The Yorkshire Cup is a Group 2 race for four-year-olds and upwards over a mile and three-quarters.
The Yorkshire Cup is held on 17th May 2024.
It takes place on the final day of the York Dante meeting in May.
It is a traditional target for Ascot Gold Cup contenders and has been won by many of racing’s greatest stayers. Stradivarius (2018, 2019, 2022) became the first three-time winner while other notable winners include Ardross (1981, 1982), Classic Cliché (1996), Sergeant Cecil (2007) and Red Cadeaux (2012).
Find out more about the Yorkshire Cup:
Contents
- 1 Race Overview – The Yorkshire Cup
- 2 Yorkshire Cup 2025 Odds
- 3 Yorkshire Cup 2025 Tips
- 4 Yorkshire Cup Previous Winners
- 5 Famous Yorkshire Cup Winners
- 6 Key Yorkshire Cup Trials
- 7 Yorkshire Cup Betting Trends
- 8 Yorkshire Cup – Top Trainers and Jockeys
- 9 Betting on the Yorkshire Cup
- 10 Yorkshire Cup Previous Result
- 11 Popular Questions
- 12 Summary of Yorkshire Cup
- 13 Related York Dante Festival Posts
Race Overview – The Yorkshire Cup
The Yorkshire Cup is a Group 2 flat horse racing event for horses aged four and upheld in the United Kingdom.
It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs, and 188 yards and is held in York in May.
The Yorkshire Cup takes place on the final day of the three-day York Dante Festival.
Yorkshire Cup 2025 Odds
Here are the latest odds for the Yorkshire Cup in May 2025:
[justodds event=”3.35-york-race-4″]
Yorkshire Cup 2025 Tips
Here are some tips for Yorkshire Cup in May 2025:
- 2 points to win for SISKANY
- 1 point each way for BROOME
Some of the horses in the Yorkshire Cup will run in other events later in the year. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.
Check out the predictions for the York horse races from brilliant wagerers who consider essential data like the York Draw Bias.
For all horse racing events, our very best horse racing tippers offer free horse racing advice!
Yorkshire Cup Previous Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Templestowe | 5 | Tommy Weston | Robert Colling | 3:21.00 |
| 1928 | Royal Pom | 4 | George Baines | Ronald Farquharson | 3:27.60 |
| 1929 | The Consul | 4 | Willie Stephenson | William Rose Jarvis | 3:17.00 |
| 1930 | The Bastard[a] | 4 | Harry Wragg | Jack Jarvis | 3:24.80 |
| 1931 | The Scout II | 4 | Joe Childs | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | – |
| 1932 | Trimdon | 6 | Joe Childs | Joseph Lawson | – |
| 1933 | Orpen | 5 | Dick Perryman | Frank Butters | – |
| 1934 | Within-the-Law | 5 | W. Wells | J. Cannon | 3:19.20 |
| 1935 | Felicitation | 5 | Freddie Fox | Frank Butters | 3:21.60 |
| 1936 | Valerius | 5 | Tommy Weston | Joseph Lawson | 3:12.80 |
| 1937 | Silversol | 4 | Billy Nevett | Matthew Peacock | 3:43.40 |
| 1938 | Suzerain | 5 | Bill Rickaby | Ted Leader | – |
| 1939 | Finis | 4 | Harry Wragg | Ossie Bell | – |
| 1940 | no race 1940–44 | – | – | – | – |
| 1945 | Kingstone | 3 | Doug Smith | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | 3:28.00 |
| 1946 | Stirling Castle | 4 | Eph Smith | Joseph Lawson | 3:57.40 |
| 1947 | No Orchids | 4 | Harry Blackshaw | M. Everitt | – |
| 1948 | Whiteway | 4 | Bill Evans | Norman Bertie | – |
| 1949 | Woodburn | 4 | Bill Rickaby | Charles Elsey | – |
| 1950 | Miraculous Atom | 6 | Billy Nevett | Sam Hall | – |
| 1951 | Orderly Ann | 5 | A. Carson | Tommy Shedden | 3:27.60 |
| 1952 | Eastern Emperor | 4 | Bill Rickaby | Jack Jarvis | 3:30.20 |
| 1953 | Childe Harold | 4 | Jack Brace | Bill Dutton | 3:24.80 |
