Inaugurated 1876 Sponsor Darley Distance 6f (1,207 metres) | Race type Flat / Thoroughbred Website Newmarket | |
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Location July Course
Newmarket, England | ||
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.
Contents
It is one of Britain's most valuable and prestigious sprint races, and many of its winners have been acknowledged as the champion sprinter in Europe.
History
The event was established in 1876, and the first two runnings were won by Springfield, a colt bred by Queen Victoria at the Hampton Court Stud.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the July Cup was initially classed at Group 2 level. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 1978.
The July Cup became part of the Global Sprint Challenge in 2008. It is now the sixth leg of the series, preceded by the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and followed by the Sprinters Stakes.
The race is currently held on the final day of Newmarket's three-day July Festival meeting.
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins):
Leading jockey (10 wins):
Leading trainer (5 wins):
Leading owner (5 wins):
Winners since 1939
a Marinsky finished first in 1977, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.
Earlier winners
* The 1926 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.