BrianH
Dormant account
Fifty years ago today, in the early afternoon, Arkle, the greatest steeplechaser that ever saw a racecourse, stiffened and in pain from arthritis, was euthanised at his home in Bryanstown, near Maynooth. His death made the front pages of newspapers all over the world.
Although in later years I was to go racing in Ireland many times I never saw Arkle run on his home turf (on which he was undefeated in ‘chases) but I was lucky enough to see him in most of his races in England and was in awe of him from the day in 1963 when he won the Broadway Chase (later the RSA Chase) at the Cheltenham Festival by 20 lengths. In his all too short career he ran in 35 races and won 27 of them. But chasing was his game and in the five seasons in which he ran over fences he won 22 from 26. I would contend that examination of his losses shows as big a pointer to his greatness as any of his wins.
I have debated ‘greatness’ with a number of non-believers over the years. On this forum I can remember one person who is involved in the game claiming, in response to my pointing out the number of times that Arkle gave two stone, two and a half stone and three stone to top grade horses of his day and beat them comprehensively, that they all ran below their normal form on the day that they met Arkle.
I had a much missed friend who, part seriously and in part to wind me up would claim that Tom Dreaper had some illicit ‘Arkle Juice’ which was unknown to any other trainer and which he administered only to Arkle and Flyingbolt. Perhaps he and the trainer are now in the same place so they are able to have a heated discussion similar to those that took place here on earth.
Here I have listed Arkle’s races, concentrating on the chases, and hope that there is enough evidence to justify the claims of greatness made on Arkle’s behalf.
Sir Peter O’Sullevan described him as ‘a freak of nature’ and there were reports that a post mortem revealed a heart much bigger in size than is the norm.
There are a number of documentaries on ‘Himself’ to be found on Youtube and for those who prefer a more traditional method of study I can recommend ‘Arkle The Life and Legacy of Himself’ by Sean Magee. It’s not only the best of many books about Arkle, it’s one of the best books on any horseracing subject.
Racing record
Ran in two bumpers, finishing third and fourth.
3m novice hurdle – won at 20/1
Ran in five handicap hurdles – won three at 2/1, 6/1 and 9/2.
The career he was made for started – where better? – at Cheltenham in November ’62 where he won the Honeybourne Chase over 2m 4f by 20 lengths.
In February ’63, under 12st 11lb, he won Leopardstown’s Milltown Chase over 2 miles by 8 lengths.
At the Cheltenham Festival he won the Broadway Chase (forerunner of the RSA), giving weight all round, by 20 lengths.
In April he won the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse carrying 12st 5lb) over 2m 2f on heavy ground from second favourite Willie Wagtail (11st 2lb) at Fairyhouse by 3 lengths.
Two weeks later he won Punchestown’s the 2m 4f John Jameson Cup under 12st 4lb by 15 lengths
Before the start of his ‘63/4 season he had a warm-up by running in his only ever flat race under rules a plate for maidens on the flat at Navan. Starting at 4/6 he won by 5lengths.
His prep race for the Hennessy was his first handicap chase, the 2m 4f Carey’s Cottage at Gowran. He carried 11st 13lb (next in the weights had 10st 10lb) and he won by 10 lengths.
Much has been written about the 1963 Hennessy in which he was third, beaten eight and three-quarter lengths behind Mill House (he was third with Happy Spring in second). It was a very misty day and only initially Pat Taaffe knew that three out when just a length behind Mill House he landed on a bit of poached ground and lost any chance of winning. Taaffe told connections that the ‘Big Horse‘ would never beat him again.
At Leopardstown’s December meeting he gave more than 2 stone to all of the field and won the Christmas Handicap Chase.
He won Gowran Park’s Thyestes Chase by 10 lengths on heavy ground, again conceding in excess of 2 stone.
Then the same weight concession again at the February meeting in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase, which he won by 12 lengths.
In the first of his Cheltenham Gold Cups he got his revenge on Mill House beating his rival by 5 lengths.
It was in the Irish Grand National when the new handicap system came into play.
Two handicaps were now to be published – if in the ‘A’ handicap had the top weight giving 14lb or more to the second top weight then a ‘B’ handicap would be prepared to be used in case of the top weight’s defection. No horse was named when the new ruling was announced but it wasn’t hard to guess why the change in the rules was deemed necessary.
There was no need to employ the ‘B’ handicap at Fairyhouse and Arkle (12st 0lb beat Height O’Fashion (9st 12lb) by a length and a quarter.
In the Carey’s Cottage he carried 12st 0lb an each of his two opponents was allotted 9st 7lb.
Arkle won by a very easy 5 lengths.
