Horse race
| Handicap race | |
| Location | Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2003 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs (1,207 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Straight |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | £20,367 (2022) 1st: £11,016 |
The Grey Horse Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to grey horses aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres) on the July course at Newmarket in August.
History
The race was inaugurated in 2003 after Newmarket Racecourse director Peter Jensen saw a similar race at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia. The race is the only race exclusively for grey horses in Great Britain. There was controversy in 2020 when two bay horses were entered for the race despite not meeting the requirement to be a grey horse. Their ineligibility was discovered at the five day entry stage.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Middleton Grey - 2004, 2005
- Case Key – 2017, 2019
Leading jockey (2 wins):
- Ted Durcan – Compton's Eleven (2007), Syrian Pearl (2016)
Leading trainer (3 wins):
- Tony Newcombe - Middleton Grey (2004, 2005), Witchry (2010)
Winners
- Weights given in stones and pounds.
| Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Smart Predator | 7 | 10-00 | Keith Dalgleish | John Quinn | 1002.75 11/4 F | |
| 2004 | Middleton Grey | 6 | 9-01 | Johnny Murtagh | Tony Newcombe | 1004 4/1 | |
| 2005 | Middleton Grey | 7 | 8-12 | Johnny Murtagh | Tony Newcombe | 1005 5/1 | |
| 2006 | Clearing Sky | 5 | 8-00 | Matthew Henry | Jim Boyle | 1050 50/1 | |
| 2007 | Compton's Eleven | 6 | 9-10 | Ted Durcan | Mick Channon | 1005 5/1 | |
| 2008 | Finsbury | 5 | 8-00 | Nicky Mackay | Jim Goldie | 1006.5 13/2 | |
| 2009 | Sarah's Art | 6 | 8-07 | Jim Crowley | Stef Higgins | 1008 8/1 | |
| 2010 | Witchry | 8 | 7-12 | David Probert | Tony Newcombe | 1005 5/1 | |
| 2011 | Time Medicean | 5 | 8-09 | Raul Da Silva | Tony Carroll | 1011 11/1 | |
| 2012 | Medici Time | 7 | 9-04 | Eddie Ahern | Tim Easterby | 1010 10/1 | |
| 2013 | Crew Cut | 5 | 9-04 | Robert Tart | Jeremy Gask | 1008 8/1 | |
| 2014 | Moonspring | 3 | 8-07 | Liam Jones | Robert Cowell | 1020 20/1 | |
| 2015 | George Bowen | 3 | 9-06 | Paddy Mathers | Richard Fahey | 1008 8/1 | |
| 2016 | Syrian Pearl | 5 | 9-10 | Ted Durcan | Chris Wall | 1006 6/1 | |
| 2017 | Case Key | 4 | 9-01 | Ben Curtis | Michael Appleby | 1008 8/1 | |
| 2018 | My Amigo | 5 | 9-07 | P. J. McDonald | Marjorie Fife | 1005 5/1 | |
| 2019 | Case Key | 6 | 8-05 | Jimmy Quinn | Michael Appleby | 1016 16/1 | |
| 2020 | My Style | 4 | 8-05 | Georgia Dobie | Eve Johnson Houghton | 1004 4/1 F | |
| 2021 | Mitrosonfire | 3 | 9-06 | Stefano Cherchi | William Muir and Chris Grassick | 1002.5 5/2 F | |
| 2022 | Strike | 4 | 8-09 | Rob Hornby | Jonathan Portman | 1002.75 11/4 JF | 1:14.06 |
| 2023 | Silver Samurai | 6 | 10-00 | Andrea Atzeni | Marco Botti | 1008.5 17/2 | 1:12.12 |
| 2024 | Archduke Ferdinand | 5 | 8-11 | Alex Jary | Seb Spencer | 1010 10/1 | 1:11.16 |
References
- "Newmarket hosts "grey horse" race". Horse & Hound. 14 August 2003.
- "Colourblind! Two non-greys gatecrash entries for Newmarket's Grey Horse Handicap". Racing Post. 11 August 2020.