The Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious and sought-after titles in horse racing, and winning it once is an enviable achievement. But is it possible for a horse to win the Gold Cup twice? The answer is yes, although it is incredibly rare and only a handful of horses have been able to accomplish this feat over the years.
What is the Gold Cup?
The Gold Cup is a prestigious horse racing event that is held each year at the Royal Ascot racecourse in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest continuously running flat race in the world, and has been held since 1807. It is a Group 1 flat race, which means it has the highest level of competition and prizes in British horse racing. It is open to horses aged four and over, and is run over a distance of two miles and four furlongs.
Notable Horses that have Won the Gold Cup Twice
- Yeats – Yeats was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 2006 and 2007, making him the first horse to win the race twice since Double Trigger in 1995. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by jockey Kieren Fallon.
- Double Trigger – Double Trigger was a British Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 1995 and 1998. He was trained by Mark Johnston, and ridden by jockey Richard Quinn.
- Brigadier Gerard – Brigadier Gerard was an English Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 1972 and 1973. He was trained by Peter Walwyn, and ridden by jockey Joe Mercer.
- Cottage Rake – Cottage Rake was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 1948 and 1949. He was trained by Vincent O’Brien, and ridden by jockey Pat Glennon.
- Foxhunter – Foxhunter was an English Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 1939 and 1940. He was trained by Isidore Zaretsky, and ridden by jockey Jack Patchett.
Other Horses to Have Won the Gold Cup
As well as the horses that have won the Gold Cup twice, there have been a number of other horses that have won the race once. These include:
- Aldaniti – Aldaniti was an English Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 1981. He was trained by Josh Gifford, and ridden by jockey Bob Champion.
- Lammtarra – Lammtarra was an English Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 1995. He was trained by Saeed bin Suroor, and ridden by jockey Walter Swinburn.
- Kicking King – Kicking King was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 2005. He was trained by Tom Taaffe, and ridden by jockey Tommy Carmody.
- Yeats – Yeats was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 2006 and 2007. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by jockey Kieren Fallon.
- Leading Light – Leading Light was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Gold Cup in 2014. He was trained by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by jockey Joseph O’Brien.
Other Races That Horses Have Won Twice
As well as the Gold Cup, there are a number of other prestigious races that horses have been able to win twice. These include:
- Grand National – The Grand National is a steeplechase race that is held annually at Aintree Racecourse in the United Kingdom. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, and is open to horses aged five and over. Two horses have won the Grand National twice – Reynoldstown in 1935 and 1936, and Red Rum in 1973 and 1974.
- Melbourne Cup – The Melbourne Cup is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, Australia. It is the richest two-mile handicap in the world, and is open to horses aged three and over. Two horses have won the Melbourne Cup twice – Peter Pan in 1932 and 1934, and Makybe Diva in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
- Kentucky Derby – The Kentucky Derby is a Grade 1 Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It is the most prestigious race in the United States, and is open to horses aged three and over. Two horses have won the Kentucky Derby twice – Citation in 1948 and 1949, and Affirmed in 1977 and 1978.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible for a horse to win the Gold Cup twice. However, this is incredibly rare, and only a handful of horses have been able to accomplish this feat over the years. Additionally, there are a number of other prestigious races that horses have won twice, such as the Grand National, the Melbourne Cup, and the Kentucky Derby.