The Ayr Gold Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ayr over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.
History The event was established in 1804, and it was originally held at Ayr's former racecourse at Belleisle. In the early part of its history it was restricted to horses bred and trained in Scotland. It was initially contested over two separate heats of two miles, and was subsequently a single race with a two-mile distance.
The Ayr Gold Cup became a handicap in 1855, and it was shortened to about a mile in 1870. The Belleisle track closed in 1907, and the race was relocated and cut to 6 furlongs in 1908.
The lightest winning weight in the race since it became a sprint is 6 st 13 lb (44 kg). This was carried to victory by Marmaduke Jinks in 1936. The heaviest is 10 st (63½ kg), the burden of Roman Warrior in 1975. The latter horse, trained at Ayr by Nigel Angus, is the most recent winner trained in Scotland.
The field for the Ayr Gold Cup is formed from the highest-weighted horses entered for the race. The maximum number of runners is currently twenty-five. Those eliminated are now offered the chance to compete in the Ayr Silver Cup, a consolation race introduced in 1992. An event for horses excluded from that race, the Ayr Bronze Cup, was established in 2009.
Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Dazzle – 1889, 1890, 1891
Leading jockey (4 wins): Tom Nicholson – Dominie Skelp (1827), Brunswick (1830), Gondolier (1831), Masetto (1834) William Noble – Despot (1836), The Doctor (1840), The Recorder (1842), The Shadow (1843) (note: the jockeys of some of the early winners are unknown)
Leading trainer (15 wins): Tom Dawson – Inheritor (1835, 1838), Despot (1836, 1837), The Doctor (1840), Doctor Caius (1841), The Recorder (1842), The Shadow (1843, 1844), Inheritress (1845, 1846), Stilton (1852), Itch (1854), Tabouret (1868), Good Hope (1869) (note: the trainers of some of the early winners are unknown)
Winners since 1908 Weights given in stones and pounds. Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer SP Time 1908 Raeberry 3 8-03 Richard Crisp M'Gregor 1909 Alwine 4 7-06 Jim Clark Percy Bewicke 1910 Raeberry 5 9-10 Charles Ringstead M'Gregor 1911 Saucy John 6 8-00 Walter Griggs N H Scott 1912 Grammont 4 9-00 Steve Donoghue Jack Fallon 1913 Borrow 5 9-00 Skeets Martin Jack Joyner JF 1914-16 no race 1917 Wayward 3 7-11 Arthur Smith J Day 1918 no race 1919 Beresina 3 8-06 Bernard Carslake George Lambton F 1920 Forest Guard 7 8-09 Tommy Burns Sr. James Burns 1921 Self Sacrifice 3 6-13 Robert Lynch Bazley 1922 Soldennis 4 8-12 Charlie Elliott George Dundas F 1923 Baydon 4 7-02 Jim Stanton Fergusson 1924 Westmead 5 7-11 Richard Perryman Charles Elsey 1925 Phalaros 3 8-07 Tommy Weston George Lambton F 1926 Lord Wembley 3 7-11 Steve Donoghue John Staunton 1927 Martenax 5 8-10 Joseph Taylor Dobson Peacock 1928 Nothing Venture 5 9-05 Jack Leach Felix Leach 1929 Tommy Atkins 5 8-13 Henry Leach Felix Leach F 1930 Heronslea 3 8-06 Joseph Taylor Dobson Peacock 1:14.60 1931 Heronslea 4 9-11 Joseph Taylor Dobson Peacock 1:12.40 1932 Solenoid 3 8-09 Joseph Marshall Poole 1:13.60 1933 Ken Hill 9 7-08 Enos Fox T Green 1934 Figaro 4 9-01 Henri Jellis Jack Leach 1935 Greenore 6 9-03 Sam Wragg Ossie Bell F 1:14.20 1936 Marmaduke Jinks 4 6-13 Albert Richardson Harry Peacock 1:15.60 1937 Daytona 4 9-00 Michael Beary Jack Jarvis 1:12.80 