The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year on 26 December, and features as part of the course's Christmas Festival.

King George VI Chase
Grade 1 race
LocationKempton Park,
Sunbury, England
Inaugurated1937
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorLadbrokes
WebsiteKempton Park
Race information
Distance3 miles (4,828 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 st 1 lb (4yo);
11 st 10 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£250,000 (2023)
1st: £142,375
King George VI Chase
2023
Emerald green, black seams, striped sleeves and star on cap Orange, dark blue star, orange sleeves, dark blue stars, dark blue cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap
Hewick Bravemansgame Allaho
Previous years
2022
Orange, dark blue star, orange sleeves, dark blue stars, dark blue cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap
Bravemansgame Royale Pagaille Frodon
2021
Emerald green and white diamonds, emerald green cap Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap Light blue, red braces, white sleeves, red armlets, light blue and red quartered cap
Tornado Flyer Clan Des Obeaux Saint Calvados
2020–2011
2020
Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap White, royal blue chevron, pink cap White, royal blue epaulets, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap
Frodon Waiting Patiently Clan Des Obeaux
2019
Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap Royal blue, pink hoops, armlets and cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots
Clan Des Obeaux Cyrname Footpad
2018
White, royal blue epaulets, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap Orange, black triple diamond, chevrons on sleeves Red and purple (quartered), yellow sleeves, red cap
Clan Des Obeaux Thistlecrack Native River
2017
Light blue and yellow check, orange and black hooped sleeves and cap Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap Orange, black star and star on cap
Might Bite Double Shuffle Tea For Two
2016
Orange, black triple diamond, chevrons on sleeves Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves
Thistlecrack Cue Card Silviniaco Conti
2015
Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star
Cue Card Vautour Al Ferof
2014
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Maroon and yellow diamonds, halved sleeves, yellow cap Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star
Silviniaco Conti Dynaste Al Ferof
2013
Red, pink hoop and armlets Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star
Silviniaco Conti Cue Card Al Ferof
2012
Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap Purple, yellow triple diamond, yellow sleeves, red armlets, red cap
Long Run Captain Chris Grands Crus
2011
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
Kauto Star Long Run Captain Chris
2010–2001
2010
Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap Red and white diamonds, white sleeves, red armlets, red cap Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap
Long Run Riverside Theatre Kauto Star
2009
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Purple, yellow triple diamond, yellow sleeves, red armlets, red cap Purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap, gold fringe
Kauto Star Madison Du Berlais Barbers Shop
2008
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Emerald green and yellow (quartered), white sleeves and cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap
Kauto Star Albertas Run Voy Por Ustedes
2007
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap
Kauto Star Our Vic Exotic Dancer
2006
Emerald green, yellow spots, yellow and emerald green halved sleeves, purple cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Dark green, maroon stars, maroon cap
Kauto Star Exotic Dancer Racing Demon
2005
PURPLE, white diamond and sleeves, purple cap Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap
Kicking King Monkerhostin Impek
2004
PURPLE, white diamond and sleeves, purple cap Purple, White hoop, White sleeves, Purple armlets, Emerald Green cap YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star
Kicking King Kingscliff Azertyuiop
2003
Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Red, yellow stripes, halved sleeves, yellow cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Edredon Bleu Tiutchev First Gold
2002
Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Pink and grey diamonds, pink cap
Best Mate Marlborough Bacchanal
2001
Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Pink and grey diamonds, pink cap
Florida Pearl Best Mate Bacchanal
2000–1991
2000
Red, light green cap Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots Black, yellow checked cap
First Gold Florida Pearl Bellator
1999
Black, yellow stars, black sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap Turquoise and silver diamonds Yellow, dark blue stripe, dark blue sleeves, yellow armlets, white cap
See More Business Go Ballistic Dr Leunt
1998
White, black seams, yellow and white halved sleeves, yellow cap Black, white hoops, spots on sleeves, hooped cap Yellow and royal blue diabolo, yellow sleeves and cap
