The Doncaster Cup is a

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal, a chemical element classification * Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1962 * Group 2 (racing) The Group 2 racing class referred ...

flat

horse race Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, ...

in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at

Doncaster Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...

over a distance of 2 miles 1 furlong and 197 yards (3,600 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event was established in 1766, and it was originally called the Doncaster Gold Cup. It pre-dates Doncaster's St. Leger Stakes by ten years, and is the venue's oldest surviving race. It was initially held at Cantley Common, and moved to its present location in 1776. During the early part of its history the race was contested over 4 miles. It was shortened to 2 miles and 5 furlongs in 1825, and reduced to 2 miles and 2 furlongs in 1891. It was cut by another furlong in 1908, and restored to its previous length in 1927. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Doncaster Cup was classed at Group 3 level. It was promoted to Group 2 in 2003. The Doncaster Cup is one of Britain's leading events for "stayers" – horses which specialise in racing over long distances. It is the final leg of the ''Stayers' Triple Crown'', preceded by the Gold Cup and the

Goodwood Cup The Goodwood Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles (3,2 ...

. The Doncaster Cup is the only British race where the winner has ballot-exempt entry to the

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melb ...

.Melbourne Cup ballot-exempt races
/ref> The race is currently held on the third day of Doncaster's four-day St. Leger Festival.

Records

Most successful horse (4 wins): *

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– ''1837, 1840, 1841, 1842'' Leading

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

(8 wins): *

Joe Mercer Joseph Mercer, OBE (9 August 1914 – 9 August 1990) was an English football player and manager. Mercer, who played as a defender for Everton and Arsenal in his footballing career, also went on to manage Aston Villa, Manchester City and Engl ...

– ''Nick La Rocca (1953, dead-heat), Grey of Falloden (1964), The Accuser (1968), Biskrah (1972), Sea Anchor (1976), Buckskin (1978), Le Moss (1979, 1980)'' : ''(note: the jockeys of some of the early winners are unknown)'' Leading trainer (7 wins): * Cecil Boyd-Rochfort – ''Alcazar (1934), Black Devil (1935), Osborne (1954), Atlas (1956), Agreement (1958, 1959), Raise You Ten (1963)'' *

Henry Cecil Sir Henry Richard Amherst Cecil (11 January 1943 – 11 June 2013) was a British flat racing horse trainer. Cecil was very successful, becoming Champion Trainer ten times and training 25 domestic Classic winners. These comprised four winners ...

– ''Buckskin (1978), Le Moss (1979, 1980), Ardross (1982), Kneller (1988), Great Marquess (1991), Canon Can (1997)'' : ''(note: the trainers of some of the early winners are unknown)''

Winners since 1801

Earlier winners

* 1766: Charlotte * 1767: Meaburn * 1768: Laura * 1769: Tantrum * 1770: Liberty * 1771: Mark * 1772: Mark * 1773: Forester * 1774: Juniper * 1775: Juniper * 1776: Tuberose * 1777: Pilot * 1778: Phocion * 1779: Magnum Bonum * 1780: Duchess * 1781: Crookshanks * 1782: Crookshanks * 1783: Faith * 1784: Phoenomenon * 1785: Alexander * 1786: Fairy * 1787: Stargazer * 1788: Bustler * 1789: Tot * 1790: Abba Thulle * 1791: Young Traveller * 1792: Overton * 1793: Oberon * 1794:

Beningbrough Beningbrough is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The population as taken at the 2011 Census was less than 100. Details are included in the civil parish of Shipton, North Yorkshire. Beningbr ...

* 1795: Hambletonian * 1796: Hambletonian * 1797: Stamford * 1798: Stamford * 1799:

Cockfighter ''Cockfighter'' (also known as ''Born to Kill'', ''Gamblin' Man'' and ''Wild Drifter'') is a 1974 drama film by director Monte Hellman, starring Warren Oates, Harry Dean Stanton and featuring Laurie Bird and Ed Begley Jr. The screenplay is based ...

* 1800: Dion * The 1901 and 1953 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.

References

* Paris-Turf: **, , , , , , , *

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of ...

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galopp-sieger.de
– ''Doncaster Cup.''
ihfaonline.org
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Doncaster Cup (2019).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Doncaster Cup – Doncaster.''

– ''Doncaster Cup.'' * {{British Champions Series, state=uncollapsed Flat races in Great Britain Doncaster Racecourse Open long distance horse races British Champions Series 1766 establishments in England

History

Records

Winners since 1801

Earlier winners

See also

References