European Free Handicap

The European Free Handicap was a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It was run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in mid-April. In December 2022 the British Horseracing Authority announced that it would not be run in 2023.

European Free Handicap

Class	Listed
Location	Rowley Mile Newmarket, England
Race type	Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor	Bet365
Website	Newmarket
Race information
Distance	7f (1,408 metres)
Surface	Turf
Track	Straight
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	Handicap
Purse	£35,000 (2021) 1st: £19,849

European Free Handicap

2022
New Science	Tacarib Bay	Ribhi

Previous years
2021
Tactical	Naval Crown	Ontario

2020-2011
2019
Shine So Bright	Space Traveller	Azano
2018
Anna Nerium	Finniston Farm	Another Batt
2017
Whitecliffsofdover	Rodaini	Seven Heavens
2016
Ibn Malik	Scrutineer	Great Page
2015
Home Of The Brave	Tupi	Faydhan
2014
Shifting Power	Mushir	Aeolus
2013
Garswood	Emell	Lucky Beggar
2012
Telwaar	Bannock	Hazaz
2011
Pausanias	Rerouted	Utley

2010-2001
2010
Red Jazz	Quadrille	Mata Keranjang
2009
Ouqba	Awinnersgame	Penny's Gift
2008
Stimulation	Fat Boy	Royal Confidence
2007
Prime Defender	Tobosa	Eddie Jock
2006
Misu Bond	Jeremy	Advanced
2005
Kamakiri	Obe Gold	Stetchworth Prince
2004
Brunel	Moonlight Man	Parkview Love
2003
Indian Haven	Baron's Pit	Membership
2002
Twilight Blues	Approval	Ashdown Express
2001
Clearing	Palace Affair	Reel Buddy

2000-1991
2000
Cape Town	Catchy Word	Eurolink Raindance
1999
Bertolini	Indiana Legend	Kalidasa
1998
Desert Prince	Trans Island	Greenlander
1997
Hidden Meadow	Granny's Pet	Rich Ground
1996
Cayman Kai	Projection	World Premier
1995
Diffident	Harayir	Citadeed
1994
Bluegrass Prince	Canaska Dancer	Selhurstpark Flyer
1993
So Factual	Revelation	Salatin
1992
Pursuit Of Love	Steinbeck	Wolfhound
1991
Mystiko	Zigaura	Junk Bond

1990-1988
1990
Anshan	Osario	Book The Band
1989
Danehill	Folly Foot	Mon Tresor
1988
Lapierre	Charmer	Heroes Sash

The handicap for the race is based on the European Thoroughbred Rankings, an assessment of the previous season's two-year-olds published in January.

History

Records point to the first running of the race being 1929. It was won by top weight Sir Cosmo carrying 9st. The event was formerly known as the Free Handicap. For a period it was backed by the Tote.^[1] The word "European" was added to its title in 1981.^[2]

The race served as a trial for various Classics in Europe. The last winner to achieve victory in the 2000 Guineas was Mystiko in 1991. The last participant to win the 1000 Guineas was Harayir, the runner-up in 1995.

Records

Leading jockey since 1960 (8 wins):

• Pat Eddery – Charlie Bubbles (1974), Lyric Dance (1979), Danehill (1989), Anshan (1990), Pursuit of Love (1992), So Factual (1993), Cayman Kai (1996), Twilight Blues (2002)

Leading trainer since 1960 (5 wins):

• Richard Hannon Sr. – Bluegrass Prince (1994), Cayman Kai (1996), Cape Town (2000), Kamakiri (2005), Pausanias (2011)

Winners since 1960

• Weights given in stones and pounds.