| 1954 | Premonition | 4 | Harry Carr | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | 3:22.80 |
| 1955 | By Thunder! | 4 | Wally Swinburn | Sam Armstrong | 3:56.40 |
| 1956 | Romany Air | 5 | Bill Rickaby | Reginald Day | 3:29.40 |
| 1957 | Souverlone | 4 | Joe Sime | Harry Peacock | 3:31.80 |
| 1958 | Brioche | 4 | Edgar Britt | Charles Elsey | 3:35.40 |
| 1959 | Cutter | 4 | Manny Mercer | John Oxley | 3:59.60 |
| 1960 | Dickens | 4 | Harry Carr | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | 3:28.00 |
| 1961 | Pandofell | 4 | Lester Piggott | Freddie Maxwell | 3:40.00 |
| 1962 | Sagacity | 4 | Harry Carr | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | 3:43.40 |
| 1963 | Honour Bound | 5 | Doug Smith | Fred Rimell | 3:37.00 |
| 1964 | Raise You Ten | 4 | Harry Carr | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | 3:32.00 |
| 1965 | Apprentice | 5 | Stan Clayton | Cecil Boyd-Rochfort | 3:36.00 |
| 1966 | Aunt Edith | 4 | Lester Piggott | Noel Murless | 3:21.60 |
| 1967 | Salvo | 4 | Ron Hutchinson | Harry Wragg | 3:19.00 |
| 1968 | Sweet Story | 6 | Jimmy Etherington | Dick Peacock | 3:21.40 |
| 1969 | Quartette | 5 | Russ Maddock | Tommy Gosling | 3:49.00 |
| 1970 | Rangong | 5 | Sandy Barclay | Noel Murless | 3:01.00 |
| 1971 | Alto Volante | 4 | Brian Taylor | Freddie Maxwell | 3:00.50 |
| 1972 | Knockroe | 4 | Lester Piggott | Peter Nelson | 2:55.90 |
| 1973 | Celtic Cone | 6 | Greville Starkey | Frank Cundell | 2:58.20 |
| 1974 | Buoy | 4 | Joe Mercer | Dick Hern | 2:56.37 |
| 1975 | Riboson | 4 | Joe Mercer | Dick Hern | 3:06.71 |
| 1976 | Bruni | 4 | Lester Piggott | Ryan Price | 3:06.39 |
| 1977 | Bright Finish | 4 | Lester Piggott | Jeremy Tree | 3:05.93 |
| 1978 | Smuggler | 5 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | 2:56.25 |
| 1979 | Pragmatic | 4 | John Reid | Fulke Johnson Houghton | 3:07.90 |
| 1980 | Noble Saint | 4 | Lester Piggott | Robert Armstrong | 2:56.03 |
| 1981 | Ardross | 5 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | 3:08.26 |
| 1982 | Ardross | 6 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | 2:58.97 |
| 1983 | Line Slinger | 4 | Edward Hide | Bill Elsey | 3:19.39 |
| 1984 | Band | 4 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | 2:57.29 |
| 1985 | Ilium | 4 | Richard Hills | Harry Thomson Jones | 3:05.42 |
| 1986 | Eastern Mystic | 4 | Pat Eddery | Luca Cumani | 3:12.26 |
| 1987 | Verd-Antique | 4 | Steve Cauthen | Henry Cecil | 3:08.89 |
| 1988 | Moon Madness | 5 | Pat Eddery | John Dunlop | 3:00.51 |
| 1989 | Mountain Kingdom | 5 | Steve Cauthen | Clive Brittain | 2:52.92 |
| 1990 | Braashee | 4 | Michael Roberts | Alec Stewart | 2:56.79 |
| 1991 | Arzanni | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Luca Cumani | 2:57.94 |
| 1992 | Rock Hopper | 5 | Pat Eddery | Michael Stoute | 2:59.91 |
| 1993 | Assessor | 4 | Richard Quinn | Richard Hannon Sr. | 2:59.23 |
| 1994 | Key to My Heart | 4 | John Reid | Dudley Moffatt | 2:55.87 |
| 1995 | Moonax | 4 | Pat Eddery | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:58.89 |
| 1996 | Classic Cliche | 4 | Michael Kinane | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:52.77 |
| 1997 | Celeric | 5 | Pat Eddery | David Morley | 2:59.39 |
| 1998 | Busy Flight | 5 | Michael Hills | Barry Hills | 3:04.02 |
| 1999 | Churlish Charm | 4 | Richard Hughes | Richard Hannon Sr. | 3:05.61 |
| 2000 | Kayf Tara | 6 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:55.06 |
