the oldest annual horse race in the English sporting calendar. It reputedly began in 1519 and takes place on the third Thursday in March, often in exceptionally adverse weather conditions. The 499th race was due to take place on 15 March 2018 but was cancelled due to dangerous conditions (a waterlogged course with deep water-filled wheel ruts). One quirk of the ancient rules means that the second place rider often receives more in prize money than the winner."
"Carlisle Bell The Carlisle Bell is a historic British flat horse race, first contested in 1599 and still run today. The race's name relates to the bells which were awarded to the winners of the race in the reign of Elizabeth I. These bells are reputed to be the oldest horse racing prizes in Britain and are now held at the Carlisle Guildhall Museum. It is run at Carlisle Racecourse over a distance of 7 furlongs and 173 yards (1,566 metres) and it is scheduled to take place each year in June alongside another historic race the Cumberland Plate. There"
"St Leger Stakes The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,921 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September. Established in 1776, the St Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and its distance is longer than any of the other four. The St Leger is the final leg of the English Triple"
"British Classic Races The British Classics are five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their own age group. As such, victory in any classic marks a horse as amongst the very best of a generation. Victory in two or even three of the series (a rare feat known as the English Triple Crown) marks a horse as truly exceptional. The five British Classics are: It is common to think of them as taking place in three legs. The"
"2001 UK foot-and-mouth crisis the race was once again reduced to one horse and rider. In 2018 the race was cancelled after the course was waterlogged, and again a single horse was led round the course. Kiplingcotes Derby Kiplingcotes Derby (also spelt Kipling Cotes), run at Kiplingcotes in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is widely accepted to be the oldest annual horse race in the English sporting calendar. It reputedly began in 1519 and takes place on the third Thursday in March, often in exceptionally adverse weather conditions. The 499th race was due to take place on 15 March 2018"
"of ruffians they attracted, but by 1614 it acknowledged failure and instead marked out a racecourse. Doncaster is home to two of the World's oldest horse races: – The Doncaster Cup The earliest important race in Doncaster's history was the Doncaster Gold Cup, first run over Cantley Common in 1766. The Doncaster Cup is the oldest continuing regulated horse race in the world. Together with the Goodwood Cup and Ascot Gold Cup, the Doncaster Cup is part of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown for horses capable of running longer distances. The St Leger Stakes Ten years later the Racecourse moved to"
"race finished as a dead-heat in 1858, but Governess defeated Gildermire in a run-off. <br> <br> Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2,420 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June. It is the second-oldest of the five Classic races, after the St Leger. Officially the Investec Oaks, it is also popularly known as simply The Oaks. (Increasingly it is coming to be referred to"
"French Classic Races The French Classic Races are a series of Group One Thoroughbred horse races run annually on the flat. The races were instituted in the nineteenth century, taking the British Classic Races as a model. In the original scheme, one race, the Poule d'Essai, served as the equivalent to the first two British classics, but was later divided into separate races for colts and fillies. The Grand Prix de Paris, for many years the most important and valuable of the French classics, had no British equivalent. The Prix Royal-Oak was opened to older horses in 1979, making it"
"to enter.) French Classic Races The French Classic Races are a series of Group One Thoroughbred horse races run annually on the flat. The races were instituted in the nineteenth century, taking the British Classic Races as a model. In the original scheme, one race, the Poule d'Essai, served as the equivalent to the first two British classics, but was later divided into separate races for colts and fillies. The Grand Prix de Paris, for many years the most important and valuable of the French classics, had no British equivalent. The Prix Royal-Oak was opened to older horses in 1979,"
"existence, the Kiplingcotes Derby was first run in 1519. The Carlisle Bells, reputedly the oldest sporting trophy in the world, were first competed for in the 16th century, in a race that still bears their name. One of the bells is inscribed ""The sweftes horse thes bel tak"" (""The swiftest horse takes this bell""). Racing was established at Chester, the oldest surviving racecourse in England, by 1540. In the 1580s Queen Elizabeth I is recorded as attending races on Salisbury Plain.. Leith Races were established by 1591, and at Doncaster by 1595. During the reign of Elizabeth, interest in horse"
"Classic Chase The Classic Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Warwick over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in January. The present event was introduced in 2004, although a similar race, the Warwick (Brooke Bond Oxo) National Chase, had been previously staged until 2000. As with its predecessor, the Classic Chase is"
