Wikipedia

European Free Handicap

The European Free Handicap was a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It was run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in mid-April. In December 2022 the British Horseracing Authority announced that it would not be run in 2023.

European Free Handicap
Listed race
LocationRowley Mile
Newmarket, England
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorBet365
WebsiteNewmarket
Race information
Distance7f (1,408 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackStraight
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightHandicap
Purse£35,000 (2021)
1st: £19,849
European Free Handicap
2022
Royal blue Yellow, red epaulets, quartered cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap
New Science Tacarib Bay Ribhi
Previous years
2021
Purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap, gold fringe Royal blue Dark blue
Tactical Naval Crown Ontario
2020-2011
2019
Royal blue, white hoop, striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue star Grey Emerald green, red epaulets, diabolo on sleeves, red cap
Shine So Bright Space Traveller Azano
2018
Emerald green, black cap Black, white seams, black sleeves, red stars, black cap, red star Dark blue, white star, striped sleeves
Anna Nerium Finniston Farm Another Batt
2017
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Red, white stripe, striped sleeves Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Whitecliffsofdover Rodaini Seven Heavens
2016
Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap White, pink epaulets Light blue, orange epaulets
Ibn Malik Scrutineer Great Page
2015
Royal blue and orange diagonal stripes, royal blue cap Purple, white diamonds on sleeves, check cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap
Home Of The Brave Tupi Faydhan
2014
Dark blue and white stripes, purple sleeves, purple and white striped cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Yellow, royal blue sleeves, yellow armlets, royal blue cap
Shifting Power Mushir Aeolus
2013
Red, red cap, white spots Red, emerald green triple diamond, diabolo on sleeves, white cap, emerald green diamond Royal blue, silver striped sleeves, blue and red hooped cap
Garswood Emell Lucky Beggar
2012
Emerald green and white diabolo, white sleeves, quartered cap Dark green, red cap, dark green diamond White, red sash, red and white striped cap
Telwaar Bannock Hazaz
2011
Royal blue, white hoops, dark blue sleeves and cap Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves White, emerald green hoop
Pausanias Rerouted Utley
2010-2001
2010
Light blue and red diamonds, light blue sleeves, red cap, light blue diamond Pink, emerald green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
Red Jazz Quadrille Mata Keranjang
2009
Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Royal blue, yellow chevron, yellow cap, royal blue spots Light green, black star and star on cap
Ouqba Awinnersgame Penny's Gift
2008
Purple, White diamonds on sleeves, check cap Royal blue, grey stars Emerald Green, Red stars, Emerald Green sleeves
Stimulation Fat Boy Royal Confidence
2007
Purple, white seams, white sleeves, purple armlets, purple cap, white stars Orange, blue chevron, hooped sleeves White, Red stars and armlets, Royal Blue cap
Prime Defender Tobosa Eddie Jock
2006
Black, large yellow spots, armlets and cap Emerald Green, Light Blue cross belts and armlets, quartered cap White, blue stars, blue sleeves, white armlets, white cap
Misu Bond Jeremy Advanced
2005
Light blue and black stripes, black sleeves and cap Red and white stripes, white sleeves, red stars, black cap White, blue inverted triangle
Kamakiri Obe Gold Stetchworth Prince
2004
Light blue, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap Pink, Black cap, Pink spots Yellow, red chevrons, red sleeves, yellow diamonds, black cap
Brunel Moonlight Man Parkview Love
2003
Royal blue, light blue stars, white sleeves, light blue stars and stars on cap Red, White hoops, Mauve sleeves, Red and White quartered cap White, red sash, red and white striped cap
Indian Haven Baron's Pit Membership
2002
Mauve Purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap, gold fringe Royal Blue, Light Blue star, Light Blue and Royal Blue halved sleeves, White cap, Royal Blue star
Twilight Blues Approval Ashdown Express
2001
Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Lilac, rose quartered cap Royal blue, red star, red sleeves, royal blue stars, royal blue cap, red stars
Clearing Palace Affair Reel Buddy
2000-1991
2000
Black, yellow sash, green sleeves, yellow cap Orange Yellow, grey sleeves, quartered cap
Cape Town Catchy Word Eurolink Raindance
1999
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Light blue and red diamonds, white sleeves and cap Emerald green, royal blue sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Bertolini Indiana Legend Kalidasa
1998
Black, white chevron hoop and cap Green, white star, black and green hooped sleeves, black and green quartered cap Red, white epaulets, halved sleeves
Desert Prince Trans Island Greenlander
1997
White, emerald green hoop, white cap Yellow, royal blue cross of lorraine, armlets and cap Red, White chevron, Red sleeves, White stars, Red cap, White star
Hidden Meadow Granny's Pet Rich Ground
1996
Royal Blue, Grey sleeves, Royal Blue armlets, Royal Blue cap, Grey star Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Brown and orange diamonds, brown sleeves and cap
Cayman Kai Projection World Premier
1995
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Red, two light blue vees
Diffident Harayir Citadeed
1994
Emerald green and yellow check, royal blue sleeves Pink, dark green spots Royal Blue, Red triple diamond, Royal Blue and White diabolo on sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Red diamond
Bluegrass Prince Canaska Dancer Selhurstpark Flyer
1993
Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Pink, black chevrons on body, white cap Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap
So Factual Revelation Salatin
1992
Apricot Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Pursuit Of Love Steinbeck Wolfhound
1991
Beaver brown, maple leaf green cross belts and cap Royal blue, yellow hoop, black sleeves, royal blue and yellow quartered cap Yellow, light blue stars on body and cap
Mystiko Zigaura Junk Bond
1990-1988
1990
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Pink, black chevrons on body, white cap Navy blue, red and light blue hoop and armlets, white cap
Anshan Osario Book The Band
1989
Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Dark blue, yellow chevron hoops, yellow cap Dark blue, yellow sash
Danehill Folly Foot Mon Tresor
1988
Yellow, Red seams, yellow cap Beaver brown, maple leaf green cross belts and cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Lapierre Charmer Heroes Sash
 

