Your best Gold Cup memories

Pocket talk Al boom photos first gold cup

The Dickinson 5 and dawn run would take some beating


But my all time favourite moment in the gold cup was when for a few strides kauto and Denman went on only for the younger long run to spoil it.

Not what you were looking for, but I can think of my two worst punting memories - The Fellow being touched off at 50/1 (fortunately saver on Garrison Savannah eased the blow) and Go Ballistic finishing second at 100/1 (no saver).

In a positive sense it would be Looks Like Trouble although I made the mistake of not getting on early after Wetherby. I think he was the ideal Gold Cup horse, massively underrated, and might well have won three Gold Cup's but for injury. Huge achievement from Chance to get two Gold Cup winners in four years.

People paid a lot of attention to the fall of nick dundee in the sun alliance forgetting looks like trouble still ended up winning by a distance,the horse a distance behind in 2 nd had won the grade one feltham at kempton and beaten collier bay 15 lengths at ascot giving him 7 lb

Call me a soppy ole softy, and no marks for originality, but Best Mate's third Gold Cup. Deffo one for the wet hankie brigade.

Drama as Paul Carberry tried to keep him boxed-in on the run to the second last, 'Shock' Thornton going via the Irish Sea on Sir Rembrandt, two super jumps from 'Matey' just when he needed them, and Terry and 'Hen' in an emotional brace once Arkle's achievement had been emulated.

I'm filling up 'ere

*embrace

Fortunate to be there for the Dickinson 5, but although not the greatest Gold Cup by far, Desert Orchid's win when everything was supposedly against it(most of today's trainer would not have let him run) was amazing.

Llamedos

What other part of Cheltenham history happened that day ?

Regardless of the horse he beat George of course that was a wonderful day.

Jimnast,

I was on Looks Like Trouble at a big price for that Sun Alliance, but irrespective of that, I still think Looks Like Trouble would have won ten lengths. He jumped and stayed, two useful attributes round Cheltenham. I think subsequent events confirmed Nick Dundee as a non stayer. They ended up dropping him back in trip. I am sure this discussion has been done to death.

Eliogsrty

denman vs kauto 2008

1983 - the greatest for me ....by the greatest trainer
1979 - Alverton and Tied Cottage going to the last in the snow.

1986 - Wayward Lad beaten by the handicapper was the worst for me .......not even worthy of mention the low mark races of Synchronised,  Cool Dawn , Cool Ground............

The 1973 race always lives in the memory for me with that great Walwyn chaser The Dikler getting up on the run in to just edge out everyones favourite jumper Pendil with dual winner L'Escargot back in 4th i think, even O'Sullivan was calling Pendil the winner coming up to the last, marvellous stirring excitement.

1957 Sundew 20/1 ridden by Fred Winter. Race was run on a Friday and I was in school. Teacher asked to go to the staff room to find out what won. I skipped back to class with the good news. My dad had put 6d EW on for me with the street corner bookie. No doubt the bet was written in pencil on the back of a woodie packet.

When I started backing for real Fred Winter was my favourite trainer.

obviously that's the national memory

Correct saxon

Saxon

Can you remember the name of the jockey ?

Jodami,lovely chaser who ended up a nice price on the
day.

jimnast
Caroline Beasley.  It was my first ever visit to the festival, can’t quite remember what won the 1st race that day!

Pretty sure it as some old nag that beat his stable companion

Silver Buck for me - didn't have a penny on him.

He was my favourite racehorse, and still is, but I thought his chance of winning the Gold Cup had gone the year before.

From a financial point of view the Lord Winderemere's year (possibly the worst Gold Cup ever) where my third placepot selection The Giant Bolster sneaked into third - now that was a day!!!!

Imperial Call with my 33/1 AP voucher in my pocket.

"The mare is beginning to get up", immortal words from the great Peter O'Sullivan. As much as I wanted Wayward Lad to win, Dawn Run's will always be one of the great Gold Cups.

The Thinker was the first Gold Cup i attended............fancied since he won the Rowland Merrick at Christmas!!!

The best for me, i would have to concur with driver2 synopsis  and the worst without doubt to me was that utter dodo Andrew Thornton's effort on Sir Rembrandt in 2004, (pocket talking with a 66/1 betting slip, tears)....

The GREAT MATCH of 1964
Mill House was hailed as the greatest chaser ever and had seen off his Irish challenger,Arkle,in The Hennessy ( albeit the latter had made what with hindight was probably a race-losing mistake 3 out ).
Mill House was rightly favourite though. I think only two others turned out and they were somewhere in the next county. Mill House tried to make all and his jumping was as spectacular as ever. He was taking 2 or 3 lengths off Arkle in the air but somewhat ominously for a GB supporter,the leaner,more athletic Irish horse always seemed to make it up in the next 100 yds. Ridden for speed unlike when he was at his real peak the next 2 and a half seasons,Arkle clearly had the giant's measure coming into the home straight. I'm fairly sure it was on the old course so there would only have been one fence in the straight. I was 13 and heartbroken. I still can't remember how I wagged it off school ( or was it run on a Sat ? ).

