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.
| Group 1 race | |
 | |
| Location | July Course Newmarket, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1876 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Pertemps Network (2023) |
| Website | Newmarket |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6f (1,207 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Straight |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 9 st 2 lb (3yo); 9 st 8 lb (4yo+) Allowances 3 lb for fillies and mares |
| Purse | £600,000 (2022) 1st: £356,422 |
| Bonuses | see Global Sprint Challenge |
| 2023 | ||
 |  |  |
| Shaquille | Run To Freedom | Kinross |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
 |  |  |
| Alcohol Free | Naval Crown | Artorius |
| 2021 | ||
 |  |  |
| Starman | Dragon Symbol | Oxted |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
|  |  |
| Oxted | Sceptical | Golden Horde |
| 2019 | ||
 |  |  |
| Ten Sovereigns | Advertise | Fairyland |
| 2018 | ||
|  |  |
| U S Navy Flag | Brando | Fleet Review |
| 2017 | ||
 |  | |
| Harry Angel | Limato | Brando |
| 2016 | ||
|  |  |
| Limato | Suedois | Quiet Reflection |
| 2015 | ||
 |  |  |
| Muhaarar | Tropics | Eastern Impact |
| 2014 | ||
 | |  |
| Slade Power | Tropics | Gregorian |
| 2013 | ||
 |  |  |
| Lethal Force | Society Rock | Slade Power |
| 2012 | ||
 |  | |
| Mayson | The Cheka | Society Rock |
| 2011 | ||
 |  |  |
| Dream Ahead | Bated Breath | Hitchens |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
 |  |  |
| Starspangledbanner | Equiano | Alverta |
| 2009 | ||
 | |  |
| Fleeting Spirit | Main Aim | J J The Jet Plane |
| 2008 | ||
 | |  |
| Marchand D'or | US Ranger | War Artist |
| 2007 | ||
 |  |  |
| Sakhee's Secret | Dutch Art | Red Clubs |
| 2006 | ||
 | |  |
| Les Arcs | Iffraaj | Ashdown Express |
| 2005 | ||
 |  | |
| Pastoral Pursuits | Avonbridge | Etlaala |
| 2004 | ||
 | |  |
| Frizzante | Ashdown Express | Balmont |
| 2003 | ||
|  |  |
| Oasis Dream | Choisir | Airwave |
| 2002 | ||
 |  |  |
| Continent | Bahamian Pirate | Danehurst |
| 2001 | ||
|  | |
| Mozart | Cassandra Go | Misraah |
| 2000-1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
 |  |  |
| Agnes World | Lincoln Dancer | Pipalong |
| 1999 | ||
|  |  |
| Stravinsky | Bold Edge | Bertolini |
| 1998 | ||
|  | |
| Elnadim | Tamarisk | Danetime |
| 1997 | ||
 |  |  |
| Compton Place | Royal Applause | Indian Rocket |
| 1996 | ||
 | |  |
| Anabaa | Lucayan Prince | Hever Golf Rose |
| 1995 | ||
|  |  |
| Lake Coniston | Piccolo | Hoh Magic |
| 1994 | ||
 |  | |
| Owington | Dolphin Street | Catrail |
| 1993 | ||
|  | |
| Hamas | College Chapel | Zieten |
| 1992 | ||
 |  |  |
| Mr Brooks | Pursuit Of Love | Sheikh Albadou |
| 1991 | ||
 | |  |
| Polish Patriot | Lycius | Elbio |
| 1990-1981 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
 | | _Limited.svg) |
| Royal Academy | Great Commotion | Rock City |
| 1989 | ||
| | |
| Cadeaux Genereux | Golden Opinion | Danehill |
| 1988 | ||
|  |  |
| Soviet Star | Big Shuffle | Handsome Sailor |
| 1987 | ||
|  | |
| Ajdal | Gayane | Bluebird |
| 1986 | ||
|  | |
| Green Desert | Grey Desire | Gwydion |
| 1985 | ||
 | |  |
| Never So Bold | Committed | Dafayna |
| 1984 | ||
| | |
| Chief Singer | Never So Bold | Committed |
| 1983 | ||
 |  |  |
| Habibti | Soba | On Stage |
| 1982 | ||
 |  |  |
| Sharpo | Vaigly Star | Indian King |
| 1981 | ||
 |  |  |
| Marwell | Moorestyle | Sonoma |
| 1980-1979 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | ||
| | |
| Moorestyle | Vaigly Great | Sharpo |
| 1979 | ||
| |  |
| Thatching | Vaigly Great | Greenland Park |
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 was part of the Global Sprint Challenge from 2008 to 2017. It was 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):
- Sundridge – 1902, 1903, 1904
Leading jockey (10 wins):
- Lester Piggott – Vigo (1957), Right Boy (1958, 1959), Tin Whistle (1960), Thatch (1973), Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978), Thatching (1979), Moorestyle (1980), Mr Brooks (1992)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- Charles Morton – Sundridge (1903, 1904), Spanish Prince (1912, 1913), Golden Sun (1914)
- Aidan O'Brien – Stravinsky (1999), Mozart (2001), Starspangledbanner (2010), U S Navy Flag (2018), Ten Sovereigns (2019)
- Vincent O'Brien – Thatch (1973), Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978), Thatching (1979), Royal Academy (1990)
Leading owner (5 wins):
- Jack Joel – Sundridge (1903, 1904), Spanish Prince (1912, 1913), Golden Sun (1914)
Winners since 1918
Earlier winners
- 1876: Springfield
- 1877: Springfield
- 1878: Trappist
- 1879: Phenix
- 1880: Charibert
- 1881: Charibert
- 1882: Tristan
- 1883: Clairvaux
- 1884: Geheimniss
- 1885: Energy
- 1886: Melton
- 1887: Ormonde
- 1888: Fullerton
- 1889: Mephisto
- 1890: Queen of the Fairies
- 1891: Memoir
- 1892: Workington
- 1893: Prince Hampton
- 1894: Best Man
- 1895: Woolsthorpe
- 1896: Worcester
- 1897: Kilcock
- 1898: Ugly
- 1899: Eager
- 1900: Running Stream
- 1901: Lord Bobs
- 1902: Sundridge
- 1903: Sundridge
- 1904: Sundridge
- 1905: Delaunay
- 1906: Thrush
- 1907: Dinneford
- 1908: Lesbia
- 1909: Jack Snipe
- 1910: Amore
- 1911: Sunder
- 1912: Spanish Prince
- 1913: Spanish Prince
- 1914: Golden Sun
- 1915: Volta
- 1916: Torloisk
- 1917: no race
See also
References
- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – July Cup.
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – July Cup (2019).
- pedigreequery.com – July Cup – Newmarket.
- Abelson, Edward; John Tyrrel (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 119–121. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.
- Race Recordings [1]