The 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup was a horse race which took place at Cheltenham on Thursday 16 March 1989. It was the 62nd running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Desert Orchid. The winner was ridden by Simon Sherwood and trained by David Elsworth.
The race was later voted the "Greatest Race of All Time" in a Racing Post poll, ahead of the 1973 Grand National and the 1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes the climax of the raceYahoo jumps from Desert Orchid, but Desert Orchid, is rallying, he's trying to come again towards the near side. It's Yahoo on the far side, Dessert Orchid towards the near side, Desert Orchid's accelerating as the come to the last. Yahoo on the far side, Desert Orchid on the near side. It's Desert Orchid on the near side, Yahoo on the far side, Desert Orchid drifting over towards the stand side, he's beginning to get up. Desert Orchid is beginning to get up as the race towards the line, there's a tremendous cheer from the crowd as Desert Orchid is going to win it! Desert Orchid has won the Gold Cup! Yahoo is second, third is Charter Party. Simon Sherwood punches the air, Dessie's has done it!
Race details
- Sponsor: Tote
- Winner's prize money: £66,635.00
- Going: Heavy
- Number of runners: 13
- Winner's time: 7m 17.6s
Full result
| * | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | SP | |
| 1 | Desert Orchid | 10 | Simon Sherwood | David Elsworth | 5/2 fav | |
| 2 | 1½ | Yahoo | 8 | Tom Morgan | John Edwards | 25/1 |
| 3 | 8 | Charter Party | 11 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson | 14/1 |
| 4 | dist | Bonanza Boy | 8 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe | 15/2 |
| 5 | dist | West Tip | 12 | Peter Hobbs | Michael Oliver | 66/1 |
| Ref | Fence 22 | Cavvies Clown | 9 | Ross Arnott | David Elsworth | 8/1 |
| PU | Fence 22 | Pegwell Bay | 8 | Carl Llewellyn | Tim Forster | 25/1 |
| BD | Fence 20 | Ballyhane | 8 | Richard Rowe | Josh Gifford | 50/1 |
| Fell | Fence 20 | Ten Plus | 9 | Kevin Mooney | Fulke Walwyn | 11/2 |
| Fell | Fence 17 | Slalom | 8 | John White | Michael Robinson | 33/1 |
| Fell | Fence 10 | The Thinker | 11 | Chris Grant | Arthur Stephenson | 15/2 |
| Fell | Fence 7 | Carvill's Hill | 7 | Ken Morgan | Jim Dreaper (IRE) | 5/1 |
| Fell | Fence 6 | Golden Freeze | 7 | Brendan Sheridan | Jumbo Wilkinson | 16/1 |
* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. Ref = refused; PU = pulled-up; BD = brought down.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Winner's details
Further details of the winner, Desert Orchid:
- Foaled: 11 April 1979 in Great Britain
- Sire: Grey Mirage; Dam: Flower Child (Brother)
- Owner: Richard Burridge
- Breeder: James Burridge
References
- Philip, Robert (18 March 2005). "Dessie's enduring appeal". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- 1989
- news.google.co.uk/newspapers – Glasgow Herald – 22 March 1989.
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