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=cheltenham+gold+cup+1964&&view=detail&mid=9CF21627FD23E8292F279CF21627FD23E8292F27&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcheltenham%2Bgold%2Bcup%2B1964%26FORM%3DHDRSC3

Not sure about the day Salmon , can't find anything to suggest it was other than the final festival day.

Surprised nobody has put forward Dessie, defying all the experts to win on atrocious ground, over a trip too far, going left handed etc, but the peoples horse proved them including myself to win to huge cheers from the crowd, wonderful.

Would have done stew but not got over backing Yahoo at 40/1 e/way in the morning at Stanley Racing.

salmon - yes it was a Saturday. The festival was run Thurs to Sat that year. Mill House had won his last 6, going back nearly 18 months, and Arkle had won 12 of his last 13 - he'd raced 6 times already that season.

Hello ged hope your well

If you have time could you try and find out the off time of the 1987 Cathcart won by half free please

Remember working that day Jimnast and it was touch and go whether it would make the 6.30 legal deadline , think it just made it in time.

Super Ged will find out for sure 

Hello jimnast.

Don't know I'm afraid. Scheduled off time was 5:15, and Gold Cup was delayed 1hr 20 mins, so I could only guess.

Here's film of the last 2 fences. Half Free doing his thing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXz2HhBkD1U&ab_channel=espmadrid

..looks a bit dark, and plenty of snow round about.

All i remember is still having customers in the shop , so it was either just before 6.30pm or i broke the law.

My guess ged was around 1845 I was talking to someone about it the other day,I have all the sporting life’s from the 80s but just can’t get to them at the moment the off time will be in the race report .

Sorry Hayden it was you I was talking to it about just trying to find out the actual time just out of interest.

On the basis of a 1 hour 20 minute delay you would think it was earlier than I thought.

Yes i would say just before the 6.30pm deadline Jimnast , it all seemed a frantic rush to cram in before 6.30pm as the alternative was abandon the race as there was no message i can remember to allow an extended curfew , so pretty sure no shop would have gone beyond the 6.30 unless behind closed doors.

Be good if you could find out to satisfy curiosity 

I will at some stage find out Hayden

Hayden

I have been and got the sporting life from Friday March 20th 1987 the official off time was 626


Front page stories that day

Arthur’s biggest catch

Piggott pays out 3 million

Tyson on a busy schedule

Racegoers hurt as stand collapses

Attendance up at 48,301 from 42,815 in 86

Charlie brooks rides the fox hunters winner

Reference point is back in work

Scottish league to extend season to help Dundee united after there victory over Barcelona

Oh and 29 runners in the triumph hurdle as Mary Hopkins sang

Hi jimnast,was the stand collapsing story to do with Cheltenham on Gold Cup day? I was standing on the scaffold stand behind the Tote building when a bunch of people fell through the roof of the building.From memory we heard it was some Brummies who had had a good drink but nothing about any stand collapsing?

Hello Cagliari

It was as the triumph hurdle was finishing an asbestos roof gave way some people ran away but 8 ended up in hospital

Frank edwards 38 from stoke said one of them knocked his pint out of his hand

A 10 feet gap was left in the roof of the old stand


I watched the triumph that year n the lawn not far from there and wasn’t aware of anything can you imagine the carry on nowadays.

Can't remember hearing about that jimnast,the scaffold stand was the other side of the course on the triangle.In front was the Tote building which had a flat roof,saw some people on there as we waited for the Gold Cup,suddenly a commotion and we took little notice tbh.Heard back at the hotel a bunch of drunk Brummies had fallen through,never heard anymore and never saw a newspaper as travelled home early Saturday.

As you say,would probably have had the health and safety mob baying to abandon these days,even the scaffold probably would not be allowed.

Thank god for you ,there weren’t a bunch of drunken brummies in your hotel.

Lol,there was bunch of drunken Irishmen though,we played cards until the early hours and walked the course once whilst still pis$ed,best 3 days ever with great bunch of lads.

They were happy days no doubt,I remember walking the course on the Sunday loads of punters trainers and jockeys now punters not welcome

There was 8 of them (all family) who's right of passage was to go to Cheltenham when turning 16,all backed The Thinker at 9s,I had £400 FAF and knew my fate early,it was a helluva party just the same.

I always believed the delay was against forgive and forget pretty sure Jimmy fitz did also ,since it’s become 4 days those families you refer to don’t make the trip in the numbers they use to,met many myself when I use to stay in Cheltenham in the80s and 90s always had great fun and great conversation about the racing.

I have been a few times since jimnast but never had as much enjoyment,even in a private box.I kmow we often look through rose tints but I do believe it was much better back then,real NH fans.

Even with just 5 days to go I’m not up for it this year Cagliari I think not only the uncertainty and dilution is one of the reasons the all round cost in particular the hotels along with the hassle involved ,and in no way is it as much fun ,

L'Escargot's second Gold Cup win.

My first day on a racecourse, missing primary school for a day with an imaginary illness. Got Peter O'Sullevan's autograph courtesy of my Dad spotting him weaving his way through the crowd, the Great Man responding with courtesy and class. Still got the colour programme he signed. 