The handicap for the race is based on the European Thoroughbred Rankings, an assessment of the previous season's two-year-olds published in January.

History

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Records point to the first running of the race being 1929. It was won by top weight Sir Cosmo carrying 9st. The event was formerly known as the Free Handicap. For a period it was backed by the Tote.[1] The word "European" was added to its title in 1981.[2]

The race served as a trial for various Classics in Europe. The last winner to achieve victory in the 2000 Guineas was Mystiko in 1991. The last participant to win the 1000 Guineas was Harayir, the runner-up in 1995.

Records

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Leading jockey since 1968 (8 wins):

  • Pat Eddery – Charlie Bubbles (1974), Lyric Dance (1979), Danehill (1989), Anshan (1990), Pursuit of Love (1992), So Factual (1993), Cayman Kai (1996), Twilight Blues (2002)

Leading trainer since 1968 (5 wins):

  • Richard Hannon Sr. – Bluegrass Prince (1994), Cayman Kai (1996), Cape Town (2000), Kamakiri (2005), Pausanias (2011)

Winners since 1968

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Year Winner Weight Jockey Trainer Time
1968 Panpiper 7-13 Ernie Johnson Ron Smyth
1969 Welsh Pageant 8-10 Sandy Barclay Noel Murless 1:29.10
1970 Shiny Tenth 8-03 Geoff Lewis Atty Corbett
1971 No Mercy 8-05 Brian Taylor Harvey Leader 1:27.85
1972 Panama Canal 7-11 Richard Marshall Bill Marshall
1973 Pitskelly 8-05 Bill Williamson Michael Jarvis
1974 Charlie Bubbles 8-03 Pat Eddery Peter Walwyn
1975 Green Belt 8-09 Eric Eldin Harry Wragg
1976 Man of Harlech 8-04 Ron Hutchinson John Dunlop
1977 Mrs McArdy 8-00 Taffy Thomas Mick Easterby
1978 Remainder Man 7-10 Michael Wigham Reg Hollinshead
1979 Lyric Dance 8-10 Pat Eddery Jeremy Tree
1980 Moorestyle 8-10 Lester Piggott Robert Armstrong
1981 Motavato 8-13 Steve Cauthen Barry Hills
1982 Match Winner 9-04 Lester Piggott Henry Cecil
1983 Boom Town Charlie 8-11 Tony Ives Bill O'Gorman
1984 Cutting Wind 8-08 Walter Swinburn Michael Hinchliffe
1985 Over the Ocean 8-11 Alain Lequeux Olivier Douieb
1986 Green Desert 9-07 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 1:32.36
1987 Noble Minstrel 9-07 Alain Badel Olivier Douieb 1:27.00
1988 Lapierre 9-01 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 1:27.61
1989 Danehill 9-01 Pat Eddery Jeremy Tree 1:27.57
1990 Anshan 9-07 Pat Eddery John Gosden 1:24.07
1991 Mystiko 9-02 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 1:25.72
1992 Pursuit of Love 9-01 Pat Eddery Henry Cecil 1:26.55
1993 So Factual 9-06 Pat Eddery Guy Harwood 1:26.23
1994 Bluegrass Prince 8-13 Frankie Dettori Richard Hannon Sr. 1:30.67
1995 Diffident 9-05 Michael Kinane André Fabre 1:22.93