Teeton Mill Escartefigue Imperial Call
1997
Black, yellow stars, black sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Navy blue, green sash, cerise cap
See More Business Challenger du Luc Rough Quest
1996
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Orange, black and white hooped cap Black, yellow chevron, hooped sleeves, black cap
One Man Monsieur Le Cure Master Oats
1996
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Navy blue, green sash, cerise cap Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star
One Man Rough Quest Barton Bank
1994
Red, pale green cap Orange, black and white hooped cap RUST, green sash and cuffs, quartered cap
Algan Monsieur Le Cure Second Schedual
1993
Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star Royal blue, red braces and cap Red, pale green cap
Barton Bank Bradbury Star The Fellow
1992
Red, pale green cap White, red stars, dark blue and white striped cap Red, grey cross of lorraine and sleeves, red cap
The Fellow Pat's Jester The Illywhacker
1991
Red, pale green cap Royal blue, yellow braces, hooped sleeves, yellow cap Black, gold sleeves, red cap
The Fellow Docklands Express Remittance Man
1990–1981
1990
Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap Light blue and orange diamonds, light blue sleeves and cap, orange star Red, pale green cap
Desert Orchid Toby Tobias The Fellow
1989
Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap Black, yellow cross=belts and armlets Yellow, white epaulets, yellow sleeves, black armlets, white cap
Desert Orchid Barnbrook Again Yahoo
1988
Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves Yellow, red chevron, striped sleeves, hooped cap
Desert Orchid Kildimo Vodkatini
1987
Green, yellow seams and cap Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap Orange, dark green stripe
Nupsala Desert Orchid Golden Friend
1986
Dark blue, grey sleeves and cap Black, scarlet cap Red, black chevrons on body
Desert Orchid Door Latch Bolands Cross
1985
Maroon, light blue sleeves, white armlets, white cap, maroon star Black and yellow diamonds, red and yellow hooped cap Dark green, white sash, black cap
Wayward Lad Combs Ditch Earls Brig
1984
Kingfisher blue, black and orange hooped sleeves, orange cap Black and yellow diamonds, red and yellow hooped cap Maroon, light blue sleeves, white armlets, white cap, maroon star
Burrough Hill Lad Combs Ditch Wayward Lad
1983
Maroon, light blue sleeves, white armlets, white cap, maroon star Coral, dark green hooped cap Royal blue, red chevrons, white sleeves, blue cap, red hoops
Wayward Lad Brown Chamberlin The Mighty Mac
1982
Maroon, light blue sleeves, white armlets, white cap, maroon star Red, black chevrons on body Black, white braces, red cap
Wayward Lad Fifty Dollars More Silver Buck
1980–1971
1980
Black, white braces, red cap Royal blue, white hooped sleeves, pink cap Maroon, royal blue sleeves, hooped cap
Silver Buck Anaglog's Daughter Diamond Edge
1979
Black, white braces, red cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Scarlet, silver sash, striped sleeves, scarlet cap
Silver Buck Jack of Trumps Border Incident
1978
Dark blue, grey diamonds on body Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Orange, white sleeves and cap
Gay Spartan Jack of Trumps Chumson
1977
Emerald green, red sash, yellow sleeves and cap Light blue and white hoops, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Green, yellow sleeves, white cap
Bachelor's Hall Uncle Bing Royal Marshal
1976
Green, yellow sleeves, white cap Black, white sash, pink sleeves Pale blue, white spots, black and white quartered cap
Royal Marshal Fort Devon April Seventh
1975
Beige, brown cross of lorraine, quartered cap Light blue, scarlet sleeves, sash and collar, check cap Green, yellow sleeves, white cap
Captain Christy Bula Royal Marshal
1974
Beige, brown cross of lorraine, quartered cap Navy blue, turquoise sleeves, check cap French blue, old rose and silver cross-belts
Captain Christy Pendil Soothsayer
1973
Navy blue, turquoise sleeves, check cap Black with white diabolo, white armlets and cap White, scarlet collar, sash and sleeves, quartered cap
Pendil Inkslinger The Dikler
1972
Navy blue, turquoise sleeves, check cap White, scarlet collar, sash and sleeves, quartered cap Maroon, light blue sleeves, white cap (unverified)
Pendil The Dikler Shawnigan
1971
White, scarlet collar, sash and sleeves, quartered cap Maroon and yellow (halved), sleeves reversed, yellow cap Gold, red sleeves, red cap, gold spots
The Dikler Spanish Steps Titus Oates
1970–1964
1969
Gold, red sleeves, red cap, gold spots Oxford blue, orange hoop and cap, black sleeves Black, scarlet cap
Titus Oates Flyingbolt The Laird
1966
Cerise and lilac stripes, cerise sleeves, quartered cap Yellow, narrow black belt, and cap with gold tassel Gold, dark blue striped sleeves, check cap
Dormant Arkle Maigret
1965
Yellow, narrow black belt, and cap with gold tassel Cerise and lilac stripes, cerise sleeves, quartered cap Orange, white hooped sleeves, black cap
Arkle Dormant Arctic Ocean
1964
Pink and green stripes, pink cap Silver grey, yellow cross-belts, quartered cap Only two ran
Frenchman's Cove Jay Trump Only two ran
 

