Inaugurated 1873 Sponsor QIPCO Distance 2 miles (3,219 metres) | Race type Flat / Thoroughbred Website Ascot | |
Location Ascot Racecourse
Ascot, England | ||
The British Champions Long Distance Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres), and it is scheduled to take place as part of British Champions Day each year in October.
Contents
History
The event was originally held at Newmarket under the title Jockey Club Cup. It was established in 1873, and was initially contested over 2¼ miles.
The distance of the race was shortened to 1½ miles in 1959. It was extended to its current length in 1963. The event was given Group 3 status in 1971.
For a period the Jockey Club Cup was staged during Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Meeting. It was switched to the venue's Champions Day fixture in 2000. It had a prize fund of £65,000 in 2010.
The race was transferred to Ascot and given its present name in 2011. It became part of the newly created British Champions Day, and its purse was increased to £200,000. It now serves as the long-distance final of the British Champions Series and was upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 from its 2014 running.
Winners since 1978
a The 1999 edition was held on Newmarket's July Course over 2 miles and 24 yards.
Earlier winners
* The 1940 running took place at Nottingham over 2 miles and 4 furlongs.