Which jockey has ridden the most winners at a single Cheltenham Festival?

Unsurprisingly, the jockey who has ridden the most winners at a single Cheltenham Festival is Rupert ‘Ruby’ Walsh. Walsh is, far and way, the most successful jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, with 59 winners – 16 more than his nearest rival, Barry Geraghty – to his name. He retired from race riding in May, 2019, but is immortalised by the ‘Ruby Walsh Trophy’, which is presented to the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival each year.

Walsh, himself, was leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival on no fewer than eleven occasions between 2004 and 2017, including five years running between 2013 and 2017. In 2009 – the year in which he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Master Minded, the World Hurdle on Big Buck’s and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Kauto Star, all trained by Paul Nicholls – Walsh rode seven winners in total, setting a new record. Seven years later, in 2016, he equalled his own record by again riding seven winners, all trained by Willie Mullins, including Annie Power in the Champion Hurdle. In 2021, Rachael Blackmore, who rode six winners to become the first female jockey to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy, came as close as anyone else ever has to equalling the record.

What happens to racehorses when they retire?

What happens to racehorses when they retire depends on a variety of factors, including breeding potential, age, physical soundness and temperament. Horses that are capable of breeding and have potential to become successful stallions or broodmares, by virtue of their pedigree or racecourse performance, or both, are often retired to stud. Of course, horses who have been castrated, or gelded , particularly National Hunt horses, who also race for much longer than their Flat counterparts, have no such option.

The ‘romantic’ notion of a racehorse being turned out in a field to enjoy its retirement may be appropriate if the horse is no longer fit for work but, otherwise, thoroughbred racehorses are best suited to an active life, even in retirement. This could simply be as a trainer’s hack, but there are numerous possibilities for alternative careers. With expert care and attention, former racehorses can be retrained as show jumpers, dressage, eventing or polo horses, thereby helping them to avoid physical and temperamental problems in later life. Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), which is funded, in part, by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), is the official charity for the welfare of retired racehorses and supports five rehabilitation centres across the country.

Which is the longest race run at the Cheltenham Festival?

Traditionally, the National Hunt Challenge Cup, run over a distance of 3 miles, 7 furlongs and 170 yards – and known, colloquially, as the ‘four miler’ – was the longest race of the week at the Cheltenham Festival. However, the last time that race was run over its original distance was in 2018, when it was won by subsequent Grand National third, Rathvinden, trained by Willie Mullins.

In 2019, 18 horses contested the National Hunt Challenge Cup, but only four finished, with 47 lengths between the third and fourth horses home. Following a review by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the distance of the race was shortened to 3 miles, 5 furlongs and 201 yards, such that, from 2020 onwards, the Glenfarclass Cross Country Chase became the longest race run at the Cheltenham Festival.

Inaugurated, as a handicap, in 2005, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is run over a distance of 3 miles, 6 furlongs and 37 yards on the specialist Cross Country Course, which features both natural and artificial obstacles, including banks, ditches, water and timber rails. Unlike the National Hunt Challenge Cup, which is restricted to horses that have not won over fences at the start of the current season, and amateur jockeys, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase has raised no welfare concerns, so seems likely to remain the longest race run at the Cheltenham Festival for the foreseeable future.

When was the first Royal procession at Ascot?

Located in the Royal County of Berkshire, approximately six miles from Windsor Castle, Ascot Racecourse has been closely associated with the British Royal Family for centuries. Indeed, it was the last Stuart monarch, Queen Anne, who founded Ascot Racecourse, in an area originally known as ‘East Cote’, in 1711. The first recognisable ‘Royal Ascot’ meeting was staged in 1768, during the reign of King George III. ‘Farmer George’ was still on the throne when the Royal Enclosure was created as a premier vantage point for viewing the inaugural running of the Gold Cup in 1807.

However, it was his eldest son, King George IV, who introduced the Royal Procession in 1825. King George IV and his guests apparently made for a ‘very splendid’ spectacle as they made their way up the Straight Mile in beautiful horse-drawn carriages. The traditional has continued ever since; under normal circumstances, Queen Elizabeth II and her cortege arrive at the Royal Gates at 2pm sharp every afternoon and process, accompanied by fanfare, along the Straight Mile to the Parade Ring.

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