Year	Winner	Weight	Jockey	Trainer	Time
1960	Running Blue	8-04	Johnny Limb	Jack Jarvis	1:28.24
1961	Erudite	8-06	Jimmy Etherington	Richard Peacock	1:28.40
1962	Privy Councillor	8-04	Joe Sime	Tom Waugh	1:28.84
1963	Ros Rock	8-01	Paul Tulk	Jeremy Tree	1:33.04
1964	Port Merion	8-09	Scobie Breasley	Sir Gordon Richards	1:26.26
1965	Short Commons	8-04	Russ Maddock	Pat Rohan	1:26.88
1966	Kibenka	8-04	Ron Hutchinson	Atty Corbett	1:27.14
1967	Supreme Sovereign	8-01	Peter Robinson	Avril Vasey	1:24.90
1968	Panpiper	7-13	Ernie Johnson	Ron Smyth	1:29.42
1969	Welsh Pageant	8-10	Sandy Barclay	Noel Murless	1:29.12
1970	Shiny Tenth	8-03	Geoff Lewis	Atty Corbett	1:29.80
1971	No Mercy	8-05	Brian Taylor	Harvey Leader	1:27.85
1972	Panama Canal	7-11	Richard Marshall	Bill Marshall	1:31.02
1973	Pitskelly	8-05	Bill Williamson	Michael Jarvis	1:25.52
1974	Charlie Bubbles	8-03	Pat Eddery	Peter Walwyn	1:25.56
1975	Green Belt	8-09	Eric Eldin	Harry Wragg	1:35.52
1976	Man of Harlech	8-04	Ron Hutchinson	John Dunlop	1:26.52
1977	Mrs McArdy	8-00	Taffy Thomas	Mick Easterby	1:26.32
1978	Remainder Man	7-10	Michael Wigham	Reg Hollinshead	1:28.13
1979	Lyric Dance	8-10	Pat Eddery	Jeremy Tree	1:27.65
1980	Moorestyle	8-10	Lester Piggott	Robert Armstrong	1:25.32
1981	Motavato	8-13	Steve Cauthen	Barry Hills	1:28.46
1982	Match Winner	9-04	Lester Piggott	Henry Cecil	1:26.39
1983	Boom Town Charlie	8-11	Tony Ives	Bill O'Gorman	1:30.98
1984	Cutting Wind	8-08	Walter Swinburn	Michael Hinchliffe	1:25.35
1985	Over the Ocean	8-11	Alain Lequeux	Olivier Douieb	1:27.60
1986	Green Desert	9-07	Walter Swinburn	Michael Stoute	1:32.36
1987	Noble Minstrel	9-07	Alain Badel	Olivier Douieb	1:27.00
1988	Lapierre	9-01	Michael Roberts	Clive Brittain	1:27.61
1989	Danehill	9-01	Pat Eddery	Jeremy Tree	1:27.57
1990	Anshan	9-07	Pat Eddery	John Gosden	1:24.07
1991	Mystiko	9-02	Michael Roberts	Clive Brittain	1:25.72
1992	Pursuit of Love	9-01	Pat Eddery	Henry Cecil	1:26.55
1993	So Factual	9-06	Pat Eddery	Guy Harwood	1:26.23
1994	Bluegrass Prince	8-13	Frankie Dettori	Richard Hannon Sr.	1:30.67
1995	Diffident	9-05	Michael Kinane	André Fabre	1:22.93
1996	Cayman Kai	9-07	Pat Eddery	Richard Hannon Sr.	1:22.98
1997	Hidden Meadow	9-03	Frankie Dettori	Ian Balding	1:25.60
1998	Desert Prince	9-05	Olivier Peslier	David Loder	1:31.39
1999	Bertolini	9-07	Frankie Dettori	John Gosden	1:26.00
2000	Cape Town	9-02	Richard Hughes	Richard Hannon Sr.	1:27.50
2001	Clearing	9-06	Richard Hughes	John Gosden	1:29.37
2002	Twilight Blues	9-05	Pat Eddery	Brian Meehan	1:24.88
2003	Indian Haven	9-01	John Egan	Paul D'Arcy	1:27.01
2004	Brunel	8-13	Darryll Holland	William Haggas	1:26.45
2005	Kamakiri	8-10	Ryan Moore	Richard Hannon Sr.	1:24.51
2006	Misu Bond	8-13	Tony Culhane	Bryan Smart	1:24.11
2007	Prime Defender	9-05	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	1:23.36
2008	Stimulation	9-03	Steve Drowne	Hughie Morrison	1:27.17
2009	Ouqba	8-09	Richard Hills	Barry Hills	1:27.22
2010	Red Jazz	9-06	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	1:26.55
2011	Pausanias	8-12	Richard Hughes	Richard Hannon Sr.	1:24.06
2012	Telwaar	8-11	William Buick	Peter Chapple-Hyam	1:28.03
2013	Garswood	9-00	Tony Hamilton	Richard Fahey	1:24.84
2014	Shifting Power	9-01	Ryan Moore	Richard Hannon Jr.	1:26.72
2015	Home of the Brave	8-13	James Doyle	Hugo Palmer	1:22.22
2016	Ibn Malik	9-06	Paul Hanagan	Charlie Hills	1:26.17
2017	Whitecliffsofdover	9-07	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	1:24.68
2018	Anna Nerium	8-13	Tom Marquand	Richard Hannon Jr.	1:26.34
2019	Shine So Bright	9-07	Silvestre de Sousa	Andrew Balding	1:24.68
	no race 2020 [a]
2021	Tactical	9-05	Oisin Murphy	Andrew Balding	1:24.79
2022	New Science	9-07	William Buick	Charlie Appleby	1:24.80

1. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom^[3]

Earlier winners

• 1929: Sir Cosmo
• 1930: Quothquan
• 1931:
• 1932:
• 1933:
• 1934:
• 1935: Knighted
• 1936: Pay Up
• 1937: Mid-Day Sun
• 1938: Lapel
• 1939: Solar Cloud
• 1940: Salt Spring
• 1941: Orthodox
• 1942: No Race
• 1943: No Race
• 1944: Roadhouse
• 1945: Grandmaster
• 1946: Cama
• 1947: Benedictine
• 1948: Rear Admiral
• 1949: Spy Legend
• 1950: The Moke
• 1951: Wilwyn
• 1952: Caerlaverock
• 1953: Good Brandy
• 1954: Sun Festival
• 1955: Counsel
• 1956: Honeylight
• 1957: Quorum
• 1958: Faultless Speech
• 1959: Petite Etoile

See also

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