Ayr Gold Cup

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.

Ayr Gold Cup

Class	Handicap
Location	Ayr Racecourse Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
Inaugurated	1804
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor	QTS
Website	Ayr
Race information
Distance	6f (1,207 metres)
Surface	Turf
Track	Straight
Qualification	Three-years-old and up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	£75,000 (2020) 1st: £46,688

Ayr Gold Cup

2024
Lethal Levi	Silky Wilkie	Korker

Previous years
2023
Significantly	Ramazan	Gweedore
2022
Summerghand	Commanche Falls	Juan Les Pins
2021
Bielsa	Great Ambassador	Mr Wagyu

2020-2011
2020
Nahaarr	Spanish City	Mr Lupton
2019
Angel Alexander	Growl	Gulliver
2018
Son Of Rest	Baron Bolt	Flying Pursuit
2016
Brando	Growl	Hoof It
2015
Don't Touch	Poyle Vinnie	Ninjago
2014
Louis The Pious	Minalisa	Blaine
2013
Highland Colori	Louis The Pious	Jack Dexter
2012
Captain Ramius	Regal Parade	Maarek
2011
Our Jonathan	Eton Rifles	Son Of The Cat

2010-2001
2010
Redford	Victoire De Lyphar	Hitchens
2009
Jimmy Styles	Barney McGrew	Knot In Wood
2008
Regal Parade	Tajneed	Confuchias
2007
Advanced	Benwilt Breeze	Patavellian
2006
Fonthill Road	Borderlescott	Advanced
2005
Presto Shinko	Fonthill Road	Majestic Times
2004
Funfair Wane	Fantasy Believer	Continent
2003
Quito	Seel of Approval	Fire Up The Band
2002
Funfair Wane	The Tatling	Abbajabba
2001
Continent	Brevity	Smokin Beau

2000-1991
2000
Bahamian Pirate	Lago Di Varano	Guinea Hunter
1999
Grangeville	Evening Promise	Royal Result
1998
Always Alight	Daring Destiny	Lago Di Varano
1997
Wildwood Flower	Double Action	Superior Premium
1996
Coastal Bluff	Mr Bergerac	Prince Babar
1995
Royale Figurine	No Extras	Patto
1994
Daring Destiny	Alzianah	Hard To Figure
1993
Hard To Figure	Truthful Image	Venture Capitalist
1992
Lochsong	Echo-Logical	Heather Bank
1991
Sarcita	Tbab	Dominuet

1990-1988
1990
Final Shot	Bertie Wooster	Local Lass
1989
Joveworth	Chaplins Club	Ajanac
1988
So Careful	Chaplins Club	Foolish Touch

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 1960

• Weights given in stones and pounds.

