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John Smith’s Cup: Past Winners, Stats & History

John Smith's Meeting
Course:
York
Grade:
Class 2
Length:
1m 2½f
Last Winner:
Anmaat @ 5/1
Prize Money:
£200,000 (2022)

The pick of the action at the Knavesmire on John Smith’s Cup Day will see the middle-distance performers line-up for the meeting’s title race which is is one of the biggest handicaps of the summer.

The John Smith’s Cup has been a fixture at York since 1960 and has been sponsored by the local brewers for the race’s entire history. In 2019 the race had it’s 60th anniversary and to celebrate it was renamed the John Smith’s Diamond Jubilee Cup.

John Smith’s Cup Course Map

York Racecourse Map

John Smith’s Cup Past Winners

Year Winner SP Trainer Jockey
2022 Anmaat 5/1 Owen Burrows Kevin Stott
2021 Johnny Drama 22/1 Andrew Balding Joshua Bryan
2020 Sinjaari 11/1 William Haggas Stevie Donohoe
2019 Pivoine 14/1 Andrew Balding Rob Hornby
2018 Euchen Glen 20/1 Jim Goldie Alistair Rawlinson
2017 Ballet Concerto 8/1 Sir Michael Stoute James Doyle
2016 Educate 18/1 Ismael Mohammed Thomas Brown
2015 Master Carpenter 14/1 Rod Millman Phillip Makin
2014 Farraaj 6/1 Roger Varian Andrea Atzeni
2013 Danchai 10/1 William Haggas Andrea Atzeni
2012 King's Warrior 33/1 Peter Chapple-Hyam Robert Havlin
2011 Green Destiny 6/1 William Haggas Adam Beschizza
2010 Wigmore Hall 5/1 Michael Bell Martin Lane
2009 Sirvino 16/1 David Barron Neil Brown
2008 Flying Clarets 12/1 Richard Fahey Frederik Tylicki
2007 Charlie Tokyo 11/1 Richard Fahey Jamie Moriarty
2006 Fairmile 6/1 Walter Swinburn Adam Kirby
2005 Mullins Bay 4/1 Aidan O'Brien Kieren Fallon
2004 Arcalis 20/1 Howard Johnson Robert Winston
2003 Far Lane 7/1 Barry Hills Michael Hills

About the John Smith’s Cup: A Longstanding Handicap Highlight

John Smiths Brewery in Tadcaster
John Smiths Brewery, Tadcaster by Tim Green, flickr (Image Cropped)

When it comes to flat action in the North, it is York racecourse which is just about the jewel in the racing crown. Regularly voted one of the top tracks in the country in terms of facilities and race day experience, the Knavesmire venue can be counted upon to provide a steady stream of high-quality action throughout the summer months.

Taking place in July each year, the two-day John Smith’s Meeting is one such event which never fails to fill the stands, with the feature contest of the John Smith’s Cup being one of the biggest contests of its type of the calendar year.

Held over a trip of just over 1m2f, this handicap affair is open to all runners aged three and older and offers a total purse of £200,000 as of 2022. Sponsored by John Smith’s ever since the inaugural edition back in 1960, the relationship between the race and the brewing company is now the longest running sponsorship arrangement in the sport.

Major Success

Chart Showing the Top John Smith's Cup Trainers Between 1960 and 2022

We have plenty of recognisable names on the list of most successful trainers in this race; a list which features no fewer than three “Sirs” in Michael Stoute, Mark Prescott and Henry Cecil.

The locally based Richard Fahey has fared best of the current handlers as of 2022 alongside William Haggas, but it is the trainer commonly known simply as “The Major” who boasts the best record of all. Famous for his record in Doncaster’s St Leger, Dick Hern matched his total of six wins in the Doncaster Classic with the same number of victories in this handicap affair.

Successful aboard Town And Country (1978) and Bedtime (1983) for Hern, in addition to Jolly Good (1975) for Bruce Hobbs, Willie Carson’s three wins make him the joint most successful rider in the history of the event alongside Geoff Baxter and Tony Ives as of 2022.

Younger Legs Out In Front

Chart Showing the Ages of the John Smith's Cup Winners Between 1960 and 2022

As we can see from the above chart it is the younger runners who have much the best record in this race, with just a shade under three-quarters of the renewals up to and including 2022 falling to a runner aged either three or four.

Of the three year olds to have come home in front here, undoubtedly the best of them was the 1973 champ, Peleid. Not content with success in one of the North’s biggest handicaps, Bill Elsey’s charge proved himself to be way better than a handicapper when causing a 28/1 upset in the St Leger of the same year.

Amongst the four year olds to have prevailed, special mention must got to 2004 winner, Arcalis. Hailing from the yard of Howard Johnson, this horse scores top marks for versatility. Smart enough on the flat to win this off a mark of 95, he proved to be an even better horse over hurdles. So good in fact that he stormed to a six-length success in the 2005 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Those older than five years have tended to struggle here, with 2016 champ Educate taking the honour of being the oldest winner in the history of the race, having been seven years old at the time of his success.

Other Races of Note at York

  • Dante Stakes
  • Duke Of York Stakes
  • Ebor Handicap
  • Great Voltigeur Stakes
  • John Smith’s Cup
  • Juddmonte International
  • Lonsdale Cup
  • Nunthorpe Stakes
  • Yorkshire Cup
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