Carlisle Bell
The Carlisle Bell is a historic British flat horse race, first contested in 1599 and still run today. The race's name relates to the bells which were awarded to the winners of the race in the reign of Elizabeth I. These bells are reputed to be the oldest horse racing prizes in Britain[1] and are now held at the Carlisle Guildhall Museum.[2]
Handicap race | |
Location | Carlisle Racecourse Carlisle, England |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1599 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Website | Carlisle |
Race information | |
Distance | 7f 173y (1,566 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
Weight | Handicap |
Purse | £31,000 (2022) 1st: £16,416 |
2018 | ||
Waarif | Raselasad | Presidential |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2017 | ||
Carnageo | King's Pavilion | Georgian Bay |
2016 | ||
Edgar Balthazar | Alejandro | Alexandrakollontai |
2015 | ||
Ifwecan | Provident Spirit | Our Boy Jack |
2014 | ||
Johnno | Sound Advice | Balducci |
2013 | ||
Silvery Moon | Chookie Royale | Pacific Heights |
2012 | ||
Levitate | Toto Skyllachy | Silvery Moon |
2011 | ||
Miami Gator | Vito Volterra | Take It To The Max |
2010 | ||
Camerooney | Major Phil | Smarty Socks |
2009 | ||
Stevie Gee | Motafarred | Bold Marc |
2008 | ||
Osteopathic Remedy | Bold Marc | Rainbow Mirage |
2007 | ||
Bold Marc | Prince Evelith | Daaweitza |
2006 | ||
Regent's Secret | Riley Boys | Hula Ballew |
2005 | ||
Hartshead | Goodbye Mr Bond | African Sahara |
2004 | ||
Goodbye Mr Bond | Countykat | Tedstale |
2003 | ||
Top Dirham | Definite Guest | Investment Affair |
It is run at Carlisle Racecourse over a distance of 7 furlongs and 173 yards (1,566 metres) and it is scheduled to take place each year in June alongside another historic race the Cumberland Plate.
The bells
There are two bells. The larger one, 2 1/2 inches in diameter, was donated by Lady Dacre in 1559[3] and bears the inscription:
The sweftes horse thes bel to tak for mi lade Daker sake
(The swiftest horse this bell to take for my lady Dacre's sake)
The second, smaller bell is inscribed 1599 H.B.M.C which is believed to stand for "Henry Baines, Mayor of Carlisle".[4]
Civic records from the 17th century list the bells among four racing prizes competed for at Carlisle.[5]
"We request that Mr Mayor and his bretheren shall call for the silver broad arrows and the stock and the horse and nage bells with all expedition to be employed for maintaining of a horse race for the city's use (upon the king's moor) at such time yearly as they shall think convenient and to article"
— Carlisle civic records, 1619
The bells were thought to have been lost for many years, but were rediscovered in a box in the town clerk's office in the late 19th century.
Winners since 1988
Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Affaire De Coeur | 4 | 7-03 | S Wood | Patrick Haslam | 1:40.40 |
1989 | Overpower | 5 | 8-08 | A Mercer | Bill Watts | 1:38.40 |
1990 | Causley | 5 | 9-05 | Bruce Raymond | Bryan McMahon | 1:40.10 |
1991 | Miss Sarajane | 7 | 8-02 | Gary Hind | Reg Hollinshead | 1:40.70 |
1992 | Spanish Verdict | 5 | 9-08 | Darryll Holland | Denys Smith | 1:38.20 |
1993 | Queen Warrior | 4 | 7-11 | D Wright | Peter Walwyn | 1:39.50 |
1994 | Master Of the House | 8 | 7-13 | J Marshall | Mickey Hammond | 1:39.80 |
1995 | Master Of the House | 9 | 8-06 | J Marshall | Mickey Hammond | 1:38.20 |
1996 | Habeta | 10 | 8-02 | George Duffield | Bill Watts | 1:37.40 |
1997 | Rainbow Rain | 3 | 9-01 | Michael Roberts | Mark Johnston | 1:39.00 |
1998 | Lucky Archer | 5 | 8-12 | Kevin Darley | Milton Bradley | 1:43.30 |
1999 | Pas de Memoires | 4 | 9-12 | Dean McKeown | Karl Burke | 1:39.10 |
2000 | Kirovski | 3 | 8-08 | John Egan | Peter Harris | 1:38.80 |
2001[lower-alpha 1] | Kestral | 5 | 8-12 | C Lowther | T Etherington | 1:38.30 |
2002 | Travelling Band | 4 | 9-09 | Liam Keniry | Ian Balding | 1:39.80 |
2003 | Top Dirham | 5 | 9-07 | Dale Gibson | Mick Easterby | 1:38.63 |
2004 | Goodbye Mr Bond | 4 | 9-01 | Franny Norton | Eric Alston | 1:40.53 |
2005 | Hartshead | 6 | 9-09 | Fergal Lynch | Alan Swinbank | 1:37.69 |
2006 | Regent's Secret | 6 | 9-03 | Fergal Lynch | Jim Goldie | 1:39.06 |
2007 | Bold Marc | 5 | 9-07 | Andrew Elliott | Karl Burke | 1:39.19 |
2008 | Osteopathic Remedy | 4 | 9-04 | Tom Eaves | Michael Dods | 1:43.48 |
2009 | Stevie Gee | 5 | 9-08 | Joe Fanning | Alan Swinbank | 1:39.77 |
2010 | Camerooney | 7 | 9-02 | Dale Swift | Brian Ellison | 1:39.58 |
2011 | Miami Gator | 4 | 9-00 | Andrew Elliott | Karl Burke | 1:41.00 |
2012 | Levitate | 4 | 9-10 | William Twiston-Davies | Alan McCabe | 1:44.77 |
2013 | Silvery Moon | 6 | 9-07 | Robert Winston | Tim Easterby | 1:38.48 |
2014 | Johnno | 5 | 9-03 | Adrian Nicholls | David Nicholls | 1:38.69 |
2015 | Ifwecan | 4 | 9-06 | Joe Fanning | Mark Johnston | 1:39.11 |
2016 | Edgar Balthazar | 4 | 9-05 | Philip Makin | Keith Dalgleish | 1:37.02 |
2017 | Carnageo | 4 | 9-02 | Paul Hanagan | Richard Fahey | 1:43.09 |
2018 | Waarif | 5 | 8-12 | Conor McGovern | David O'Meara | 1:35.84 |
2019 | Rousayan | 8 | 9-07 | David Egan | Roger Fell | 1:38.17 |
no race 2020 [lower-alpha 2] | ||||||
2021 | Chichester | 4 | 9-09 | Joe Fanning | Keith Dalgleish | 1:37.25 |
2022 | Invincibly | 4 | 9-07 | Clifford Lee | Karl Burke | 1:38.04 |
2023 | Mostawaa | 7 | 9-08 | Hollie Doyle | Heather Main | 1:41.79 |
- The 2001 Carlisle Bell was run at Thirsk
- The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[6]
References
- "History of Horseracing". Carlisle Racecourse. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- "Museums and galleries". Carlisle City Council. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 107.
- Strutt 1801, p. 34.
- "Carlisle Racing Bells and Cumberland Plate". BBC Cumbria. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- Carr, David (10 June 2020). "Historic Carlisle Bell falls foul of pandemic as Jockey Club counts the cost". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
Bibliography
- Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- Strutt, Joseph (1801). The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England from the Earliest Period. Methuen. Retrieved 21 May 2013.