Cheltenham remembers Arkle

Racegoers will have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of turf legend Arkle at Cheltenham’s April 19 fixture.

Tom Dreaper’s mercurial chaser won 27 of his 35 races, including three Gold Cups at Prestbury Park between 1964 and 1966.

And as day two of Cheltenham’s meeting falls 50 years after Arkle was born, officials view it as the perfect opportunity to remember the exploits of the greatest chaser to have graced the turf.

“Arkle was born at Ballymacoll Stud in Ireland on April 19, 1957, and, given his unique place in jump racing’s history and his wonderful record at Cheltenham, it is a happy coincidence that we are racing on the 50th anniversary of his birth,” said Andy Clifton, Cheltenham’s communications manager.

Racegoers will be invited to assemble around the Arkle statue at 1.30pm and raise a glass to the memory of the horse.

Vouchers enabling 500 racegoers to claim a pint of Guinness for only 8p – the price it was 50 years ago – will be distributed locally.