Key Tips Horse Racing Information

ON THIS DAY - 26th May

Thu, 26 May 2022 22:38:40 GMT

On This Day - 26 May

On this day in 1909 Minoru won the Derby. Owned by King Edward VII he won 2 classics and won 7 races from 13. His total earnings were over £16,000.

A horse racing game was named after Minoru and was popular between the wars. Sets of the game are classed as an antique now and have sold for £350. The set consisted of 5 lead horses called Minoru, Gou Gou, Miss McGiggles, Game Chick and St Amant. In the 8 horse version of the game Minoru the horses were called Minoru, Grand Parade, Viceroy, Tom Pepper, Jutland, Panther, Royal Bucks and Ho-Ho.

ON THIS DAY - 23rd May

Mon, 23 May 2022 16:57:04 GMT

On This Day - 23rd May

On this day in 1992 Istabraq was born. He is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Champion Hurdle on three occasions. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by John Patrick McMa nus. Istabraq was ridden by Charlie Swan in all of his 29 races over jumps.

ON THIS DAY - 21st May

Sat, 21 May 2022 17:19:26 GMT

On This Day - 21st May

The first meeting at Fontwell race course took place on this day in 1924. The opening race was won by Gem, the 5/4 favourite Gem, ridden by jockey Fred Rees. In 1949, Queen Elizabeth II had her first winner as an owner at Fontwell when Monaveen won the Chichester Handicap Chase. A new £6.5m Grandstand opened in 2010.

Also on this day in 2012 AL BOUM PHOTO, Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was born.

ON THIS DAY - 23rd March

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:38:41 GMT

On This Day - 23rd March

On This Day in 1603 horse racing took place at Abbey Meadow, Leicester. This was the earliest recorded event at Leicester and was the day before Queen Elizabeth I died. The first meeting at the present Leicester racecourse at Oadby took place in 1883.

ON THIS DAY - 21 March

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 17:03:17 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 21st March

On this day in 1519 the world's oldest horse race was inaugurated - the Kiplingcotes Derby. It is held over four miles and starts from the former Kiplingcotes Station site in Etton, Yorkshire and takes place every year on the third Thursday of March.

The race has been called off only three times – during one of the coldest British winters in 1947, in 2001 due to the foot and mouth epidemic, and 2018 as a result of damage by off-road vehicles.

ON THIS DAY - 12th March

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 14:31:19 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 12th March

On this day in 1936 Golden Miller won the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the fifth time.

Golden Miller (1927–1957) was the most successful Cheltenham Gold Cu p horse ever, winning the race in five consecutive years between 1932 and 1936. He is the only hors e to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National - in the same year (1934).

He retired in 1939 with a record of 29 wins from 52 races and a statue of Golden Miller was erected near the parade ring at Cheltenham Racecourse .

ON THIS DAY - 23rd February

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:14:00 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 23rd February

On this day in 2007 Coneygree was foaled. He ran in 18 races from November 2010 to February 2019 and won 9. In March 2015, he became the first novice chaser to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for more than forty years. His subsequent career was hampered by injury and he did not run again in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning it.

ON THIS DAY - 8th March

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:13:43 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 8th March

On this day in 2011 Steve Whitely scooped a massive £1.45m. Whitely, a heating engineer from North Tawton in Devon, placed a £2 placepot bet on The Tote at his local track, Exeter.

His picks were Semi Colon (2/1), Black Phantom (12/1), Ammunition (16/1), Mr Bennett (16/1), Lundy Sky (5/1) and Lupita (12/1). In total he won £1,450,671.71, the largest accumulator win.

ON THIS DAY - 22nd February (2)

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:17:49 GMT

On This Day - 22nd February

On this day in 2008 Fred Craggs became the first high street millionaire on the eve of his 60th birthday. He placed a 50p 8 fold with William Hills and won at odds of nearly 2,800,000/1.

His bets were at Sandown, Nad Al Sheba, Warwick and Wolverhampton. His final winner was fittingly A Dream Come True at 2/1.

ON THIS DAY - 14th FEBRUARY

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:07:57 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 14th FEBRUARY

On this day in 1965 Prince Monolulu died.

