Read all about the unforgettable horse racing events that have stood out as landmarks in history, from the National Hunt Chase to the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

Race Histories 12: The Becher Chase

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Hello Bud - age no barrier in the Becher

Hello Bud - age no barrier in the Becher

The Grand National fences have their first test of the season on Saturday, when the Becher chase is run over 3 miles 2 furlongs at Aintree. The race starts immediately after Valentines Brook, so is just shy of one and a half circuits of the National Course. Read more



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Race histories 10: The Dee Stakes

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Magician - will his win preserve Gp 3 status?

Magician - will his win preserve Gp 3 status?

The Dee Stakes has long been recognised as a Derby Trial, although it is ten years since it threw up the winner in Kris Kin. It’s hard to believe then, that one winner of the race went on to win the Grand National. You won’t remember it any more than I do: the horse was Voluptuary, and it took the Dee Stakes in 1881 and the National three years later. Read more



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Race Histories 9 – The Fighting Fifth Hurdle

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Bird's Nest

It was Christmas Day in the trenches
In Spain int' Peninsular War,
And Sam Small was cleaning his musket,
A thing that he’d ne’er done before. Read more



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Race Histories 8 – 6 Rifles B Company Novices’ Hurdle

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Didn't know we had to build the jumps.....

Earlier forays into race histories have looked at some of the well known and long established races in the calendar. Today, we turn our attention to a brand new race, as we head to Taunton, where the Territorial Army is moving into new …territory. The first race at Taunton today is the 6 Rifles B Company Novices’ Hurdle. It was to have been run earlier in the season, but rain led to the cancellation of the meeting, and not even the combined power of Army equipment and track ground staff could save the day then. Read more



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Race Histories 6: City and Suburban and Great Metropolitan Handicaps

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Today’s Epsom card features two longstanding races whose importance has slipped over the years, but which nevertheless have a significant place in the history of the sport. Read more



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Race Histories 5: The National Hunt Chase

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Now here’s a conundrum for you. We’ve just seen the 4 mile National Hunt Chase (I’ll just use it’s regular title here), a race in it’s 153rd year. Yet National Hunt racing has only regularly taken place at Cheltenham since the early 1900s, with the festival established in 1911. So what about the early years of the race? Read more



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Sandown and the Scilly Isles

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I have sometimes wondered when I've been watching The Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown what the connection was between former Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s favourite holiday destination and Surrey. Read more



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