Year	Winner	Age	Weight	Jockey	Trainer	SP	Time
1960	Dawn Watch	5	7-02	Cliff Parkes	Eric Cousins	1011.1111111111 100/9	1:11.76
1961	Klondyke Bill	3	8-07	Eph Smith	John Benstead	1012.5 100/8	1:18.46
1962	Janeat	3	7-11	Brian Henry	Avril Vasey	1025 25/1	1:15.58
1963	Egualita	3	8-00	Frankie Durr	Sam Hall	1010 10/1 F	1:12.86
1964	Compensation	5	8-10	Peter Robinson	Ted Lambton	1010 10/1	1:17.84
1965	Kamundu	3	8-01	George Cadwaladr	Eric Cousins	1012.5 100/8	1:14.88
1966	Milesius	4	7-12	Norman McIntosh	George Boyd	1025 25/1	1:15.71
1967	Be Friendly	3	8-09	Geoff Lewis	Cyril Mitchell	1012.5 100/8	1:12.36
1968	Petite Path	4	7-06	John Higgins	Ron Mason	1014.2857142857 100/7	1:12.83
1969	Brief Star	3	7-00	Cliff Parkes	Eric Cousins	1010 10/1	1:11.46
1970	John Splendid	3	8-10	Ron Hutchinson	John Dunlop	1010 10/1	1:17.51
1971	Royben	3	8-07	Bill Williamson	Scobie Breasley	1009 9/1	1:12.70
1972	Swinging Junior	3	8-11	Richard Hutchinson	Nigel Angus	1014 14/1	1:12.85
1973	Blue Cashmere	3	8-02	Ernie Johnson	Michael Stoute	1007 7/1	1:12.83
1974	Somersway	4	7-12	Des Cullen	Bill Wightman	1016 16/1	1:15.29
1975	Roman Warrior	4	10-00	Johnny Seagrave	Nigel Angus	1008 8/1	1:12.40
1976	Last Tango	5	7-05	Lindsay Charnock	John Sutcliffe	1006 6/1	1:10.85
1977	Jon George	3	8-04	Bruce Raymond	Mick Easterby	1022 22/1	1:10.95
1978	Vaigly Great	3	9-06	Greville Starkey	Michael Stoute	1005 5/1 F	1:17.17
1979	Primula Boy	4	7-07	Willie Higgins	Walter Bentley	1040 40/1	1:15.13
1980	Sparkling Boy	3	9-02	John Lowe	Paul Kelleway	1015 15/1	1:15.69
1981	First Movement	3	7-10	Mick Miller	Geoff Huffer	1014 14/1	1:13.97
1982	Famous Star	3	7-07	Paul Eddery	Michael Albina	1006.5 13/2	1:13.42
1983	Polly's Brother	5	8-03	Kevin Hodgson	Peter Easterby	1011 11/1	1:14.45
1984	Able Albert	4	8-06	Mark Birch	Peter Easterby	1009 9/1	1:15.13
1985	Camps Heath	4	7-09	Wendyll Woods	Frankie Durr	1014 14/1	1:18.20
1986	Green Ruby	5	8-11	John Williams	Toby Balding	1025 25/1	1:10.60
1987	Not So Silly	3	7-10	Gary Bardwell	Alan Bailey	1012 12/1	1:15.29
1988	So Careful	5	7-07	Nicky Carlisle	Jack Berry	1033 33/1	1:14.54
1989	Joveworth	6	8-00	Jimmy Fortune	Mike O'Neill	1050 50/1	1:14.92
1990	Final Shot	3	8-02	John Lowe	Peter Easterby	1012 12/1	1:13.80
1991	Sarcita	3	8-10	Brett Doyle	David Elsworth	1014 14/1	1:09.36
1992	Lochsong	4	9-00	Francis Arrowsmith	Ian Balding	1010 10/1	1:15.51
1993	Hard to Figure	7	9-06	Ray Cochrane	Ron Hodges	1012 12/1	1:09.05
1994	Daring Destiny	3	8-00	Jason Tate	Karl Burke	1018 18/1	1:14.61
1995	Royale Figurine	4	8-09	Darryll Holland	M. Fetherston-Godley	1008 8/1	1:11.11
1996	Coastal Bluff	4	9-10	Jimmy Fortune	David Barron	1003 3/1 F	1:09.54
1997	Wildwood Flower	4	9-03	Dane O'Neill	Richard Hannon Sr.	1014 14/1	1:11.64
1998	Always Alight	4	8-07	John Egan	Karl Burke	1016 16/1	1:16.12
1999	Grangeville	4	9-00	Kieren Fallon	Ian Balding	1011 11/1	1:11.16
2000	Bahamian Pirate	5	8-00	Adrian Nicholls	David Nicholls	1033 33/1	1:13.47
2001	Continent	4	8-10	Darryll Holland	David Nicholls	1010 10/1	1:09.70
2002	Funfair Wane	3	9-03	Adrian Nicholls	David Nicholls	1016 16/1	1:11.76
2003	Quito	6	8-06	Tony Culhane	David Chapman	1020 20/1	1:09.90
2004	Funfair Wane	5	8-06	Paul Doe	David Nicholls	1033 33/1	1:16.15
2005	Presto Shinko	4	9-02	Seb Sanders	Richard Hannon Sr.	1012 12/1	1:12.45
2006	Fonthill Road	6	9-02	Paul Hanagan	Richard Fahey	1016 16/1	1:12.70
2007	Advanced	4	9-09	Jamie Spencer	Kevin Ryan	1020 20/1	1:12.91
2008	Regal Parade	4	8-10	William Carson, Jr.	David Nicholls	1018 18/1	1:15.48
2009	Jimmy Styles	5	9-02	Frankie Dettori	Clive Cox	1014 14/1	1:11.35
2010	Redford	5	9-02	Frankie Dettori	David Nicholls	1014 14/1	1:10.26
2011	Our Jonathan	4	9-06	Franny Norton	Kevin Ryan	1011 11/1	1:15.35
2012	Captain Ramius	6	9-00	Pat Smullen	Kevin Ryan	1016 16/1	1:14.13
2013	Highland Colori	5	8-13	Oisin Murphy	Andrew Balding	1020 20/1	1:12.65
2014	Louis the Pious	6	9-04	James Doyle	David O'Meara	1010 10/1	1:09.53
2015	Don't Touch	3	9-01	Tony Hamilton	Richard Fahey	1006 6/1 F	1:10.93
2016	Brando	4	9-10	Tom Eaves	Kevin Ryan	1011 11/1	1:13.12
2017	Donjuan Triumphant[a]	4	9-10	P. J. McDonald	Andrew Balding	1006.5 13/2	1:17.10
2018 (dh)	Baron Bolt Son of Rest	5 4	8-12 9-03	Cameron Noble Chris Hayes	Paul Cole Fozzy Stack	1028 28/1 1005 5/1 F	1:14.77
2019	Angel Alexander	3	8-13	Richard Kingscote	Tom Dascombe	1028 28/1	1.09.26
2020	Nahaarr	4	9-05	Tom Marquand	William Haggas	1003.5 7/2 F	1:11.65
2021	Bielsa	6	9-01	Kevin Stott	Kevin Ryan	1007.5 15/2	1:10.03
2022	Summerghand	8	9-05	Daniel Tudhope	David O'Meara	1012 12/1	1:10.82
2023	Significantly	5	9-02	Joe Fanning	Julie Camacho	1008 8/1 JF	1:10.77
2024	Lethal Levi	5	9-07	Clifford Lee	Karl Burke	1020 20/1	1:07.55