1938 Old Reliance 3 9-02 Eph Smith Jack Jarvis 1939–45 no race 1946 Royal Charger 4 9-07 Eph Smith Jack Jarvis F 1:13.00 1947 Kilbelin 4 7-13 Harry Carr Bertie Bullock Not taken 1948 Como 6 8-09 Joseph Marshall Gerald Armstrong 1949 Irish Dance 6 9-01 Edgar Britt Harry Whiteman F 1:12.80 1950 First Consul 4 9-07 Charlie Smirke Sam Armstrong F 1:15.80 1951 Fair Seller 5 9-04 Ron Sheather Ernie Davey 1:11.40 1952 Vatellus 4 8-07 Herbert Jones J Pearce 1:13.20 1953 Blue Butterfly 4 8-09 Manny Mercer Harry Wragg 1:12.20 1954 Orthopaedic 3 8-01 Jimmy Lindley Towser Gosden 1:19.80 1955 Hook Money 4 7-11 Bill Elliott Arthur Budgett F 1:11.20 1956 Precious Heather 4 7-07 Eddie Hide Towser Gosden 1:11.40 1957 Jacintha 6 7-07 Eddie Larkin Wilfred Lyde 1:13.06 1958 Rhythmic 3 8-05 Frankie Durr Bill Dutton 1:14.90 1959 Whistling Victor 3 7-08 Joe Sime G Laurence 1:10.82 1960 Dawn Watch 5 7-02 Cliff Parkes Eric Cousins 1:11.76 1961 Klondyke Bill 3 8-07 Eph Smith John Benstead 1:18.46 1962 Janeat 3 7-11 Brian Henry Avril Vasey 1:15.58 1963 Egualita 3 8-00 Frankie Durr Sam Hall F 1:12.86 1964 Compensation 5 8-10 Peter Robinson Ted Lambton 1:17.84 1965 Kamundu 3 8-01 George Cadwaladr Eric Cousins 1:14.88 1966 Milesius 4 7-12 Norman McIntosh George Boyd 1:15.71 1967 Be Friendly 3 8-09 Geoff Lewis Cyril Mitchell 1:12.36 1968 Petite Path 4 7-06 John Higgins Ron Mason 1:12.83 1969 Brief Star 3 7-00 Cliff Parkes Eric Cousins 1:11.46 1970 John Splendid 3 8-10 Ron Hutchinson John Dunlop 1:17.51 1971 Royben 3 8-07 Bill Williamson Scobie Breasley 1:12.70 1972 Swinging Junior 3 8-11 Richard Hutchinson Nigel Angus 1:12.85 1973 Blue Cashmere 3 8-02 Ernie Johnson Michael Stoute 1:12.83 1974 Somersway 4 7-12 Des Cullen Bill Wightman 1:15.29 1975 Roman Warrior 4 10-00 Johnny Seagrave Nigel Angus 1:12.40 1976 Last Tango 5 7-05 Lindsay Charnock John Sutcliffe 1:10.85 1977 Jon George 3 8-04 Bruce Raymond Mick Easterby 1:10.95 1978 Vaigly Great 3 9-06 Greville Starkey Michael Stoute F 1:17.17 1979 Primula Boy 4 7-07 Willie Higgins Walter Bentley 1:15.13 1980 Sparkling Boy 3 9-02 John Lowe Paul Kelleway 1:15.69 1981 First Movement 3 7-10 Mick Miller Geoff Huffer 1:13.97 1982 Famous Star 3 7-07 Paul Eddery Michael Albina 1:13.42 1983 Polly's Brother 5 8-03 Kevin Hodgson Peter Easterby 1:14.45 1984 Able Albert 4 8-06 Mark Birch Peter Easterby 1:15.13 1985 Camps Heath 4 7-09 Wendyll Woods Frankie Durr 1:18.20 1986 Green Ruby 5 8-11 John Williams Toby Balding 1:10.60 1987 Not So Silly 3 7-10 Gary Bardwell Alan Bailey 1:15.29 1988 So Careful 5 7-07 Nicky Carlisle Jack Berry 1:14.54 1989 Joveworth 6 8-00 Jimmy Fortune Mike O'Neill 1:14.92 1990 Final Shot 3 8-02 John Lowe Peter Easterby 1:13.80 1991 Sarcita 3 8-10 Brett Doyle David Elsworth 1:09.36 1992 Lochsong 4 9-00 Francis Arrowsmith Ian Balding 1:15.51 1993 Hard to Figure 7 9-06 Ray Cochrane Ron Hodges 1:09.05 1994 Daring Destiny 3 8-00 Jason Tate Karl Burke 1:14.61 1995 Royale Figurine 4 8-09 Darryll Holland M. Fetherston-Godley 1:11.11 1996 Coastal Bluff 4 9-10 Jimmy Fortune David Barron F 1:09.54 1997 Wildwood Flower 4 9-03 Dane O'Neill Richard Hannon Sr. 1:11.64 1998 Always Alight 4 8-07 John Egan Karl Burke 1:16.12 1999 Grangeville 4 9-00 Kieren Fallon Ian Balding 1:11.16 2000 Bahamian Pirate 5 8-00 Adrian Nicholls David Nicholls 1:13.47 2001 Continent 4 8-10 Darryll Holland David Nicholls 1:09.70 2002 Funfair Wane 3 9-03 Adrian Nicholls David