He was a course tipster and character whose real name was Peter Carl Mackay. He was an institution on the British racing scene from the 1920s until the time of his death. He was particularly noticeable for his brightly coloured clothing; as a tipster, one of his best known phrases was the cry "I gotta horse!", which was subsequently the title of his memoirs.

Monolulu became famous after tipping Spion Kop in the 1920 Derb y, which won at odds of approximately 16/1. He made about £ 8,000 (over £400,000 today).

Legend says he choked in hospital on a chocolate given to him by journalist Jeffrey Bernard.

ON THIS DAY - 22nd February

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:59:39 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 22nd February

On this day in 1965 Kieren Francis Fallon was born in Crusheen, County Clare, Ireland. He is a retired Irish professional flat racing jockey and was British Champion Jockey six times (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003).

He won 2,253 races including The Derby 3 times and The Oaks 4 times.

ON THIS DAY - 11th FEBRUARY

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:47:23 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 11th FEBRUARY

On this day in 2008 Frankel was foaled. He was trained by Henry Ceci l and is named after the American trainer Bobby Frank el. He was unbeaten after 14 straight wins and retired to stud where his progeny include Logician who won the St Leger in 2016 and Adayar who won the Derby in 2018.

On the same day in 1884 the first meeting was held at Plumpton and the first race was won by Cowslip, which also went on to win another race later that day.

ON THIS DAY - 9th FEBRUARY

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:16:26 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 9th FEBRUARY

On this day in 1539 the first recorded race was held at Chester race course (although other sources list this as 10 January 1511).

Also on this day, in 2009, Tony McCoy rode his 3,000th winner on the Nicky Henderson-trained Restless d'Artaix at Plumpton race course.

ON THIS DAY - 8th FEBRUARY

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:59:21 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 8th FEBRUARY

On this day in 1983, the Irish-bred British-trained thoroughbred racehorse Shergar was stolen. No arrests have ever been made in relation to the theft. Shergar's body has never been recovered, although it was reported that the IRA was involved and wanted a ransom of £2m to use for arms.

In June 1981 he won the 202nd Epsom Derby by ten lengths —the longest winning margin in the race's history.

In honour of Shergar, the Shergar Cup was inaugurated in 1999.

ON THIS DAY - 7th FEBRUARY

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:02:48 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 7th FEBRUARY

On this day in 1987 the tipster Pricewise's first ever selection was a winner - Taberna Lord. The service got off to a 14-1 flyer at Sandown. The jockey was ITV's current pundit Luke Harvey who at the time was a 4lb conditional rider.

Pricewise usually tips with higher odds selections, around 10/1, but has had losing runs of around 45. The odds invariably drop following publication and some punters back and then lay his selections when the odds drop.

ON THIS DAY - 4th FEBRUARY

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 17:46:59 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 4th FEBRUARY

On this day in 1937 the first sports commentary took place on the BBC. It was a boxing match at Alexandra Palace and the commentator was Harry Mallin , himself a former middleweight champion and Olympic gold medallist.

In the 1920 Summer Olympics he won a gold meda l at middleweight and was the first to successfully defend an Olympic title in two consecutive games.

He died at a nursing home in Lewisham in November 1969.

ON THIS DAY - 3rd FEBRUARY

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 20:26:00 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 3rd FEBRUARY

On this day in 1990 American jockey Bill Shoemaker (58), retired after 40,350 horse races, winning 8,833.

He won the Kentucky Derby 4 times and the Belmont Stakes 5 times.

He held the world record for total professional jockey victories for 29 years.

He died on October 12, 2003, of natural causes at his home in San Marino, California.

ON THIS DAY - 2nd FEBRUARY

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 19:49:03 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 2nd FEBRUARY

On this day in 1991 Desert Orchid had his last ever victory in the Agfa Diamond Chase at Sandown.

He was partnered by five different jump jockeys: Colin Brown , Richard Linley, Simon Sherwood, Graham Bradley and Richard Dunwoody

His total earnings were £654,066 and he won 34 of his 70 starts over fences and hurdles.

ON THIS DAY - 28th JANUARY

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 03:28:42 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 28th JANUARY

On this day in 1995 Best Mate was born. He was an Irish-bred, English-trained racehorse and three-time winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2004 ridden by Jim Culloty and trained by Henrietta Knight. He also won the 2002 King George VI Chase .

