RoR Goffs UK National Championships Hosts over 270 Retrained Racehorses
The Aintree International Equestrian Centre will this week host over 270 retrained racehorses, who are each entered for this year’s RoR Goffs UK National Championships. The event spans over four days, featuring high-class competition, staged exclusively for retrained racehorses.
The event, known as Britain’s largest event for showcasing the versatility of the thoroughbred, is held from Thursday 22nd August until Sunday 25th August. The annual spectacular, features classes that focus on disciplines; dressage, showjumping and showing.
The RoR Northern Dressage Championships start proceedings on Thursday, while Saturday’s showing events culminate in an evening performance and the crowning of the Goffs UK Supreme Champion, with its prize of £2,500 to the winner.
Together, the 273 horses entered earned over £8m in prize money during their racing careers. The biggest contributor being one of National Hunt racing’s most popular horses, Cue Card, with £1.4m won in prize money.
Cue Card, a nine-time Grade 1 winner, will be making his debut at the championships in what is only his first season showing following his retirement from racing in 2018. Now in the care of renowned showing producer, Katie Jerram-Hunnable, who previously enjoyed considerable success with The Queen’s Barbers Shop, Cue Card will compete at Aintree in in-hand showing classes.
Also making his first appearance at the Goffs UK sponsored event is the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Coneygree. The 12-year-old was only retired from racing in February but he has adapted very quickly to his new career, securing qualification for Aintree with victory in a class at the HEROS Charity Horse Show in June, when ridden by trainer Mark Bradstock’s wife, Sara.
Among a host of horses the racing public will also be familiar with, due to be competing at Aintree, are Sovereign Debt, Noland, Zarkandar, Annacotty, Thomas Crapper and Monkerty Tunkerty, who after success at the 2018 championships earned the accolade of RoR Horse of the Year.
The event is open to the public on all four days and admission is free. For more information visit the RoR website.
