sign in sign up
<<
Home , Ascot Racecourse, Desert Orchid, Grundy (horse), Long Walk Hurdle, Mill House (horse)

CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF JUMPS RACING AT ASCOT FOR FREE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

Event: Raceday Date: Saturday 14th February Time: Gates open 10.45am. First race at 1.30pm. Venue: , , SL5 7JX Admission: Free Tickets: https://tickets.ascot.co.uk/ / 0844 346 3000

This year Ascot celebrates its half-century as a dual-purpose racecourse, the first races on the jump circuit being run as part of a mixed meeting on Friday 30 April 1965, with the ground-breaking Inaugural Hurdle won by the favourite Sir Giles, trained by and ridden by . Forty minutes later the Kennel Gate Handicap Chase christened the steeplechase fences, with 20-1 outsider Another Scot, trained by Chris Nesfield, upsetting a big field under Tim Norman.

The turf upon which the jump course was constructed was not native to Ascot, having been transported the few miles from Hurst Park racecourse in south-west London. When that track closed in 1962, its fixtures and fittings were auctioned lock, stock and barrel and 20 acres of its turf were purchased by the Ascot Authority to landscape the new circuit. Two years later the grass pre-galloped over by generations of jumpers had knitted together and settled sufficiently in its new surroundings to allow racing to take place.

Racing’s big names were swiftly in attendance. In October 1965 the great took on the - footed Dunkirk in the Frogmore Chase over a two-mile trip that was well short of his best, and ran a gallant race to be runner-up.

One horse who would prove ideally suited to Ascot’s unique tests was the flamboyantly brilliant grey , who won three hurdle races and five times over fences at the course. His finest hour at Ascot came in the inaugural running of the Victor Chandler Chase (now run as the ) in January 1989, a race that will live long in the memories of those who saw it.

Ascot’s Flat course had the imperishable battle between and as a benchmark for breathless excitement, and in the duel between Desert Orchid and Panto Prince the jump course its own yardstick. The grey horse was conceding 22lb to his near-black rival and seemed to have matters largely under control until a better jump at the final fence appeared to tilt the definitive initiative to Panto Prince, more so given the comparatively short run-in at Ascot.

Yet Desert Orchid would never concede even the most hopeless cause, and hauled himself back to Panto Prince, inch by inch, before pushing his head in front on the line to win by the length of it. In those pre- redevelopment days the final furlong of the jump course was slightly obscured by the frame of the number- board, and those in the packed grandstands peered through the ironwork to better see this most thrilling of finishes.

If the speed merchants take centre stage over fences at Ascot, it’s the stayers who hold sway over hurdles, with the at the December meeting the most prestigious race over the smaller obstacles. This three-mile-plus contest has developed significantly over the years from its earlier incarnation as a handicap, with the victory of the former Hurdle winner Lanzarote in 1975 a watershed for its fortunes. Subsequent winners included the enigmatic Derring Rose, Crimson Embers and Floyd, but the Long Walk evolved into a race for champions only when the outstanding Baracouda put his mark on the honour roll.

The French ace won the race three times at Ascot in the early years of the 20th century, his victories generally characterised by the employment of extravagantly patient tactics. He also twice won Ascot’s other big hurdle race, the prosaically monikered at the November meeting that boasts no fewer than four Champion Hurdle winners among its alumni, with this ’s victor currently favourite to make it five.

Other multiple winners of the Long Walk include the great champion Big Buck’s (although two of his three wins were gained at Newbury, on Ascot’s abandonment) and Reve De Sivola, whose recent tussle with stood comparison with many of the great Ascot races of the past - although perhaps not the aforementioned Desert Orchid-Panto Prince affair.

Jump racing is now so commonplace at Ascot as to barely warrant comment, although a dozen years ago its future came into question when the course executive briefly considered scrapping fixtures after a spate of small fields in some of its more prestigious races. It was no more than a fleeting concern and was soon forgotten, and now Ascot’s eight annual fixtures are an factor of the jump season and of the course’s annual offering.

“Jumping at Ascot is often perceived to be the Flat’s little brother, and that’s understandable given the magnitude of the royal meeting and our Flat programme generally,” says Nick Smith, Ascot’s head of communications and international racing.

“However, we don’t feel like that within the organisation and have built on the programme and prize-money consistently. I think it’ll surprise a few people, when they see the historical images on course and on television, just how many of the greats have run here, from and Mill House, through Desert Orchid and on to latter-day legends such as Big Buck’s.”

There have been many memorable moments aside from those described here. Who can forget Andrew Thornton’s incredible feat of horsemanship to win on Kingscliff after the reins had snapped at the third fence of a three-mile chase, or Monet’s Garden’s heartwarming success at the age of 12 in the Ascot Chase, or ’s imperious victory in the same race on his only appearance at the course, or bringing a long and illustrious career to an end with a winner in Sweet Duke.

Ascot has substantially enriched the jumping scene over the last 50 years, has comfortably established itself as one of the top jump courses in Britain and Ireland, and on Saturday - Betfair Ascot Chase day - there will be celebrations surrounding the ‘golden jubilee’ with free admission to all Grandstand visitors.

Tickets can be purchased in advance and children under 18 years of age gain free entry to this event as well as all other Ascot meetings. Free Grandstand tickets must be booked in advance.

Maximum of two tickets per person.

To book or for further information, please call 0844 346 3000 or visit www.ascot.co.uk

Ends

For further information and images, please contact Ashley Morton-Hunte, Press Officer, Ascot Racecourse on: [email protected] or 01344 878508

Notes to Editors – Ascot Racedays 2015

 Saturday 14 February Ascot Chase Raceday  Sunday 29 March Prince's Countryside Fund Raceday Family Day  Wednesday 29 April Discover Ascot Raceday  Friday 8 May - Evening May Racenight  Saturday 9 May Victoria Cup Raceday  Tuesday 16th June 2015 Royal Ascot Tuesday  Wednesday 17th June 2015 Royal Ascot Wednesday  Thursday 18th June 2015 Royal Ascot Thursday  Friday 19th June 2015 Royal Ascot Friday  Saturday 20th June 2015 Royal Ascot Saturday  Friday 10 July Property Raceday  Saturday 11 July Summer Mile Raceday  Friday 24 July King George Weekend Friday  Saturday 25 July King George Day  Saturday 8 August Dubai Duty Free Cup  Friday 4 September Friday 4 September  Saturday 5 September Festival of Food and Wine Raceday  Friday 2 October Autumn Friday & 9th Annual CAMRA Beer Festival  Saturday 3 October Autumn Saturday & 9th Annual CAMRA Beer Festival  Saturday 17 October Qipco  Saturday 31 October United House Group Raceday & Firework Spectacular Family Day  Friday 20 November November Friday & Christmas Shopping Village  Saturday 21 November November Saturday & Christmas Shopping Village Family Day  Friday 18 December Christmas Racing Friday  Saturday 19 December Christmas Racing Saturday