Best Mate died during a race in 2005 and his ashes were scattered at the finishing post at Cheltenham where a statue was also erected in his honour.

A book by Anne Holland describes Best Mate as the nation's favourite horse.

ON THIS DAY - 22 JANUARY

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 02:32:16 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 22 JANUARY

On this day in 1963 twin jockeys Richard & Michael Hills were born. Their father is former racehorse trainer Barry Hills. Both had successful careers with Richard wining the St Leger in 1999 on Mutafaw eheq and the Ascot Gold C up in 1990 on Ashal.

Michael Hills also won the Ascot Gold Cup in 1994 on Arcadian Heights and the Derby on Shaam it in 1996.

ON THIS DAY - 25th JANUARY

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 02:24:05 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 25th JANUARY

On this day in 1996 HEDGEHUNTER, an Irish race horse, was born. He won the Grand National steeplechase in 2005, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. In 2004 he had fallen at the final fence when well placed and also finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde. He also came 2nd in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In April 2008, aged 12, Hedgehunter was retired having won £784,000 in prize money.

ON THIS DAY (2) - 20 JANUARY

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:54:22 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 20th JANUARY

On this day Kew Gardens was born in 2015. He was sired by the great Galileo and is a bay Irish t horoughbr ed racehorse. In 2018 he became a top class stayer, winning the Queen's Vase , Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger .

It was announced in June 2020 that Kew Gardens would be retired from racing and stand at Castlehyde Stud for Coolmore as a National Hunt stallion.

He earned close to £1,400,000 in prize money.

ON THIS DAY - 20th JANUARY

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:38:54 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 20th JANUARY

On this day (January 20th 1968) Charlie Swan (horse trainer) was born. He was a jockey in the 1980s/90s until he took out a trainer licence in 1998. He will always be associated with Istabraq as he won the Champions Hurdle 3 times and won 23 races on him. He rode his first winner aged 15 in 1983 at Naas and won his first Irish jockeys' championship in 1989/90 and retained the title up to and including the 1997/98 season when he became a trainer.

ON THIS DAY - 18th JANUARY

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 19:29:22 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 18th JANUARY

On this day in 1964 Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE was born in Belfast. He is a retired National Hunt jockey and was a three-time Champion Jockey.

He won the King George VI Chase four times - twice on Desert Orchid in 1989 and 1990 and twice on One M an in 1995 and 1996. He also won the 1988 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Charter Party.

Interestingly also on 18 January (in 2008), Dunwoody and American explorer Doug Stoup reached the South Pol e following a 48-day trek raising money for charity. They followed the route which had been attempted by Ernest Shackleton and was both the first successful completion of that route on foot as well the first successfully completed new route to the South Pole in ten years.

He wasn't so successful in Series 7 of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 partnering Lilia Kopylov a as they were eliminated in the second week.

ON THIS DAY - 17th JANUARY

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:44:53 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 17th JANUARY

On this day in 2019 the BBC filmed a drone flying at Southwell racecourse. The course owners said this had happened regularly for six months.

In recent years race courses across the UK have seen an increase in unauthorised drones being flown nearby.

Drone footage can be two seconds ahead of broadcasters, giving some punters a financial edge while "live betting".

Despite potential impact on the value of official coverage and hospitality viewing, flying the drones from public land means they are not breaking the law. However, racecourse owners say they regard drones apparently broadcasting live pictures of meetings as theft.

An article regarding the drones at race courses is worth a read regarding the lengths some punters will go to obtain an edge in the betting markets.

https://wired.co.uk/article/horse-racing-drone…

ON THIS DAY - 16th JANUARY

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 02:32:06 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 16th JANUARY

On this day in 2009 Great Leighs race course was placed into administra tion and its temporary racing licence revoked. In 2008, Great Leighs had become home to the first new racecourse in 80 years (the last being Taunton in 1927), when the nearby Essex County Showground was converted into a course.

After being bought by a syndicate racing resumed in 2015 with the course being re-named as Chelmsford City. In December 2015, racing from Chelmsford City appeared on Channel 4 Racing for the first time following waterlogging at Chepstow and the abandonment of the Welsh Grand National .