| 2001 | Marienbard | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:57.30 |
| 2002 | Zindabad | 6 | Kevin Darley | Mark Johnston | 2:54.90 |
| 2003 | Mamool | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:52.54 |
| 2004 | Millenary | 7 | Richard Quinn | John Dunlop | 3:01.61 |
| 2005 | Franklins Gardens | 5 | Darryll Holland | Mark Tompkins | 3:02.78 |
| 2006 | Percussionist | 5 | Darryll Holland | Howard Johnson | 3:12.41 |
| 2007 | Sergeant Cecil | 8 | Jimmy Fortune | Rod Millman | 2:59.63 |
| 2008 | Geordieland | 7 | Shane Kelly | Jamie Osborne | 3:02.47 |
| 2009 | Ask | 6 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 3:05.36 |
| 2010 | Manifest | 4 | Tom Queally | Henry Cecil | 2:58.99 |
| 2011 | Duncan | 6 | William Buick | John Gosden | 2:58.33 |
| 2012 | Red Cadeaux | 6 | Tom McLaughlin | Ed Dunlop | 3:02.89 |
| 2013 | Glen's Diamond | 5 | Tony Hamilton | Richard Fahey | 3:01.39 |
| 2014 | Gospel Choir | 5 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 3:00.36 |
| 2015 | Snow Sky | 4 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 2:57.64 |
| 2016 | Clever Cookie | 8 | P. J. McDonald | Peter Niven | 3:01.12 |
| 2017 | Dartmouth | 5 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 3:01.90 |
| 2018 | Stradivarius | 4 | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | 2:55.15 |
| 2019 | Stradivarius | 5 | Frankie Dettori | John Gosden | 3:01.21 |
| – | no race 2020 [b] | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | Spanish Mission | 5 | William Buick | Andrew Balding | 2:59.56 |
| 2022 | Stradivarius | 8 | Frankie Dettori | John & Thady Gosden | 2:58.33 |
| 2023 | Giavellotto | 4 | Andrea Atzeni | Marco Botti | 2:56.79 |
| 2024 | Giavellotto | 5 | Oisin Murphy | Marco Botti | 2:55.96 |
| 2025 | Rebel's Romance | 7 | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | 3:07.88 |
Famous Yorkshire Cup Winners
The Yorkshire Cup was originally run as a handicap and did not become a conditions event until after the war. It was given Group 2 status in 1971 and became part of the British Champions Series in 2011.
The Yorkshire Cup was won by popular stayers like Buoy (1974), Bruni (1976) and Smuggler (1978) in the seventies. Henry Cecil trained Ardross to become the first dual winner of the race in 1981 and 1982. He was famous for his duels with Le Moss and proved his versatility when only losing by a head to Akiyda in the 1982 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He won the Ascot Gold Cup in 1981 and 1982 as well as the 1981 Goodwood Cup and 1982 Doncaster Cup.
This race is an obvious target for former St Leger winners. Moon Madness (1988), Moonax (1995) and Classic Cliché (1996) are among those horses to have won both races. Classic Cliché won the Dante Stakes at York and finished fourth to Celtic Swing in the French Derby. He won the Ascot Gold Cup in 1996 and the Prix Kergorlay in 1997.
2001 winner Marienbard won three successive Group 1 races in Germany for Godolphin in 2002. He then produced a career-best to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, beating Sulamani and High Chaparral. One of the most popular winners of this event was Red Cadeaux in 2012. Ed Dunlop’s chestnut is probably more fondly remembered in Australia after he finished runner-up in the Melbourne Cup in 2011, 2013 and 2014. The globetrotting stayer earned almost £5 million in prize money but tragically suffered an injury in the 2015 Melbourne Cup from which he never recovered.