1. The 2017 running was abandoned due to a waterlogged course - a replacement race was run at Haydock.^[1]

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
• 1908: Raeberry
• 1909: Alwine
• 1910: Raeberry
• 1911: Saucy John
• 1912: Grammont
• 1913: Borrow
• 1914–16: no race
• 1917: Wayward
• 1918: no race
• 1919: Beresina
• 1920: Forest Guard
• 1921: Self Sacrifice
• 1922: Soldennis
• 1923: Baydon
• 1924: Westmead
• 1925: Phalaros
• 1926: Lord Wembley
• 1927: Martenax
• 1928: Nothing Venture
• 1929: Tommy Atkins
• 1930: Heronslea
• 1931: Heronslea
• 1932: Solenoid
• 1933: Ken Hill
• 1934: Figaro
• 1935: Greenore
• 1936: Marmaduke Jinks
• 1937: Daytona
• 1938: Old Reliance
• 1939–45: no race
• 1946: Royal Charger
• 1947: Kilbelin
• 1948: Como
• 1949: Irish Dance
• 1950: First Consul
• 1951: Fair Seller
• 1952: Vatellus
• 1953: Blue Butterfly
• 1954: Orthopaedic
• 1955: Hook Money
• 1956: Precious Heather
• 1957: Jacintha
• 1958: Rhythmic
• 1959: Whistling Victor

See also

• Horse racing in Great Britain
• List of British flat horse races