1996 Cayman Kai 9-07 Pat Eddery Richard Hannon Sr. 1:22.98
1997 Hidden Meadow 9-03 Frankie Dettori Ian Balding 1:25.60
1998 Desert Prince 9-05 Olivier Peslier David Loder 1:31.39
1999 Bertolini 9-07 Frankie Dettori John Gosden 1:26.00
2000 Cape Town 9-02 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 1:27.50
2001 Clearing 9-06 Richard Hughes John Gosden 1:29.37
2002 Twilight Blues 9-05 Pat Eddery Brian Meehan 1:24.88
2003 Indian Haven 9-01 John Egan Paul D'Arcy 1:27.01
2004 Brunel 8-13 Darryll Holland William Haggas 1:26.45
2005 Kamakiri 8-10 Ryan Moore Richard Hannon Sr. 1:24.51
2006 Misu Bond 8-13 Tony Culhane Bryan Smart 1:24.11
2007 Prime Defender 9-05 Michael Hills Barry Hills 1:23.36
2008 Stimulation 9-03 Steve Drowne Hughie Morrison 1:27.17
2009 Ouqba 8-09 Richard Hills Barry Hills 1:27.22
2010 Red Jazz 9-06 Michael Hills Barry Hills 1:26.55
2011 Pausanias 8-12 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 1:24.06
2012 Telwaar 8-11 William Buick Peter Chapple-Hyam 1:28.03
2013 Garswood 9-00 Tony Hamilton Richard Fahey 1:24.84
2014 Shifting Power 9-01 Ryan Moore Richard Hannon Jr. 1:26.72
2015 Home of the Brave 8-13 James Doyle Hugo Palmer 1:22.22
2016 Ibn Malik 9-06 Paul Hanagan Charlie Hills 1:26.17
2017 Whitecliffsofdover 9-07 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 1:24.68
2018 Anna Nerium 8-13 Tom Marquand Richard Hannon Jr. 1:26.34
2019 Shine So Bright 9-07 Silvestre de Sousa Andrew Balding 1:24.68
no race 2020 [a]
2021 Tactical 9-05 Oisin Murphy Andrew Balding 1:24.79
2022 New Science 9-07 William Buick Charlie Appleby 1:24.80
  1. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[3]

Earlier winners

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  • 1929: Sir Cosmo
  • 1930: Quothquan
  • 1931:
  • 1932:
  • 1933:
  • 1934:
  • 1935: Knighted
  • 1936: Pay Up
  • 1937: Mid-Day Sun
  • 1938: Lapel
  • 1939: Solar Cloud
  • 1940: Salt Spring
  • 1941: Orthodox
  • 1942: No Race
  • 1943: No Race
  • 1944: Roadhouse
  • 1945: Grandmaster
  • 1946: Cama
  • 1947: Benedictine
  • 1948: Rear Admiral
  • 1949: Spy Legend
  • 1950: The Moke
  • 1951: Wilwyn
  • 1952: Caerlaverock
  • 1953: Good Brandy
  • 1954: Sun Festival
  • 1955: Counsel
  • 1956: Honeylight
  • 1957: Quorum
  • 1958: Faultless Speech
  • 1959: Petite Etoile
  • 1960: Running Blue
  • 1961: Erudite
  • 1962: Privy Councillor
  • 1963: Ros Rock
  • 1964: Port Merion
  • 1965: Short Commons
  • 1966: Kibenka
  • 1967: Supreme Sovereign

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1980 Tote Free Handicap". Glasgow Herald. 16 April 1980. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  2. ^ "1981 Tote European Free Handicap". Glasgow Herald. 15 April 1981. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.
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