Northumberland Plate
ClassHandicap
Horse raceNorthumberland Plate
LocationNewcastle Racecourse
Newcastle, England
Inaugurated1833
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorWilliam Hill
WebsiteNewcastle
Distance2m 56y (3,270 metres)
SurfaceTapeta
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
Purse£150,000 (2019)
1st: £92,385

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The Northumberland Plate is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of 2 miles and 56 yards (3,270 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.

History

The event was established in 1833, and the inaugural running was won by Tomboy. It was initially held at Town Moor, and it was part of a meeting first staged at Killingworth in 1623. It was transferred to its present venue at Gosforth Park in 1882.[1]

The Northumberland Plate originally took place on a Wednesday, and for many years the meeting was a holiday for local mine workers. The race became popularly known as the "Pitmen's Derby". The meeting ceased to be a holiday in 1949, and the race was switched to a Saturday in 1952.[2]

The Northumberland Plate is now one of the richest two-mile handicaps in the world. It was sponsored by John Smith's from 2003 to 2016, by Stobart Rail Limited in 2017 and 2018 and by Betfair since 2019.

Since 2016, it has been run on an artificial all-weather surface, Tapeta, having previously been run on turf.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

  • Underhand – 1857, 1858, 1859

Leading jockey since 1960 (2 wins):

  • Brian Rouse - Tug Of War (1977, 1978)
  • Bruce Raymond - Grey God (1975), Totowah (1979)
  • Willie Carson – Al Maheb (1990), Celeric (1996)
  • Kevin Darley – Far Cry (1999), Bay of Islands (2000)

Leading trainer since 1960 (3 wins):

  • Paul Cole – Windsor Castle (1997), Cyrian (1998), Archduke Ferdinand (2001)

Winners since 1960

YearWinnerAgeWeightJockeyTrainerSPTime
00000001Turf before 2016
1960New Brig48-08Norman StirkGeorge Boyd3:24.80
1961Utrillo47-01Des CullenBill O'Gorman Sr.3:29.40
1962Bordone48-05Geoff LittlewoodBuster Fenningworth3:32.00
1963Horse Radish47-08Peter RobinsonFreddie Maxwell3:42.80
1964Peter Piper47-09Jock WilsonR Mason3:24.20
1965Cagirama67-05Norman McIntoshGeorge Boyd3:30.80
1966Sweet Story48-04Jimmy EtheringtonRichard Peacock3:36.80
1967Piaco49-01Taffy ThomasGeoffrey BarlingF3:28.40
1968Amateur47-09Willie CarsonBernard van Cutsem3:37.40
1969Even Say47–11Frankie DurrRyan JarvisF3:27.60
1970Philoctetes67–12Pat EdderyStaff Ingham3:35.87
1971Tartar Prince47-08John HigginsTom Waugh3:38.05
1972Scoria67-06R SmythC Crossley3:29.77
1973Tom Cribb48-04Brian JagoBruce Hobbs3:30.42
1974Attivo47-08Roger WernhamCyril MitchellF3:34.86
1975Grey God48-09Bruce RaymondMichael Jarvis3:26.49
1976Philominsky58-00Richard MarshallBill Marshall3:28.68
1977Tug Of War48-07Brian RouseBoggy Whelan3:27.50
1978Tug Of War59-02Brian RouseBoggy Whelan3:31.34
1979Totowah58-02Bruce RaymondMichael Jarvis3:28.63
1980Mon's Beau57-07Shaun SalmonE Beeson3:36.47
1981Dawn Johnny48-06Mark BirchMichael StouteF3:30.87
1982Abandoned due to waterlogging
1983Weavers Pin68-08Paul EdderyMerrick Francis3:27.55
1984Karadar69–10Tony KimberleyMichael Stoute3:26.71
1985Trade Line47–10Tyrone WilliamsRon Sheather3:27.14
1986Sneak Preview68–12Simon WhitworthHenry CandyF3:24.93
1987Treasure Hunter87-07Lindsay CharnockJimmy FitzGerald3:32.69
1988Stavordale59-02Michael RobertsHarry Thomson JonesF3:25.36
1989Orpheus37-07Richard FoxGuy HarwoodJF3:29.68
1990Al Maheb48–11Willie CarsonAlec Stewart3:28.96
1991Tamarpour47-07Ernie JohnsonMartin Pipe3:26.00
1992Witness Box59-09George DuffieldJohn Gosden3:25.48
1993Highflying77–11Joe FanningGeorge M. Moore3:25.10
1994Quick Ransom68-08Jason WeaverMark Johnston3:24.86
1995Bold Gait49–10David HarrisonJames Fanshawe3:27.36
1996Celeric49-04Willie CarsonDavid MorleyF3:27.33
1997Windsor Castle38–10Richard QuinnPaul Cole3:45.35
1998Cyrian47–13Tim SprakePaul Cole3:47.19
1999Far Cry48–10Kevin DarleyMartin PipeJF3:24.32
2000Bay of Islands88-04Kevin DarleyDavid Morris3:26.09
2001Archduke Ferdinand38-04Francis NortonPaul Cole3:26.70
2002Bangalore69-05Seb SandersAmanda Perrett3:29.10
2003Unleash48–11Jamie SpencerPhilip Hobbs3:31.13
2004Mirjan88-03Paul HanaganLen Lungo3:37.54
2005Sergeant Cecil68-08Alan MunroRod Millman3:29.37
2006Toldo48-02Nelson de SouzaGeorge M. Moore3:27.48
2007Juniper Girl48–11Luke MorrisMichael BellF3:46.01
2008Arc Bleu78-02Adrian NichollsTony Martin3:37.71
2009Som Tala68-08Tony CulhaneMick Channon3:45.10
2010Overturn68-07Eddie AhernDonald McCain3:28.05
2011Tominator48-05Paul PickardReg Hollinshead3:29.48
2012Ile de Re69-03Jim CrowleyDonald McCainF3:53.94
2013Tominator69–10Graham LeeJonjo O'Neill3:34.11
2014Angel Gabrial58–12George ChalonerRichard FaheyF3:28.96
2015Quest For More59-04George BakerRoger Charlton3:26.53
2016Antiquarium49-05James McDonaldCharlie Appleby3:30.91
2017Higher Power59-09Tom QueallyJames Fanshawe3:35.37
2018Withhold59-01Robert WinstonRoger CharltonF3:33.56
2019Who Dares Wins79-01Tom MarquandAlan King3:33.14
2020Caravan Of Hope48-05Harry BentleyHugo PalmerF3:33.21
2021Nicholas T98–10Ben RobinsonJim Goldie3:31.88
2022Trueshan610–08Hollie DoyleAlan KingF3:39.75
2023Calling The Wind709–04Neil CallanRichard Hughes3:31.40
2024Onesmoothoperator608–09Connor BeasleyBrian Ellison3:27.59
2025Spirit Mixer708–10Rob HornbyAndrew Balding3:31.28