In January 2017 Chelmsford City announced plans to build a new turf course inside the existing all-weather track. They hope this will occur in 2022 and will become the first racecourse in the UK to offer floodlit turf racing.

ON THIS DAY - 15th JANUARY

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 14:34:36 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 15th JANUARY

On this day in 1995 Reid E. McNeal, along with co-conspirator Ronald D. Harris, was charged with Attempted Theft by Deception and Conspiracy. Ronald Harris worked for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. His job was to analyse the software used in slot machines in order to determine if there were any system errors. As such he had access to the codes used to manipulate the machines. By inputting a certain sequence he could guarantee a large payout. However he was known to the authorities as an employee and therefore McNeal, an old school friend in need of money was used.

They were caught when they won the $100,000 payout at Bally’s Park Place Hotel with odds of 230,000-1 and the hotel staff were suspicious of Harris's behaviour. The Police raided their hotel room and found equipment used to rig the machines in his room.

Both were charged by New Jersey police with computer fraud and attempted cheating. McNeal's charges were dropped as he gave evidence against Harris who admitted to over twenty separate accounts where he rigged the jackpot in both Las Vegas and Atlantic City Casinos. By the end of his trial, he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

ON THIS DAY - 11th JANUARY

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 03:47:00 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 11th JANUARY

On this day in 1857 Fred Archer was born in Cheltenham.

He was Champion Jocke y for 13 consecutive years until 1886. He rode 2,748 winners from 8,084 starts.

He was nicknamed The Tin Man, and was described at the time as "the best all-round jockey that the turf has ever seen".

One of his most notable victories came in the 1880 Derby, coming from behind on Bend Or to win by a head. In fact he won t he Derb y five times and won a total of 21 classic races. His record of winners was only broken decades later by Gordon Richards.

Following the loss of his wife during childbirth, he committed suicide at the age of 29. He left a fortune of £66,662 (equal to about £7.4 million today). Some of his effects are now on display at the National Horseracing Museum , including the gun with which he shot himself.

ON THIS DAY - 9th JANUARY

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 03:46:56 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 9th JANUARY

On this day in 1913 Richard Nixon, President of the USA was born, in Yorba Linda, California.

During World War 2 Nixon was in the Navy and became a skilled poker player. It was estimated that he arrived home after the war with about $8,000 of winnings — around $115,000 today. He was going to buy a house but instead decided to run for a congressional seat in California’s 12th District which he won.

His run for the House of Representatives in 1946 was partially bankrolled from these poker winnings. It is estimated that 20% of his campaign fund came from poker.

Nixon’s political career lasted until 1974, when the Watergate scandal broke, which led to his eventual resignation.

ON THIS DAY - 8th JANUARY

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 03:30:29 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 8th JANUARY

On this day in 2008 George Thomas Donald Moore OBE died in Sydney. He was an Australian jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. He retired from riding in 1971 having won 312 metropolitan stakes and a record 119 Group One races. His most important win in the UK was the Derby on Royal Palace in 1967.

He then trained racehorses in France, then in Australia and for thirteen seasons in Hong Kong. Between 1973 and 1985, he won the Hong Kong training premiership 11 times.

He won the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year (1967) and he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1972.

ON THIS DAY - 5th JANUARY

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 02:00:19 GMT

On This Day - 5th January

On this day in 1970 the first edition of A Question of Sport was broadcast. Presenter David Vine was joined by captains Henry Cooper and Cliff Morgan . The teams were composed of George Best , Lillian Board , Tom Finney , and Ray Illingworth .

Willie Carson was a Question of Sport captain from 1982-1983 opposite Bill Beaumont and appeared in 28 episodes.

On 4 March 2013, A Question of Sport marked its 1,000th episode. Each captain was joined by two former captains. Matt Dawson was joined by Willie Carson and John Parrott , while Tufnell was joined by Bill Beaumont and Ally McCoist . Tufnell's team won.

Other jockeys to have appeared on Question of Sport have been Tony McCoy (12 episodes), Richard Dunwoody (7 episodes), Richard Johnson (5 episodes). John Francome (3 episodes) and Frankie Dettori (2 episodes).

