King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year on 26 December, and features as part of the course's Christmas Festival.
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location | Kempton Park, Sunbury, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1937 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Ladbrokes |
| Website | Kempton Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3 miles (4,828 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Four-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 3 lb (4yo); 11 st 10 lb (5yo+) Allowances 7 lb for fillies and mares |
| Purse | £250,000 (2021) 1st: £142,375 |
| 2021 | ||
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| Tornado Flyer | Clan Des Obeaux | Saint Calvados |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
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| Frodon | Waiting Patiently | Clan Des Obeaux |
| 2019 | ||
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| Clan Des Obeaux | Cyrname | Footpad |
| 2018 | ||
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| Clan Des Obeaux | Thistlecrack | Native River |
| 2017 | ||
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| Might Bite | Double Shuffle | Tea For Two |
| 2016 | ||
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| Thistlecrack | Cue Card | Silviniaco Conti |
| 2015 | ||
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| Cue Card | Vautour | Al Ferof |
| 2014 | ||
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| Silviniaco Conti | Dynaste | Al Ferof |
| 2013 | ||
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| Silviniaco Conti | Cue Card | Al Ferof |
| 2012 | ||
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| Long Run | Captain Chris | Grands Crus |
| 2011 | ||
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| Kauto Star | Long Run | Captain Chris |
| 2010-2001 | ||
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| 2010 | ||
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| Long Run | Riverside Theatre | Kauto Star |
| 2009 | ||
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| Kauto Star | Madison Du Berlais | Barbers Shop |
| 2008 | ||
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| Kauto Star | Albertas Run | Voy Por Ustedes |
| 2007 | ||
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| Kauto Star | Our Vic | Exotic Dancer |
| 2006 | ||
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| Kauto Star | Exotic Dancer | Racing Demon |
| 2005 | ||
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| Kicking King | Monkerhostin | Impek |
| 2004 | ||
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| Kicking King | Kingscliff | Azertyuiop |
| 2003 | ||
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| Edredon Bleu | Tiutchev | First Gold |
| 2002 | ||
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| Best Mate | Marlborough | Bacchanal |
| 2001 | ||
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| Florida Pearl | Best Mate | Bacchanal |
| 2000-1991 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| First Gold | Florida Pearl | Bellator |
| 1999 | ||
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| See More Business | Go Ballistic | Dr Leunt |
| 1998 | ||
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| Teeton Mill | Escartefigue | Imperial Call |
| 1997 | ||
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| See More Business | Challenger du Luc | Rough Quest |
| 1996 | ||
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| One Man | Monsieur Le Cure | Master Oats |
| 1996 | ||
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| One Man | Rough Quest | Barton Bank |
| 1994 | ||
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| Algan | Monsieur Le Cure | Second Schedual |
| 1993 | ||
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| Barton Bank | Bradbury Star | The Fellow |
| 1992 | ||
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| The Fellow | Pat's Jester | The Illywhacker |
| 1991 | ||
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| The Fellow | Docklands Express | Remittance Man |
| 1990-1981 | ||
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| 1990 | ||
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| Desert Orchid | Toby Tobias | The Fellow |
| 1989 | ||
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| Desert Orchid | Barnbrook Again | Yahoo |
| 1988 | ||
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| Desert Orchid | Kildimo | Vodkatini |
| 1987 | ||
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| Nupsala | Desert Orchid | Golden Friend |
| 1986 | ||
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| Desert Orchid | Door Latch | Bolands Cross |
| 1985 | ||
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| Wayward Lad | Combs Ditch | Earls Brig |
| 1984 | ||
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| Burrough Hill Lad | Combs Ditch | Wayward Lad |
| 1983 | ||
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| Wayward Lad | Brown Chamberlin | The Mighty Mac |
| 1982 | ||
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| Wayward Lad | Fifty Dollars More | Silver Buck |
| 1980-1971 | ||
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| 1980 | ||
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| Silver Buck | Anaglog's Daughter | Diamond Edge |
| 1979 | ||
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| Silver Buck | Jack of Trumps | Border Incident |
| 1978 | ||
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| Gay Spartan | Jack of Trumps | Chumson |
| 1977 | ||
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| Bachelor's Hall | Uncle Bing | Royal Marshal |
| 1976 | ||
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| Royal Marshal | Fort Devon | April Seventh |
| 1975 | ||
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| Captain Christy | Bula | Royal Marshal |
| 1974 | ||
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| Captain Christy | Pendil | Soothsayer |
| 1973 | ||
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| Pendil | Inkslinger | The Dikler |
| 1972 | ||
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| Pendil | The Dikler | Shawnigan |
| 1971 | ||
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| The Dikler | Spanish Steps | Titus Oates |
| 1970-1964 | ||
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| 1969 | ||
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| Titus Oates | Flyingbolt | The Laird |
| 1966 | ||
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| Dormant | Arkle | Maigret |
| 1965 | ||
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| Arkle | Dormant | Arctic Ocean |
| 1964 | ||
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-white.svg.png.webp) |
| Frenchman's Cove | Jay Trump | Only two ran |
The event was first run in February 1937, and it was named in honour of the new British monarch, King George VI. It was only run twice before World War II, during which Kempton Park was closed for racing and used as a prisoner-of-war camp. The two pre-war runnings were each contested by four horses. The winner of the first, Southern Hero, remains the race's oldest ever winner. After the war the racecourse re-opened, and the event returned in 1947 on a new date – Boxing Day. In the 1960s it was a handicap. [1]
The King George VI Chase is now the second most prestigious chase in England, surpassed only by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Fifteen horses have won it more than once, Desert Orchid won it four times and Kauto Star won it five times. The race is currently sponsored by the Ladbrokes Coral bookmaking firm.
Records
Most successful horse (5 wins):
- Kauto Star – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Leading jockey (5 wins):
- Ruby Walsh – Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
Leading trainer (12 wins):
- Paul Nicholls – See More Business (1997, 1999), Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014), Clan Des Obeaux (2018, 2019), Frodon (2020)
Winners
- During World War II Kempton Park was closed for racing and used as a reception centre for prisoners-of-war
- The 1961 and 1962 runnings were both abandoned because of frost
- It was cancelled in 1967 due to foot-and-mouth restrictions, and in 1968 because of frost
- The 1970 running was abandoned because of snow
- The race was abandoned in 1981 because of snow and frost
- The "1995" race took place on 6 January 1996 at Sandown, having been postponed at Kempton due to snow and frost
- It was switched to Sandown in 2005 as Kempton was closed for redevelopment
- The "2010" race took place on 15 January 2011 after Kempton Park's 2010 Boxing Day meeting was cancelled due to snow and frost
- amateur jockey
References
- Arkle The Life and Legacy of Himself. Highdown. 2005. p. 201, 202. ISBN 1-905156-16-2.
- kinggeorgechase.com – King George Chase Winners.
- pedigreequery.com – King George VI Chase – Kempton Park.
- Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 46. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.