Stradivarius won this race in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 race was lost to the pandemic and he was campaigned at shorter distances in 2021. John Gosden sent him back up in trip for the Cup races in 2022 and he duly added a record third Yorkshire Cup in the hands of Frankie Dettori. He was eventually retired with almost £3.5 million in career earnings plus £2 million in bonuses. His other career victories included three Ascot Gold Cups, four Goodwood Cups and two Doncaster Cups.
Key Yorkshire Cup Trials
The Yorkshire Cup can be the starting point for Ascot Gold Cup hopefuls. Three of the last eleven winners made their seasonal debut here after ending last season in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot. It is also a target for St Leger winners kept in training as four-year-olds with a view to tackling the big Cup races.
Six of the last eleven winners went from York to Royal Ascot to contest the Gold Cup on their next outing. Stradivarius won both races in 2018 and 2019 and was third at Ascot when attempting the same big race double in 2022. Snow Sky (2015) successfully dropped back in distance to win the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting while Gospel Choir (2014) won the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket next time out.
Yorkshire Cup Betting Trends
There have been five successful favourites in the past eleven renewals of the Yorkshire Cup. Gospel Choir returned at 7-2 for Sir Michael Stoute in 2014 and he also trained Her Majesty The Queen’s Dartmouth to win as the 11-4 favourite in 2017. The other three occasions when the favourite obliged were provided by Stradivarius (2018, 2019 and 2022).
The only shock result during recent years came in 2013 when Glen’s Diamond won at 25-1. He was trained locally by Richard Fahey and ridden by Tony Hamilton. He was having his first outing for 244 days but made most of the running to repel French raider Top Trip by a nose with Royal Diamond back in third place. Horses aged four and five generally do best in this race, although Sergeant Cecil (2007) and Stradivarius (2022) did manage to win at the age of eight.
Yorkshire Cup – Top Trainers and Jockeys
The most successful trainer in the history of the Yorkshire Cup is Cecil Boyd-Rochfort who won it seven times between 1931 and 1965. The last four came in a six-year spell of dominating the stayers’ division from 1960 to 1965. Sir Michael Stoute has trained the winner of the Yorkshire Cup on five occasions; Rock Hopper (1992), Ask (2009), Gospel Choir (2014), Snow Sky (2015) and Dartmouth (2017).
Lester Piggott leads the all-time jockey standings with eight winners; Pandofell (1961), Aunt Edith (1966), Knockroe (1972), Bruni (1976), Bright Finish (1977), Noble Saint (1980) and Ardross (1981, 1982). The three victories aboard Stradivarius have contributed to a total seven winners in the race for Frankie Dettori. His others came aboard Arzanni (1991), Kayf Tara (2000), Marienbard (2001) and Mamool (2003).
Betting on the Yorkshire Cup
The Yorkshire Cup heralds the start of big Cup races for the summer season with the winner invariably Ascot-bound. There are often some established stars in the field matched against younger rivals who were contesting the Classic races as three-year-olds. The form book can usually be relied upon in the Yorkshire Cup with shock results few and far between.
Yorkshire Cup Previous Result
Popular Questions
Who won the 2021 Yorkshire Cup?
The winner of the 2021 Yorkshire Cup was Spanish Mission.
Where is the Yorkshire Cup run?
The Yorkshire Cup is held at York Racecourse.
When is the Yorkshire Cup run?
The Yorkshire Cup is held in May.
What distance is the Yorkshire Cup?
The Yorkshire Cup is 1 mile, 5 furlongs, and 188 yards long.
Summary of Yorkshire Cup
Thank you for checking out our Yorkshire Cup guide.
The Yorkshire Cup is run on Day 3 of the Dante Festival which is the same day as the Marygate Fillies’ Stakes and the Michael Seely Memorial Stakes and the day after the Dante Stakes.
Check out the Dante Festival Free Bets if you would like to bet on the 2025 York Dante Festival.
Check out our guides to all the other Group 2 horse races.
Here are all the related posts for the 2025 York Dante Festival.
