Advent Calendar #20 – 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup
The 1984 Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown produced one of the most dramatic finishes in steeplechase history, won with immense courage by Special Cargo. Trained by the legendary Fulke Walwyn,…
Advent Calendar #19 – 1977 Grand National
The 1977 Grand National marked the crowning moment of Red Rum’s extraordinary career, as the veteran chaser became the only three-time winner of Aintree’s greatest race. Trained by Ginger McCain…
Advent Calendar #18 – 1977 Templegate Hurdle
The 1977 Templegate Hurdle at Aintree produced one of the most memorable finishes ever seen over timber when Monksfield and Night Nurse couldn’t be separated in a dramatic dead heat.…
Advent Calendar #17 – 1991 Welsh Grand National
The 1991 Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Saturday 21 December 1991 was run in attritional winter ground and demanded stamina above all else. It produced a commanding winner…
Advent Calendar #16 – 1989 Victor Chandler Chase
The 1989 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot showcased Desert Orchid at his electrifying, untouchable best. Already a folk hero for his white-grey flamboyance and fearless jumping, “Dessie” had spent most…
Advent Calendar #14 – 1973 Grand National
The 1973 Grand National is remembered not just as a great race, but as a defining moment in the legend of Red Rum. Trained by Ginger McCain, the bay gelding…
Advent Calendar #13 – 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup
The 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup produced a hugely popular winner in Jodami, the big, powerful chaser trained in the north by Peter Beaumont at his tiny North Yorkshire yard. A…
Advent Calendar #10 – 1994 Champion Chase
The 1994 Queen Mother Champion Chase showcased the explosive brilliance of Viking Flagship, a horse whose raw pace, aggression and iron will made him one of the outstanding chasers of…
Advent Calendar #6 – 1984 Champion Chase
Badsworth Boy stands alone in Champion Chase history. Trained by Michael Dickinson and later his mother Monica, the fiery chestnut possessed blistering speed, accuracy at his fences, and a competitive…
Advent Calendar #6 – 1997 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup
Suny Bay was a grey of immense stamina and heart, trained by Charlie Brooks and best remembered for his mighty weight-carrying performances in top staying handicaps. His breakthrough moment came…
Advent Calendar #5 – 2004 Scottish Grand National
Grey Abbey was one of the most popular northern chasers of his era, a relentless front-runner trained by Howard Johnson and adored for his bold, attacking style. Tough, uncomplicated and…
Advent Calendar #4 – 1996 Champion Hurdle
Collier Bay was one of the great transformation stories of 1990s National Hunt racing. Originally a modest Flat performer, he was revitalised under the care of Jim Old, developing into…
Advent Calendar #2 1989 Champion Hurdle
Beech Road was one of the most unlikely Champion Hurdle winners of the modern era, a tough, late-maturing hurdler who rose rapidly through the ranks for trainer Toby Balding. Initially…
Mirror Racing – Thursday 28 November 1974
Daily Mirror racing on Thursday 28 November 1974, and Red Rum is in the news. The racing that day was at Haydock, with Towcester and Wincanton also in action. Download…
Obituary – Miles Henry (Peter) Easterby: 5 August 1929 – 9 June 2025
Peter Easterby—born Miles Henry Easterby—passed away peacefully at home on 9 June 2025, surrounded by family at the age of 95. A gentle Yorkshireman in demeanour but a force of…
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day – Friday 14 March 2008
Not as far back in time as usual for this site, but I thought you may be interested in the Daily Express pages from Gold Cup Day – Friday 14…
NH Legends: Badsworth Boy – Triple Champion Chaser
Today we celebrate another NH Legend as Cheltenham fast approaches. Badsworth Boy (19 March 1975 – October 2002) completed a hat-trick from 1983 to 1985 in the Queen Mother Champion…
NH Legends: Sea Pigeon – Double Champion Hurdler
As Cheltenham approaches, we look back at some of the festival legends of the past, starting with one of the all-time hurdling greats. Sea Pigeon (1970–2000) was an American-bred gelding…