The race we now recognise as the Cheltenham Gold Cup started in 1924. Back then a new trophy was made every year, with a different design, and was kept by the winner. That original from 1924 was auctioned off in 1979. It was privately owned until Cheltenham bought it back in 2018. Since 2019, it has been the perpetual trophy, and is on permanent display at Cheltenham, 365 days a year.
We came on board in 2020, and we make an exact replica, identical in every dimension, that the winning owner keeps. On the presentation table on Gold Cup day there are four trophies: the original, the replica, and the goblets for the trainer and jockey. The original is presented to the winners - that's the one the jockeys hold high- then it goes back into the cabinet.
The Gold Cup is a really tricky piece to make; it's a labour of love. Modelled on a classic, old-fashioned sugar bowl, it has horses' heads as handles. It's an intricate shape that can't easily be spun on a lathe; it's created by pouring silver into a mould. We allow about three months to produce it, as there are many stages.
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