"The race was not run from 1915-1918 because of World War I and from 1940-1945 because of World War II<br> <br> Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlongs and 209 yards (2,002 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July. The event is named after Eclipse, a celebrated 18th-century racehorse. It was established in 1886, and the inaugural running was won by Bendigo. At that"
"of the official title of the race.) It is the third of Britain's five Classic races to be held during the season, and the second of two restricted to fillies. It can also serve as the middle leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown, preceded by the 1000 Guineas and followed by the St Leger, although the feat of winning all three is rarely attempted. The event is named after The Oaks, an estate located to the east of Epsom which was leased to the 12th Earl of Derby in the 18th century. He and his guests devised the race during"
"only time in its history. Most successful horse (3 wins): Leading jockey (4 wins): Leading trainer (7 wins): Leading owner (7 wins): The race was abandoned in 1931 due to frost ---- Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online gambling operator Unibet, the race is now known as the Unibet Champion Hurdle. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong ,"
"Stakes remains the world's oldest Classic Horse Race and features in the Horse Racing calendar as the fifth and final Classic of the British Flat racing season. This takes place every September. Doncaster is a left-handed, pear-shaped track of around 1 mile 7½ furlongs which is mostly flat. There are courses for Flat racing and National Hunt racing. The racecourse is easily accessible by road, railway and air. Doncaster Racecourse Doncaster Racecourse (also known as the Town Moor course) is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 36 annual Group 1 flat races, the"
"usually contested by several horses which subsequently compete in the Grand National. The 2017 winner, One For Arthur, went on to win the Grand National. The race was abandoned in 2009 because of frost and in 2010 because of snow. ---- Classic Chase The Classic Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Warwick over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it"
"its present location and in 1776 Colonel Anthony St. Leger founded a race in which five horses ran. This race has remained in existence and become the world's oldest classic horse race. During the first world war the racecourse was used for military purposes and substitute races were run at Newmarket from 1915 to 1918. Doncaster has the distinction of both starting and ending the flat season on turf. Every September, Doncaster hosts the prestigious four-day William Hill St. Leger Festival, which is acclaimed as the premier sporting occasion of the Autumn calendar. Doncaster has also taken over events whose"
"first Grade 1 event of the British National Hunt season. Prior to 2017 it was run over a distance of about 3 miles. The distance was increased to allow a longer run from the start to the first bend. The original Lancashire Chase was first run at Manchester Racecourse in 1884. Most successful horse (4 wins): Leading jockey (4 wins): Leading trainer (6 wins): Betfair Chase The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about"
"dead-heat; shd = short-head; hd = head; snk = short-neck; nk = neck). <br> <br> Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, officially the Investec Derby, popularly known as the Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 6 yards (2,420 metres), on the first Saturday of June each year. It is Britain's richest horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics. It is sometimes referred to as the ""Blue Riband"" of the"
"National Stakes (Sandown Park) The National Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years old. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 5 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year at the end of May. The race was first run in 1889 and was known as the ""National Breeders' Produce Stakes"" until 1959. In 1932 it was ""the most valuable two-year-old race on the English calendar"". Previous winners include Pretty Polly (1903), Cicero (1904), Neil Gow (1909), The Tetrarch (1913), Tetratema (1919),"
"Royal International Horse Show The Royal International Horse Show (originally the International Horse Show) is the official horse show of the British Horse Society and consists of both showing and showjumping events. The event is held during July each year at the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead. The event is currently title sponsored by Longines, making it the Longines Royal International Horse Show. The show is the oldest horse show in Britain, having started in 1907. The first Royal International Horse Show was held at London Olympia in 1907, hosted by the Institute of the Horse and Pony Club,"
"operated their pool betting system for the first time on a British racecourse at Carlisle. Carlisle is home to the Carlisle Bell, one of the oldest horse races in existence. Carlisle also had a King's Plate – a race for 5-year-old horses in 3-mile heats – instigated by George III in 1763. Carlisle Racecourse Carlisle Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in the village of Blackwell near Carlisle in Cumbria, England. The course has been on its present site since 1904, when it moved there from another location nearer to Carlisle. The course is 1 mile and 4"
"Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, officially the Investec Derby, popularly known as the Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 6 yards (2,420 metres), on the first Saturday of June each year. It is Britain's richest horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics. It is sometimes referred to as the ""Blue Riband"" of the turf. The race serves as the middle leg of the Triple Crown, preceded by the"
"Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlongs and 209 yards (2,002 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July. The event is named after Eclipse, a celebrated 18th-century racehorse. It was established in 1886, and the inaugural running was won by Bendigo. At that time, it was Britain's richest ever race. The prize fund of £10,000 was donated by Leopold de Rothschild at the request"
"Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 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 and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October. The event was established in 1877, and it was originally held at Newmarket. The inaugural running was won by Springfield. By the end of the century it had been won by five Classic winners. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971,"
"Tiffin (1928), Myrobella (1932), Tudor Minstrel (1946) and Belle of All (1950). National Stakes (Sandown Park) The National Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years old. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 5 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year at the end of May. The race was first run in 1889 and was known as the ""National Breeders' Produce Stakes"" until 1959. In 1932 it was ""the most valuable two-year-old race on the English calendar"". Previous winners include Pretty"
"The historic Galleywood Racecourse on Galleywood Common in the Borough of Chelmsford, Essex was the scene of the Chelmsford Races for at least 176 years. It was one of the oldest English racecourses. Although records show existence in 1759, other reports indicate that racing took place there much earlier. Various members of royalty journeyed to Chelmsford Races including Edward VII. There was a siding for the racecourse at the railway nearby on New Road adjacent to Hylands, where horses and important visitors would arrive. The racecourse was renowned for its beauty and it was popular but the fact that it"
"race was titled the Tote Gold Trophy from 1987 to 2004, and the totesport Trophy from 2005 to 2011. Since 2012 the race has been sponsored by Betfair and known as the Betfair Hurdle. Two winners of the race – Persian War and Make a Stand – subsequently achieved victory in the following month's Champion Hurdle. The 1963 running took place at Aintree. The 1983 running was abandoned due to snow and frost. ---- Betfair Hurdle The Betfair Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older."
"GSB. By the end of the 18th century, the English Classic races had been established. These are the St. Leger Stakes, founded in 1776, The Oaks, founded in 1779, and The Derby in 1780. Later, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the 1,000 Guineas Stakes were founded in 1809 and 1814. The 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks are restricted to fillies, but the others are open to racehorses of either sex aged three years. The distances of these races, ranging from to , led to a change in breeding practices, as breeders concentrated on producing horses that could race at a"
"July Stakes The July Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts and geldings. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July. The July Stakes is the oldest surviving event for two-year-olds in the British flat racing calendar. It was established in 1786, and it was originally open to horses of either gender. The conditions initially stipulated that those horses sired by Eclipse or Highflyer should carry an additional weight of three pounds."
"White Horse was opened in the centre of the Course. The main race meetings at Chester were often broadcast on Channel 4 Racing until 2016 and have been broadcast on ITV Racing since 2017. In May 2012, all former Tote betting positions were replaced by the racecourse's own in-house chesterBET betting system. The Clerk of the Course is Andrew Morris, who is also Clerk of the Course for sister course Bangor-on-Dee, which is a National Hunt jumps course. Chester Racecourse Chester Racecourse, known as the Roodee, is according to official records the oldest racecourse still in use in England. Horse"
"to win The Derby and the St Leger in 1889. Other top class horses to win the race have included Semolina, Deep Diver, Provideo, The Last Lion and Hearts of Fire. The 2006 running took place at Redcar. The 2007 running took place at Newcastle. Brocklesby Stakes The Brocklesby Stakes is a British horse race, notable as the traditional opening two-year-old race of the British Flat racing season. It is run over five furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse. The Brocklesby was first run in 1849 as an all-age 12 furlong race at the now defunct Carholme racecourse in Lincoln, but became"