Carlisle Bell

Carlisle Bell
Handicap race
Location Carlisle Racecourse
Carlisle, England
Inaugurated 1599
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Website Carlisle
Race information
Distance 1m (1,609 metres)
Surface Turf
Qualification 3 year olds +
Purse £22,000 (2012)
1st: £14,232
Carlisle Bell
2014
Johnno Sound Advice Balducci

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 1 mile 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 1997

[6]

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Odds Going
1997 Rainbow Rain (USA) 3 Michael Roberts Mark Johnston 6/1 Firm
1998 Lucky Archer 5 Kevin Darley Milton Bradley 17/2 Good To Soft
1999 Pas De Memoires (IRE) 4 Dean McKeown K Burke 11/2 Good To Firm
2000 Kirovski (IRE) 3 John Egan Peter Harris 10/1 Good To Firm
2001[note 1] Kestral 5 C Lowther T J Etherington 7/1 Firm
2002 Travelling Band (IRE) 4 Liam Keniry Ian Balding 7/1 Good
2003 Top Dirham 5 Dale Gibson Mick Easterby 9/4 Good To Firm
2004 Goodbye Mr Bond 4 Franny Norton E J Alston 5/1 Good
2005 Hartshead 6 Fergal Lynch G A Swinbank 7/1 Good To Firm
2006 Regents Secret (USA) 6 Fergal Lynch Jim Goldie 11/1 Good
2007 Bold Marc (IRE) 5 Andrew Elliott K Burke 33/1 Good To Soft
2008 Osteopathic Remedy (IRE) 4 Tom Eaves Michael Dods 9/1 Soft
2009 Stevie Gee (IRE) 5 Joe Fanning G A Swinbank 20/1 Good
2010 Camerooney 7 Dale Swift Brian Ellison 18/1 Good To Firm
2011 Miami Gator (IRE) 4 Andrew Elliott K Burke 12/1 Good To Soft
2012 Levitate 4 William Twiston-Davies Alan McCabe 18/1 Soft
2013 Silvery Moon 6 Robert Winston Tim Easterby 6/1 Good

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2001 Carlisle Bell was run at Thirsk

References

  1. ↑ "History of Horseracing". Carlisle Racecourse. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Museums and galleries". Carlisle City Council. 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.
  6. ↑ "Carlisle Bell". horseracebase.com. Retrieved 21 May 2013.

Bibliography