ON THIS DAY - 3rd JANUARY

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 14:52:12 GMT

On This Day - 3rd January

On this day - in 1983 flat jockey Hayley Turner OBE was born.

In 2005 Turner was joint Champion Apprentice with 44 winners. In 2008 she became the first woman to ride 100 UK flat race winners during a calendar year. She went on to win eight Group races , including two Group 1 races and a Grade 1 race. She retired from racing in 2015 and became a regular contributor to ITV Racing . She came out of retirement in 2018 and since then has ridden two winners at Royal Ascot. Turner was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to horse racing .

ON THIS DAY - 1st JANUARY

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 14:34:05 GMT

On This Day - 1st January

All race horses in the northern hemisphere have this day as their official birthday. In 1833, the Newmarket Jockey Club changed the date to 1st January from 1st May. This change didn’t happen within the rest of England until 1858.

On this day - In 2013 Channel 4 took over as the exclusive terrestrial TV home of all horse racing in the UK.

In 2017 ITV took over from C4 as the exclusive terrestrial broadcaster of racing. A deal meant ITV broadcast nearly 100 days of racing each year - 60 on ITV4 and a minimum of 34 fixtures on main ITV channel. This was the first time since 1988 that racing was on ITV.

In 2019 Sky Sports Racing launched which replaced At The Races.

ON THIS DAY - 31st DECEMBER

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 03:03:10 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 31st DECEMBER

On this day - in 1980 the jockey Silvestre de Sousa was born (in São Francisco do Maranhão , Brazil).

Amazingly de Sousa was 18 before he ever sat on a racehorse. By chance he was introduced to Fausto Durso (one of the leading jockeys in São Paulo at the time). Durso suggested that de Sousa had the build of a jockey.

Yet in 2015 he won the British flat racing Champion Jocke y's title and was 2nd the following year before becoming champion again in 2017. This year (2021) he won the Nunthorpe Stakes on Winter Power.

ON THIS DAY - 30th DECEMBER

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 02:23:38 GMT

The Roaring Lion photograph

On this day in 1941 Winston Churchill gave an emotional speech to the Canadian Parliament. Afterwards Yousef Karsh captures him in his famous photograph, "The Roaring Lion".

Roaring Lion was also an American-bred British-trained champion thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2018 European Horse of the Year after winning the Juddemonte International Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. In the 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Roaring Lion was rated the best three-year-old in the world and the fourth best h orse o f any age or sex.

ON THIS DAY 29th December

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 17:04:58 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 29th DECEMBER

William Ewart Gladstone, the British Prime Minister, was born on 29 December 1809. There were several cartoons and caricatures of him falling off his horse depicting him as a jockey - the one above prior to the election in 1885.

Andrew Balding - horse racing trainer - was born on 29 December 1972 in London. His elder sister is Claire Balding, the TV presenter. Notable horses trained by Balding include Casual Look , the winner of the Epsom Oaks in 2003.

ON THIS DAY - 28th DECEMBER

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 18:20:49 GMT

ON THIS DAY - 28th DECEMBER

On this day in 1612 Galileo first observed Neptune - Galileo recorded a "fixed star" without realising it was a planet.

Galileo is also the name of an Irish t horoughbred racehors e and sire . He is best known for having won t he Derby , Irish Derby Stakes , and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. After his retirement, Galileo became one of the most sought after sires in the world. He first became the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 2008, then consecutively earned the title from 2010 through 2020. In 2020, he set the record for the number of Epsom Derby winners sired at five.

ON THIS DAY - 27th December

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 20:25:23 GMT

ON THIS DAY - Dec 27th

On this day in 2012 BBC Sport showed horse racing for the final time ahead of Channel 4 taking over as broadcaster of all terrestrial horse racing from the start of 2013.

Then on the same day 3 years later, in 2016, Channel 4 Racing comes to an end after more than 32 years ahead of the transfer of all terrestrial television coverage of the sport to ITV.

On this day in 1887 Sir John Layton Jarvis, English thoroughbred race horse trainer, was born in Newmarket, England (d. 1968). He won 9 x British Classic Races and was 3 x British flat racing Champion Trainer.

Also on this day in 2015, racing from Chelmsford City appeared on Channel 4 Racing for the first time following waterlogging at Chepstow.