Carlisle Bell

Carlisle Bell
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 3 year olds +
Purse £31,200 (2018)
1st: £19,407
Carlisle Bell
2018
Waarif Raselasad Presidential

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]

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[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 Mrs K 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

1 The 2001 Carlisle Bell was run at Thirsk.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "History of Horseracing". Carlisle Racecourse. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Museums and galleries". Carlisle City Council. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 107.
  4. ↑ Strutt 1801, p. 34.
  5. ↑ "Carlisle Racing Bells and Cumberland Plate". BBC Cumbria. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2013.

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.
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