Earlier winners

  • 1833: Tomboy
  • 1834: Fanny
  • 1835: Satan
  • 1836: Cyprian
  • 1837: Wedge
  • 1838: St Bennet
  • 1839: St Bennet
  • 1840: Hetman Platoff
  • 1841: Calypso
  • 1842: Heslington
  • 1843: Moss Trooper
  • 1844: The Era
  • 1845: Inheritress
  • 1846: Dolo
  • 1847: Eryx
  • 1848: Chanticleer
  • 1849: John Cosser
  • 1850: Elthiron
  • 1851: Neasham
  • 1852: Stilton
  • 1853: Kingston
  • 1854: Grapeshot
  • 1855: Whitelock
  • 1856: Zeta
  • 1857: Underhand
  • 1858: Underhand
  • 1859: Underhand
  • 1860: First Lord
  • 1861: Joey Jones
  • 1862: Montebello
  • 1863: Caller Ou
  • 1864: Caller Ou
  • 1865: Brown Bread
  • 1866: Rococo
  • 1867: Fervacques
  • 1868: Fortunio
  • 1869: The Spy
  • 1870: Kennington
  • 1871: Taraban
  • 1872: Spennithorne
  • 1873: Falkland
  • 1874: Lily Agnes
  • 1875: Harriet Laws
  • 1876: The Snail
  • 1877: Hampton
  • 1878: Glastonbury
  • 1879: Clearhead
  • 1880: Mycenae
  • 1881: Bonnie Doon
  • 1882: Victor Emanuel
  • 1883: Barcaldine
  • 1884: Lawminster
  • 1885: Blue Grass
  • 1886: Stone Clink
  • 1887: Exmoor
  • 1888: Matin Bell
  • 1889: Drizzle
  • 1890: Houndsditch
  • 1891: Queen's Birthday
  • 1892: Newcourt
  • 1893: Seaton Delaval
  • 1894: Newcourt
  • 1895: The Docker
  • 1896: Dare Devil
  • 1897: Bradwardine
  • 1898: King Crow
  • 1899: Sherburn
  • 1900: Joe Chamberlain
  • 1901: Reminiscence
  • 1902: Osbech
  • 1903: Cliftonhall
  • 1904: Palmy Days
  • 1905: Princess Florizel
  • 1906: Outbreak
  • 1907: Killigrew
  • 1908: Old China
  • 1909: Sir Harry
  • 1910: Elizabetta
  • 1911: Pillo
  • 1912: Mynora
  • 1913: The Tylt
  • 1914: The Guller
  • 1915–18: no race
  • 1919: Trestle
  • 1920: Irish Lake
  • 1921: Hunt Law
  • 1922: Double Hackle
  • 1923: Carpathus
  • 1924: Jazz Band
  • 1925: Obliterate
  • 1926: Foxlaw
  • 1927: Border Minstrel
  • 1928: Primrose League
  • 1929: Ballynahinch
  • 1930: Show Girl
  • 1931: Blue Vision
  • 1932: Pommarel
  • 1933: Leonard
  • 1934: White Plains
  • 1935: Doreen Jane
  • 1936: Coup de Roi
  • 1937: Nectar
  • 1938: Union Jack
  • 1939: Oracion
  • 1940–45: no race
  • 1946: Gusty *
  • 1947: Culrain
  • 1948: Pappatea
  • 1949: Fol Ami
  • 1950: Light Cavalry
  • 1951: Sycomore II
  • 1952: Souepi
  • 1953: Nick La Rocca
  • 1954: Friseur
  • 1955: Little Cloud
  • 1956:
  • 1957: Great Rock
  • 1958: Master of Arts
  • 1959: Cannebiere

* The 1946 running took place at Aintree.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Northumberland Plate Festival at Newcastle Racecourse". BBC. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  2. ^ Kelly, Michael (20 June 2011). "A racing certainty". The Journal. Retrieved 7 August 2011.