Nicholls 1:11.76 2003 Quito 6 8-06 Tony Culhane David Chapman 1:09.90 2004 Funfair Wane 5 8-06 Paul Doe David Nicholls 1:16.15 2005 Presto Shinko 4 9-02 Seb Sanders Richard Hannon Sr. 1:12.45 2006 Fonthill Road 6 9-02 Paul Hanagan Richard Fahey 1:12.70 2007 Advanced 4 9-09 Jamie Spencer Kevin Ryan 1:12.91 2008 Regal Parade 4 8-10 William Carson, Jr. David Nicholls 1:15.48 2009 Jimmy Styles 5 9-02 Frankie Dettori Clive Cox 1:11.35 2010 Redford 5 9-02 Frankie Dettori David Nicholls 1:10.26 2011 Our Jonathan 4 9-06 Franny Norton Kevin Ryan 1:15.35 2012 Captain Ramius 6 9-00 Pat Smullen Kevin Ryan 1:14.13 2013 Highland Colori 5 8-13 Oisin Murphy Andrew Balding 1:12.65 2014 Louis the Pious 6 9-04 James Doyle David O'Meara 1:09.53 2015 Don't Touch 3 9-01 Tony Hamilton Richard Fahey F 1:10.93 2016 Brando 4 9-10 Tom Eaves Kevin Ryan 1:13.12 2017 Donjuan Triumphant 4 9-10 P. J. McDonald Andrew Balding 1:17.10 2018(dh) Baron BoltSon of Rest 54 8-129-03 Cameron NobleChris Hayes Paul ColeFozzy Stack F 1:14.77 2019 Angel Alexander 3 8-13 Richard Kingscote Tom Dascombe 1.09.26 2020 Nahaarr 4 9-05 Tom Marquand William Haggas F 1:11.65 2021 Bielsa 6 9-01 Kevin Stott Kevin Ryan 1:10.03 2022 Summerghand 8 9-05 Daniel Tudhope David O'Meara 1:10.82 2023 Significantly 5 9-02 Joe Fanning Julie Camacho JF 1:10.77 2024 Lethal Levi 5 9-07 Clifford Lee Karl Burke 1:07.55 2025 Run Boy Run 4 9-02 George Wood Richard Spencer 1:12.52 2026 Pellitory 4 9-00 Danny Tudhope David O'Meara 1:16.00
Earlier winners
1804: Chancellor 1805: Chancellor 1806: Young Newbyth 1807: Juno 1808: Young Daffodil 1809: Bit of Tartan 1810: colt by John Bull 1811: Ayrshire Lass 1812: Ardrossan 1813: Snodgrass 1814: Ardrossan 1815: Marquis 1816: Kate Kearney 1817: Glengary 1818: Sans Culottes 1819: Monreith 1820: Chance 1821: colt by Stamford 1822: colt by Viscount 1823: Lancer 1824: Stratherne 1825: Lancer 1826: Robin Hood 1827: Dominie Skelp 1828: Mary 1829: Spadassin 1830: Brunswick 1831: Gondolier 1832: Vyvyan 1833: Philip 1834: Masetto 1835: Inheritor 1836: Despot 1837: Despot 1838: Inheritor 1839: Lanercost 1840: The Doctor 1841: Doctor Caius 1842: The Recorder 1843: The Shadow 1844: The Shadow 1845: Inheritress 1846: Inheritress 1847: Eryx 1848: Chanticleer 1849: Glen Saddel 1850: Elthiron 1851: Elthiron 1852: Stilton 1853: Testator 1854: Itch 1855: John Dory 1856: The Assayer 1857: Gathercole 1858: Trip the Daisy 1859: Susannah 1860: Greta 1861: Bloomsbury 1862: Little Captain 1863: Bohemian 1864: Newchurch 1865: Nothing More 1866: Fitzroy 1867: Miss Havelock 1868: Tabouret 1869: Good Hope 1870: Lady of Lyons 1871: Irregularity 1872: Alaric 1873: Lord Derby 1874: Servia 1875: Munden 1876: Coltness 1877: Ivy 1878: Sutler 1879: Umbria 1880: Strathblane 1881: Heath Bird 1882: Tita 1883: Tibicen 1884: Perdita 1885: Daylight 1886: Daylight 1887: Mirth 1888: Reverie 1889: Dazzle 1890: Dazzle 1891: Dazzle 1892: Horton 1893: Once More 1894: Mimram 1895: Linton 1896: Athel 1897: Athel 1898: Gyp 1899: Portebella 1900: Child Waters 1901: Caedmon 1902: Lovetin 1903: Kirkbride 1904: King's Birthday 1905: Kilglass 1906: Cyrus 1907: Charis
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British flat horse races
References
Paris-Turf: , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1971-73, 1975-78, 1980, 1982-84, 1986-2014) youtube.com galopp-sieger.de – Ayr Gold Cup. pedigreequery.com – Ayr Gold Cup – Ayr.