There was to be no repeat (literal) slip-up in the 1964 Hennessy. Arkle carried 12st 7lb and won by 10 lengths from Ferry Boat (10st 0lb). Mill House (12st 4lb) was fourth, 28 lengths behind the winner. Arkle was returned the 5/4 favourite – it was to be the last time that he would start at odds against.
In the Massey-Ferguson at Cheltenham in December Arkle experienced his second defeat over fences. Carrying a 3lb penalty for his Hennessy win Arkle under 12st 10lb was third beaten a short head and a length behind Flying Wild (10st 6lb) and Buona Notte (10st 12lb).
Lord Oaksey considered this to be the best performance of Arkle’s career..
In February 1965 Arkle won the Leopardstown Handicap Chase by a length from Scottish Memories. He was conceding 2st 7lb to the runner-up and 3st or more to the remainder of the field.
The 1965 Cheltenham Gold Cup attracted only four runners but, without being unkind to Caduval and Stoney Crossing, only two mattered. Arkle was 30/100 favourite and Mill House was 100/30. They finished first and second but there was 20 lengths between them as Arkle won his second Gold Cup with ease.
In Sandown’s season closer, the Whitbread Gold Cup Arkle with his usual 12st 7lb won by 5 lengths from the clear second top weight Brasher (10st 0lb).
The Gallaher Gold Cup at Sandown saw Arkle’s seasonal debut. Supporters of Mill House fancied the big horses chances – he’d had two warm-up runs and was now receiving 16lb from Arkle. Surely this was his chance? In what many applaud as his greatest race Arkle (12st 7lb) won by 20 lengths from Rondetto (10st 9lb) with Mill House (11st 5lb) 4 lengths back in third. Arkle had broken the course record by 17 seconds.
Back at Newbury for his third Hennessy Arkle won by 15 lengths from Freddie, who was getting 32 lbs with Brasher, receiving 35 lbs a further 3 lengths away.
At Kempton’s Christmas meeting Arkle’s King George win by a distance from Dormant was over-shadowed by the loss of Peter Cazalet’s brilliant two-miler Dunkirk.
The 1966 Leopardstown Chase was run a couple of weeks later than had been planned because the rain that seemed to have been around all winter had made the ground unraceable. Eventually it took place on 1[SUP]st[/SUP] March and Arkle found himself in the unusual position of being in a photo finish. On the heaviest of ground he won by a neck from Height O’ Fashion who was receiving 3 stone.
While a slog through the Leopardstown mud seemed an unsuitable rehearsal for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup victory, Arkle had suffered no ill effects and achieved his hat-trick by 30 lengths.
Arkle’s next race after the summer break was another Hennessy Gold Cup. He was beaten by a combination of weight and an ingenious ride by Stan Mellor on Stalbridge Colonist.
Stalbridge Colonist (10st 0lb) beat Arkle (12st 7lb) by half a length with What A Myth (10st 2lb) a further length and a half away in third. Stalbridge Colonist went on to be three-quarters of a length second in the following year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and third the following year beaten a neck and a length. What a Myth fared better by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1969.
Ascot’s SGB Chase had become the main event before Christmas. In 1965 it had been won by Peter Cundell’s Vultrix, who carried 12st 1lb. Vultrix was here again but this time he’d been allotted 10st 0 lb because Arkle was in the field with his usual weight of 12st 7lb.
Vultrix finished a distant third beaten 15 lengths and three lengths behind Arkle and Sunny Bright.
And so to Arkle’s final race, the 1966 King George. The field included Dormant, who had been second by a distance to Arkle in last year’s King George and two who were to become high profile winners in 1967 – Woodland Venture who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Foinavon, one of the more memorable Grand National winners, for perhaps the wrong reason. Under the terms of the King George in those days Arkle was set to carry 12st 7 lb while the others had 11st 7lb, 11st 5lb and 11st 0lb. The form book shows that Dormant (11st 0 lb) beat Arkle (12st 7lb) by a length. Arkle had jumped the last at Kempton about 10 lengths ahead but faltered on the run in and fifty yards from the line Dormant drew level with him and finished a length ahead at the winning post.
We would not see Arkle on a racecourse again. It was found that he had broken a pedal bone in his off-fore hoof. Pat Taaffe believes that the injury was caused by Arkle striking a guard rail early in the race.
There has often been debate between his fans about Arkle’s greatest race and in a conversation earlier this week I agreed with a racing journalist friend that it was the 1965 Gallaher Gold Cup. But at times I feel that perhaps this King George, a top class non-handicap in which he had to concede at least a stone to his rivals – and a stone and a half to the winner – in which he ran for two miles with a broken bone in his leg and lost by a length may have been the greatest feat of his ability and guts.
When Arkle won – and by a wide margin – the Racing Post’s 2004 for the most popular racehorse the paper’s editorial said that we had never seen his like before, nor were we likely to in the future. I know that there are some who disagree – all I can say is to quote from a book other than the form book: “Oh ye of little faith”
Although in later years I was to go racing in Ireland many times I never saw Arkle run on his home turf (on which he was undefeated in ‘chases) but I was lucky enough to see him in most of his races in England and was in awe of him from the day in 1963 when he won the Broadway Chase (later the RSA Chase) at the Cheltenham Festival by 20 lengths. In his all too short career he ran in 35 races and won 27 of them. But chasing was his game and in the five seasons in which he ran over fences he won 22 from 26. I would contend that examination of his losses shows as big a pointer to his greatness as any of his wins.
I have debated ‘greatness’ with a number of non-believers over the years. On this forum I can remember one person who is involved in the game claiming, in response to my pointing out the number of times that Arkle gave two stone, two and a half stone and three stone to top grade horses of his day and beat them comprehensively, that they all ran below their normal form on the day that they met Arkle.
I had a much missed friend who, part seriously and in part to wind me up would claim that Tom Dreaper had some illicit ‘Arkle Juice’ which was unknown to any other trainer and which he administered only to Arkle and Flyingbolt. Perhaps he and the trainer are now in the same place so they are able to have a heated discussion similar to those that took place here on earth.
Here I have listed Arkle’s races, concentrating on the chases, and hope that there is enough evidence to justify the claims of greatness made on Arkle’s behalf.
Sir Peter O’Sullevan described him as ‘a freak of nature’ and there were reports that a post mortem revealed a heart much bigger in size than is the norm.
There are a number of documentaries on ‘Himself’ to be found on Youtube and for those who prefer a more traditional method of study I can recommend ‘Arkle The Life and Legacy of Himself’ by Sean Magee. It’s not only the best of many books about Arkle, it’s one of the best books on any horseracing subject.
Racing record
Ran in two bumpers, finishing third and fourth.
3m novice hurdle – won at 20/1
Ran in five handicap hurdles – won three at 2/1, 6/1 and 9/2.
The career he was made for started – where better? – at Cheltenham in November ’62 where he won the Honeybourne Chase over 2m 4f by 20 lengths.
In February ’63, under 12st 11lb, he won Leopardstown’s Milltown Chase over 2 miles by 8 lengths.
At the Cheltenham Festival he won the Broadway Chase (forerunner of the RSA), giving weight all round, by 20 lengths.
In April he won the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse carrying 12st 5lb) over 2m 2f on heavy ground from second favourite Willie Wagtail (11st 2lb) at Fairyhouse by 3 lengths.
Two weeks later he won Punchestown’s the 2m 4f John Jameson Cup under 12st 4lb by 15 lengths
Before the start of his ‘63/4 season he had a warm-up by running in his only ever flat race under rules a plate for maidens on the flat at Navan. Starting at 4/6 he won by 5lengths.
His prep race for the Hennessy was his first handicap chase, the 2m 4f Carey’s Cottage at Gowran. He carried 11st 13lb (next in the weights had 10st 10lb) and he won by 10 lengths.
Much has been written about the 1963 Hennessy in which he was third, beaten eight and three-quarter lengths behind Mill House (he was third with Happy Spring in second). It was a very misty day and only initially Pat Taaffe knew that three out when just a length behind Mill House he landed on a bit of poached ground and lost any chance of winning. Taaffe told connections that the ‘Big Horse‘ would never beat him again.
At Leopardstown’s December meeting he gave more than 2 stone to all of the field and won the Christmas Handicap Chase.
He won Gowran Park’s Thyestes Chase by 10 lengths on heavy ground, again conceding in excess of 2 stone.
Then the same weight concession again at the February meeting in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase, which he won by 12 lengths.
In the first of his Cheltenham Gold Cups he got his revenge on Mill House beating his rival by 5 lengths.
It was in the Irish Grand National when the new handicap system came into play.
Two handicaps were now to be published – if in the ‘A’ handicap had the top weight giving 14lb or more to the second top weight then a ‘B’ handicap would be prepared to be used in case of the top weight’s defection. No horse was named when the new ruling was announced but it wasn’t hard to guess why the change in the rules was deemed necessary.
There was no need to employ the ‘B’ handicap at Fairyhouse and Arkle (12st 0lb beat Height O’Fashion (9st 12lb) by a length and a quarter.
In the Carey’s Cottage he carried 12st 0lb an each of his two opponents was allotted 9st 7lb.
Arkle won by a very easy 5 lengths.
There was to be no repeat (literal) slip-up in the 1964 Hennessy. Arkle carried 12st 7lb and won by 10 lengths from Ferry Boat (10st 0lb). Mill House (12st 4lb) was fourth, 28 lengths behind the winner. Arkle was returned the 5/4 favourite – it was to be the last time that he would start at odds against.
In the Massey-Ferguson at Cheltenham in December Arkle experienced his second defeat over fences. Carrying a 3lb penalty for his Hennessy win Arkle under 12st 10lb was third beaten a short head and a length behind Flying Wild (10st 6lb) and Buona Notte (10st 12lb).
Lord Oaksey considered this to be the best performance of Arkle’s career..
In February 1965 Arkle won the Leopardstown Handicap Chase by a length from Scottish Memories. He was conceding 2st 7lb to the runner-up and 3st or more to the remainder of the field.
The 1965 Cheltenham Gold Cup attracted only four runners but, without being unkind to Caduval and Stoney Crossing, only two mattered. Arkle was 30/100 favourite and Mill House was 100/30. They finished first and second but there was 20 lengths between them as Arkle won his second Gold Cup with ease.
In Sandown’s season closer, the Whitbread Gold Cup Arkle with his usual 12st 7lb won by 5 lengths from the clear second top weight Brasher (10st 0lb).
The Gallaher Gold Cup at Sandown saw Arkle’s seasonal debut. Supporters of Mill House fancied the big horses chances – he’d had two warm-up runs and was now receiving 16lb from Arkle. Surely this was his chance? In what many applaud as his greatest race Arkle (12st 7lb) won by 20 lengths from Rondetto (10st 9lb) with Mill House (11st 5lb) 4 lengths back in third. Arkle had broken the course record by 17 seconds.
Back at Newbury for his third Hennessy Arkle won by 15 lengths from Freddie, who was getting 32 lbs with Brasher, receiving 35 lbs a further 3 lengths away.
At Kempton’s Christmas meeting Arkle’s King George win by a distance from Dormant was over-shadowed by the loss of Peter Cazalet’s brilliant two-miler Dunkirk.
The 1966 Leopardstown Chase was run a couple of weeks later than had been planned because the rain that seemed to have been around all winter had made the ground unraceable. Eventually it took place on 1[SUP]st[/SUP] March and Arkle found himself in the unusual position of being in a photo finish. On the heaviest of ground he won by a neck from Height O’ Fashion who was receiving 3 stone.
While a slog through the Leopardstown mud seemed an unsuitable rehearsal for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup victory, Arkle had suffered no ill effects and achieved his hat-trick by 30 lengths.
Arkle’s next race after the summer break was another Hennessy Gold Cup. He was beaten by a combination of weight and an ingenious ride by Stan Mellor on Stalbridge Colonist.
Stalbridge Colonist (10st 0lb) beat Arkle (12st 7lb) by half a length with What A Myth (10st 2lb) a further length and a half away in third. Stalbridge Colonist went on to be three-quarters of a length second in the following year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and third the following year beaten a neck and a length. What a Myth fared better by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1969.
Ascot’s SGB Chase had become the main event before Christmas. In 1965 it had been won by Peter Cundell’s Vultrix, who carried 12st 1lb. Vultrix was here again but this time he’d been allotted 10st 0 lb because Arkle was in the field with his usual weight of 12st 7lb.
Vultrix finished a distant third beaten 15 lengths and three lengths behind Arkle and Sunny Bright.
And so to Arkle’s final race, the 1966 King George. The field included Dormant, who had been second by a distance to Arkle in last year’s King George and two who were to become high profile winners in 1967 – Woodland Venture who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Foinavon, one of the more memorable Grand National winners, for perhaps the wrong reason. Under the terms of the King George in those days Arkle was set to carry 12st 7 lb while the others had 11st 7lb, 11st 5lb and 11st 0lb. The form book shows that Dormant (11st 0 lb) beat Arkle (12st 7lb) by a length. Arkle had jumped the last at Kempton about 10 lengths ahead but faltered on the run in and fifty yards from the line Dormant drew level with him and finished a length ahead at the winning post.
We would not see Arkle on a racecourse again. It was found that he had broken a pedal bone in his off-fore hoof. Pat Taaffe believes that the injury was caused by Arkle striking a guard rail early in the race.
There has often been debate between his fans about Arkle’s greatest race and in a conversation earlier this week I agreed with a racing journalist friend that it was the 1965 Gallaher Gold Cup. But at times I feel that perhaps this King George, a top class non-handicap in which he had to concede at least a stone to his rivals – and a stone and a half to the winner – in which he ran for two miles with a broken bone in his leg and lost by a length may have been the greatest feat of his ability and guts.
When Arkle won – and by a wide margin – the Racing Post’s 2004 for the most popular racehorse the paper’s editorial said that we had never seen his like before, nor were we likely to in the future. I know that there are some who disagree – all I can say is to quote from a book other than the form book: “Oh ye of little faith”