Vincent_O'Brien_County_Handicap_Hurdle

County Handicap Hurdle

County Handicap Hurdle

Hurdle horse race in Britain

The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 179 yards, or 3,382 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Quick Facts Location, Inaugurated ...
County Handicap Hurdle
2024
White, pink star, pink cap, white star Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Dark blue, emerald green star, diabolo on sleeves, emerald green cap
Absurde L'eau Du Sud Pied Piper
More information Previous years ...
More information 2020-2011 ...
More information 2010-2001 ...
More information 2000-1991 ...
More information 1990-1988 ...

History

The County Hurdle was established in 1920, and its inaugural winner was Trespasser, ridden by George Duller. Its title between 1995 and 2016 was the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle in honour of Vincent O'Brien, an Irish racehorse trainer who retired in 1994. During his career O'Brien recorded a total of twenty-three victories at the Cheltenham festival.

For many years the County Hurdle was traditionally the last race to be run at the Festival. However, a new running order was announced ahead of the 2009 meeting, and it is now the second race on the final day. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.[1]

Records

Most successful horse since 1946:

  • no horse has won this race more than once since 1946

Leading jockey since 1946 (4 wins):

  • Ruby Walsh – Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), Final Approach (2011)
  • Paul Townend - Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024)

Leading trainer since 1946 (7 wins):

  • Willie Mullins – Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024)

List of renewals

More information Date, Winner ...
  1. amateur jockey
  2. The race was abandoned in 1931 because of frost, and in 1937 because of flooding
  3. It was cancelled in 1943–45 because of World War II
  4. The 1947 edition was abandoned because of snow and frost
  5. It was cancelled in 1949 due to frost, and in 1955 due to snow
  6. The race was abandoned in 1975 due to waterlogging, and in 1978 because of snow.
  7. The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  2. [2]
    "1920 County Handicap Hurdle". Western Daily Press. 12 March 1920. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  3. [3]
    "1921 County Handicap Hurdle". Western Morning News. 4 March 1921. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  4. [4]
    "1922 County Handicap Hurdle". Western Morning News. 10 March 1922. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  5. [5]
    "1923 County Handicap Hurdle". Western Morning News. 8 March 1923. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  6. [6]
    "County Hurdle goes to Hednesford". The Daily Mail. 12 March 1924. Retrieved 14 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  7. [7]
    "1925 County Handicap Hurdle". Derby Daily Telegraph. 11 March 1925. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  8. [8]
    "1926 County Handicap Hurdle". Gloucester Citizen. 9 March 1926. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  9. [9]
    "1927 County Handicap Hurdle". Dundee Courier. 9 March 1927. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  10. [10]
    "1928 County Handicap Hurdle". Gloucester Citizen. 14 March 1928. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  11. [11]
    "1929 County Handicap Hurdle". Dundee Courier. 14 March 1929. Retrieved 15 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  12. [12]
    "1930 County Handicap Hurdle". Dundee Courier. 13 March 1930. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  13. [13]
    "1932 County Handicap Hurdle". Aberdeen Journal. 4 March 1932. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  14. [14]
    "1933 County Handicap Hurdle". Western Morning News. 10 March 1933. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  15. [15]
    "1934 County Handicap Hurdle". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 8 March 1934. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  16. [16]
    "1935 County Handicap Hurdle". Portsmouth Evening News. 14 March 1935. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  17. [17]
    "1936 County Handicap Hurdle". Western Morning News. 13 March 1936. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  18. [18]
    "1938 County Handicap Hurdle". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 10 March 1938. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  19. [19]
    "1939 County Handicap Hurdle". Gloucester Citizen. 9 March 1939. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  20. [20]
    "1940 County Handicap Hurdle". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 21 March 1940. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  21. [21]
    "1941 County Handicap Hurdle". Nottingham Evening Post. 20 March 1941. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  22. [22]
    "1942 County Handicap Hurdle". Derby Daily Telegraph. 21 March 1942. Retrieved 22 November 2015.(Subscription required.)
  23. [23]
    "1946 County Handicap Hurdle". Nottingham Evening Post. 14 March 1946. Retrieved 1 December 2015.(Subscription required.)
  24. [24]
    "1948 County Handicap Hurdle". Derby Daily Telegraph. 4 March 1948. Retrieved 3 December 2015.(Subscription required.)
  25. [25]
    "1950 County Handicap Hurdle". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 10 March 1950. Retrieved 4 December 2015.(Subscription required.)
  26. [26]
    "1951 County Handicap Hurdle". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 25 April 1951. Retrieved 4 December 2015.(Subscription required.)
  27. [27]
    "1952 County Handicap Hurdle". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 7 March 1952. Retrieved 4 December 2015.(Subscription required.)
  28. [28]
    "1953 County Handicap Hurdle". Portsmouth Evening News. 5 March 1953. Retrieved 4 December 2015.(Subscription required.)
  29. [29]
    "1988 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 17 March 1988.
  30. [30]
    "1989 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 16 March 1989.
  31. [31]
    "1990 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 15 March 1990.
  32. [32]
    "1991 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 14 March 1991.
  33. [33]
    "1992 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 12 March 1992.
  34. [34]
    "1993 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 18 March 1993.
  35. [35]
    "1994 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 17 March 1994.
  36. [36]
    "1995 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 16 March 1995.
  37. [37]
    "1996 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 14 March 1996.
  38. [38]
    "1997 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 13 March 1997.
  39. [39]
    "1998 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 19 March 1998.
  40. [40]
    "1999 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 18 March 1999.
  41. [41]
    "2000 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 16 March 2000.
  42. [42]
    "2002 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 14 March 2002.
  43. [43]
    "2003 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 13 March 2003.
  44. [44]
    "2004 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 18 March 2004.
  45. [45]
    "2005 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 18 March 2005.
  46. [46]
    "2006 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 17 March 2006.
  47. [47]
    "2007 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 16 March 2007.
  48. [48]
    "2008 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 14 March 2008.
  49. [49]
    "2009 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 13 March 2009.
  50. [50]
    "2010 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 19 March 2010.
  51. [51]
    "2011 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 18 March 2011.
  52. [52]
    "2012 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 16 March 2012.
  53. [53]
    "2013 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 15 March 2013.
  54. [54]
    "2014 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 14 March 2014.
  55. [55]
    "2015 County Handicap Hurdle". Racing Post. 13 March 2015.
  56. [56]
    "Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)". Racing Post. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
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