On that same day, a then little-known horse running in unfamiliar colours finished unplaced in what I think was the last race of the day/meeting. It would be a further two years before his name was unforgettably stitched into the tapestry of the NH game. I was thrilled to have seen that horse's name in the programme when looking at it again around 40 years afterwards. Never realised until then.

Name the horse.

Jimnast backed my first winner at cheltenham  many many years ago Meladon .People say I will  miss it this year to tell you yhe honest truth I don't think I will.one bit of good news was invited  only today to a meeting in Berkshire today the best meeting in the world .might  see you round the bandstand.

Ronnie I will be at the bandstand the first 3 days but nowadays I stand at the back away from all the real fun

Meladon same colours as pollardstown I think.


Alun guessing red rum

Correct it was the immortal R R

The race was won I believe by THE LAIRD.

What a great memory for you to have alum

My first day at the festival was 1980 the great sea pigeon won the champion hurdle I have loved the place ever since but I’m afraid I love it less nowadays

Thanks Jimnast great find   

So after paying everyone out i probably broke the law by about 10 mins 

No problem Hayden enjoyed looking through some old papers today in fact I might do a Cheltenham quiz on here tomorrow night.

Meladon same colours as pollardstown I think.

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Meladon was Blue with white birds eye spots,blue cap IIRC,Pollardstown was red/wine coloured with crossbelts.

Cheers punchestown I knew pollardstowns colours just thought meladon was the same,

Not even the same trainer I wonder who I am getting it mixed up with

Jimnast
we all got mixed up at Cheltenham remember one year never backed a winner up to the foxhunters i was  on the way to ocean finance shouted at the top of my voice go on edna my darling.

hope you are well.

Ronnie.

We’ve all had bad years ronnie I remember doing no good at all after 16 races not a sniff of a draw then backed the last two winners path of peace and dramatist,the year jonjo was champion rider with one winner imagine that now.

Hope your well to

Jimnast
we all got mixed up at Cheltenham remember one year never backed a winner up to the foxhunters i was  on the way to ocean finance shouted at the top of my voice go on edna my darling.

hope you are well.

Ronnie.

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The Edna joke a few days early Ronnie...

Jimnast

here is one for your cheltenham quiz which good looking poster on here who works for corals was one of the last people to stand in the OLD winners enclosure.

Jim Wilson was the jockey.

I know he rode 3 winners one year ronnie think it as 1980 but don’t know the answer to your question

Jimnast

was at Cheltenham non festival meeting many many years my dad and his pal had a winner last race of the day, they pulled the old winners enclosure down the next day.

M Naughton was the trainer Jim Wilson was jockey.

Ronnie.

Remember the trainer Ronnie but wouldn’t have an earthly which horse,I would guess your talking the 80s

I was there for all 3 of Best Mate’s Gold Cup wins and remember the tension in the main stand before and during the race. As they turned in I got things going by shouting ‘Let him Out!!’ at the top of my voice it broke the tension alright. There were hats going in the air, the lady next to me in tears and me 60k winnings from a decent double and a medium single. Even bumped into Edward Gillespie walking around from the main stand to the winners enclosure and told him i had rang him about the Man Utd fans threatening to sit on the course to disrupt the Gold Cup. Never forget it the memories are tresured.

The OP about the snowy gold cup made my day at an early age, got home from school around 4 pm and was delighted that i could watch the delayed gold cup.

Then aged 17 I watched Desert Orchid beat Yahoo in 89 aged 17. I was hooked.

Loved it when Imperial Commander won the 2 horse race.

Betting wise, backing Exotic Dancer @750/1 who was always the bridesmaid to a superstar.

My favourite is Coneygree.

I remember Meladon every well and backed it myself.  8/1 s p or thereabouts having been well backed all day?
A traditional Irish punt?  Don;t know how I fell onto it.

The greatest jockey's only Gold Cup win was Fred Winter's 7yr old, Midnight Court in 1978. The original race was called off on the Thursday morning because of snow and rescheduled for Wed 12 April 1978. Interestingly Winter was able to run Midnight Court at Chepstow where he won ridden by Graham Thorner(Francome was riding at Doncaster) but the horse didn't jump well and Francome retained the ride in the Gold Cup.

There was much contoversy at the time over Francome getting the ride because of concerns over his relationship with Bookmaker John Banks but Winter was loyal to his stable jockey. He was however later banned for a few weeks and Banks was banned for 3 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSvy7H4IGGE&ab_channel=VintageHorseRacing.

I always remember Fred Winter, in interview with Francome, who had just appealed to him along the lines of "honest guvnor I've never ever given away any information about the stable to anyone", retorting, with a look of grim death ( as was his wont ) - "I know son, and you should know that you wouldn;t be standing there if you had".  The inference was clear.

Denman (2008) and Long Run (2011)

Jimnast - here's a good one for your quizzes. The 1978 Gold Cup(12 April) took place after the Grand National(1 April)

Crystall

I recall going to bed on the Wednesday night no sign of snow opened the curtains the next morning could not believe how much snow had fallen. remeber watching the gold cup at Ripon races did not back a winner there.

Ronnie.