Lot 137
The Cheltenham Gold Cup; a 15ct gold cup and cover
Auction: 1 December 2009 at 11:00 GMT
Description
Adie Brothers, London 1930, formed as a 17th century style steeple cup and cover, the stepped cover with leaf clasped border, ornate pierced finial on spool base, the cup with two cartouches, one engraved Cheltenham gold cup, the other blank, the whole body with well chased floral sprays, urns and putto, lobed base, supported by scrolling supports, cup and cover stem and knopped detail, fluted base, leaf clasped border, all on an onyx socle base with applied 15ct gold plaque engraved 'Won by Easter Hero 1929-1930
Dimensions
30.5cm high, 17.5oz
Footnote
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is run annually at Cheltenham over 3 milkes and 2.5 furlongs and is open to horses five years and over. It started in 1819 as a flat race but is now over twenty two jumps. Prize money last year was £475,000 making it the richest race of the racing calendar.
In 1929 Easter Hero cantered in 20 lengths ahead of Lloydie, with Grakle two lengths back in third. The time was a new record for the course. Ridden by Dick Rees, trained by Jack Anthony, owned by John Hay Whitney and in 1930 won again by Easter Hero, ridden by Tommy Cullinan, same trainer and owner. Jock Whitney took his champion home to the States to retire until he died at the Whitney estate in Kentucky in 1948, at the ripe old age of 28.