The event was first run in February 1937, and it was named in honour of the new British monarch, King George VI. It was only run twice before World War II, during which Kempton Park was closed for racing and used as a prisoner-of-war camp. The two pre-war runnings were each contested by four horses. The winner of the first, Southern Hero, remains the race's oldest ever winner. After the war the racecourse re-opened, and the event returned in 1947 on a new date – Boxing Day.

The King George VI Chase is now the second most prestigious chase in England, surpassed only by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Fifteen horses have won it more than once, Desert Orchid won it four times and Kauto Star won it five times. The race is currently sponsored by the Ladbrokes Coral bookmaking firm.

Records

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Most successful horse (5 wins):

Leading jockey (5 wins):

  • Ruby WalshKauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)

Leading trainer (13 wins):

  • Paul NichollsSee More Business (1997, 1999), Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014), Clan Des Obeaux (2018, 2019), Frodon (2020), Bravemansgame (2022)

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1937 Southern Hero 12 J. Fawcus G. Evans
1938 Airgead Sios 8 T. McNeill V. Tabor
1939 no race 1939–46 [a]
1947 Rowland Roy 8 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn
1948 Cottage Rake 9 Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien
1949 Finnure 8 Dick Francis George Beeby
1950 Manicou 5 Bryan Marshall Peter Cazalet
1951 Statecraft 6 Tony Grantham Peter Cazalet
1952 Halloween 7 Fred Winter Bill Wightman
1953 Galloway Braes 8 Bert Morrow Alec Kilpatrick
1954 Halloween 9 Fred Winter Bill Wightman
1955 Limber Hill 8 Jimmy Power Bill Dutton
1956 Rose Park 10 Michael Scudamore Peter Cazalet
1957 Mandarin 6 Gerry Madden Fulke Walwyn
1958 Lochroe 10 Arthur Freeman Peter Cazalet
1959 Mandarin 8 Gerry Madden Fulke Walwyn
1960 Saffron Tartan 9 Fred Winter Don Butchers
1961 no race 1961–62 [b]
1963 Mill House 6 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn
1964 Frenchman's Cove 9 Stan Mellor Harry Thomson Jones
1965 Arkle 8 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1966 Dormant 9 Jeff King John Wells-Kendrew
1967 no race 1967–68 [c]
1969 Titus Oates 7 Stan Mellor Gordon W. Richards
1970 no race 1970 [d]
1971 The Dikler 8 Barry Brogan Fulke Walwyn
1972 Pendil 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1973 Pendil 8 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1974 Captain Christy 7 Bobby Coonan Pat Taaffe
1975 Captain Christy 8 Gerry Newman Pat Taaffe
1976 Royal Marshall II 9 Graham Thorner Tim Forster
1977 Bachelor's Hall 7 Martin O'Halloran Peter Cundell
1978 Gay Spartan 7 Tommy Carmody Tony Dickinson
1979 Silver Buck 7 Tommy Carmody Tony Dickinson
1980 Silver Buck 8 Tommy Carmody Michael Dickinson
1981 no race 1981 [e]
1982 Wayward Lad 7 John Francome Michael Dickinson
1983 Wayward Lad 8 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson
1984 Burrough Hill Lad 8 John Francome Jenny Pitman
1985 Wayward Lad 10 Graham Bradley Monica Dickinson
1986 Desert Orchid 7 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth
1987 Nupsala 8 André Pommier François Doumen
1988 Desert Orchid 9 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth
1989 Desert Orchid 10 Richard Dunwoody David Elsworth
1990 Desert Orchid 11 Richard Dunwoody David Elsworth
1991 The Fellow 6 Adam Kondrat François Doumen
1992 The Fellow 7 Adam Kondrat François Doumen
1993 Barton Bank 7 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson
1994 Algan 6 Philippe Chevalier François Doumen
1995 One Man [f] 8 Richard Dunwoody Gordon W. Richards
1996 One Man 8 Richard Dunwoody Gordon W. Richards
1997 See More Business 7 Andrew Thornton Paul Nicholls
1998 Teeton Mill 9 Norman Williamson Venetia Williams
1999 See More Business 9 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls
2000 First Gold 7 Thierry Doumen François Doumen
2001 Florida Pearl 9 Adrian Maguire Willie Mullins
2002 Best Mate 7 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight
2003 Edredon Bleu 11 Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight
2004 Kicking King 6 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe
2005 Kicking King[g] 7 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe
2006 Kauto Star 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2007 Kauto Star 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2008 Kauto Star 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2009 Kauto Star 9 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2010 Long Run[h] 6 Sam Waley-Cohen[i] Nicky Henderson
2011 Kauto Star 11 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2012 Long Run 7 Sam Waley-Cohen[i] Nicky Henderson
2013 Silviniaco Conti 7 Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls
2014 Silviniaco Conti 8 Noel Fehily Paul Nicholls
2015 Cue Card 9 Paddy Brennan Colin Tizzard
2016 Thistlecrack 8 Tom Scudamore Colin Tizzard
2017 Might Bite 8 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2018 Clan des Obeaux 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2019 Clan des Obeaux 7 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
2020 Frodon 8 Bryony Frost Paul Nicholls
2021 Tornado Flyer 8 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins
2022 Bravemansgame 7 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2023 Hewick 8 Gavin Sheehan John Joseph Hanlon
  1. ^ During World War II Kempton Park was closed for racing and used as a reception centre for prisoners-of-war
  2. ^ The 1961 and 1962 runnings were both abandoned because of frost
  3. ^ It was cancelled in 1967 due to foot-and-mouth restrictions, and in 1968 because of frost
  4. ^ The 1970 running was abandoned because of snow
  5. ^ The race was abandoned in 1981 because of snow and frost
  6. ^ The "1995" race took place on 6 January 1996 at Sandown, having been postponed at Kempton due to snow and frost
  7. ^ It was switched to Sandown in 2005 as Kempton was closed for redevelopment
  8. ^ The "2010" race took place on 15 January 2011 after Kempton Park's 2010 Boxing Day meeting was cancelled due to snow and frost
  9. ^ a b amateur jockey

See also

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References

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  • kinggeorgechase.comKing George Chase Winners.
  • pedigreequery.comKing George VI Chase – Kempton Park.
  • Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 46. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
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  • Race Recordings [1]