Until recently the long distance staying hurdlers were a generally maligned group, considered too slow for the Champion Hurdle and not good enough to go over fences.
Despite several earlier incarnations it wasn’t until 1972 that they even had their own, proper, championship race at the Cheltenham Festival and even then the Stayers Hurdle, as it was named, was always the poor relation.
Occasionally a decent enough animal would win the event, such as Crimson Embers, Galmoy and Dorans Pride but these were rarities with years of comparative mediocrity in between. In short, the race just wasn’t “sexy”.
The brilliant French horse, Baracouda, brought a semblance of respectability to the race with victories in 2002 and again the following year and then Inglis Drever took over the baton with three wins in the race.
During this time, in 2005 to be exact, Ladbrokes took over sponsorship of the race, just another bookie looking for publicity but they inadvertently did something special. The race had a name change and was then called The World Hurdle, a much more catching title, and even better was the new winning trophy.
If you have ever been up close to the fantastic crystal globe, twice the size of a football, that the winning owner received you would agree it ranked as one of the most magnificent trophies in any sport, not just racing.
After Inglis Drever we then had Big Bucks’ four timer and finally the race had arrived as the major contest it had strived to be for so many years.
Unfortunately, after ten years the sponsorship, name and trophy disappeared and we can only hope the reverted-to name of the Stayers Hurdle continues to maintain the real championship status it took so long to build.
Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton