Battle for the Golden Horseshoe
The Battle for the Golden Horseshoe is an annual rivalry college football game played between the UC Davis Aggies and the Cal Poly (SLO) Mustangs.[1] Although the two teams have met on the gridiron since 1939, the rivalry officially began with the 2004 game at Cal Poly. The winner of the game receives the Golden Horseshoe Trophy, which was also created in 2004 for the inaugural game. Due to a misunderstanding, both schools constructed a trophy for the rivalry and brought it to the inaugural game. The teams decided that the rivalry would adopt the trophy created by the winner of that game; UC Davis won 36–33 and was therefore allowed to make its trophy the official one to be exchanged in all subsequent meetings.[2][3]
| Sport | Football |
|---|---|
| First meeting | November 4, 1939 Northern Branch, 28–0 |
| Latest meeting | October 23, 2021 UC Davis, 24–13 |
| Next meeting | October 29, 2022 |
| Trophy | The Golden Horseshoe |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 47 |
| All-time series | UC Davis leads 25–20–2 |
| Trophy series | UC Davis leads 11–7 |
| Largest victory | UC Davis: 73–24 (2021) |
| Longest win streak | 5 - UC Davis |
| Current win streak | UC Davis, 5 (2017–present) |
Through October 23, 2021, UC Davis leads the series 11–7; UC Davis won the trophy in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, March 2021, and October 2021, while Cal Poly (SLO) took it in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. UC Davis leads the all-time series 25–20–2.
There is also controversy regarding the addition of gems to the trophy after each win. The Mustang Maniacs, the student group who holds the trophy while it is under Cal Poly's control, added blue and green gems to the trophy from 2006 to 2008. But when the Aggie Pack regained control of the trophy in 2009, they removed the gems, wishing to keep the trophy in its original condition.[4]
Game results
| Cal Poly (SLO) victories | UC Davis victories | Tie games |
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References
- Bill Paterson (October 31, 2013). "UC Davis-Cal Poly rivalry intense". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- "Battle for the Golden Horseshoe". Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- "Cal Poly SLO Mustangs Official Athletics Website". Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- "Football Looks to Reclaim the Golden Horseshoe from UC Davis". Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
