Cheltenham Gold Cup chasers as Arkle, Best Mate, Golden Miller, Kauto Star and Mill House. The Gold Cup is the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain, and in 2014 it offered a total prize fund of £550,000. The first horse race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup took place in July 1819. It was a flat race, and it was contested over 3 miles on Cleeve Hill, which overlooks the present venue. The inaugural winner, Spectre, won a prize of 100 guineas for his owner Mr Bodenham. The Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run as a jumps race on 12 March 1924. The
L'Escargot (horse) L'Escargot (horse) L'Escargot (1963–1984) was a racehorse notable as being the horse who halted the winning run of Red Rum at the Aintree Grand National in 1975. L’Escargot was owned by Raymond R. Guest, and ridden by champion Irish jockey Tommy Carberry. He was trained by Dan Moore, and beat Red Rum by 15 lengths. He won as a 12-year-old. He ran in four Grand Nationals: 1972 (fell at the third fence), 1973 (finished 3rd), 1974 (finished 2nd) and 1975 (winner). L'Escargot also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice in 1970 and 1971. L'Escargot is a U.S. National Museum of