Arkle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arkle
Skeleton of Arkle the horse at the Irish National Stud
Sire	Archive
Grandsire	Nearco
Dam	Bright Cherry
Damsire	Knight of the Garter
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	1957
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Mary Baker at Malahow House
Owner	Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster
Trainer	Tom Dreaper
Record	35: 27-2-3
Earnings	£95,198
Major wins
Cheltenham Gold Cup (1964, 1965, 1966) King George VI Chase (1965) Irish Grand National (1964) Hennessy Gold Cup (1964,1965) Leopardstown Chase (1964, 1965, 1966) Whitbread Gold Cup (1965) Gallagher Gold Cup (1965) Punchestown Gold Cup (1963) Powers Gold Cup (1963) SGB Handicap Chase (1966)
Awards
Timeform rating: 212 (steeplechase) (highest ever given for a steeplechaser)
Honours
British Steeplechasing Hall of Fame (1994) Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown Song 'Arkle' by Dominic Behan Republic of Ireland postage stamp (1981)
Last updated on January 26, 2007

Arkle (born April 19, 1957 – died May 31, 1970) was an amazing Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a bay gelding, which means a male horse that cannot breed. Arkle was famous for being one of the greatest steeplechase horses ever. A steeplechase is a horse race where horses jump over fences and ditches.

Arkle was born in County Meath, Ireland. He was named after a mountain in Scotland. His owner was Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster. He was trained by Tom Dreaper and ridden by Pat Taaffe for most of his racing career.

Arkle was incredibly fast and strong. His Timeform rating was 212, which is the highest score ever given to a steeplechase horse! This shows just how special he was. Even though his career ended early due to an injury, Arkle won three Cheltenham Gold Cups. This race is considered the most important steeplechase race.

In 2014, a life-sized bronze statue of Arkle was put up in Ashbourne, County Meath to remember him.

Arkle's Amazing Racing Career

Arkle's racing journey was full of exciting wins. He quickly became a favorite among fans.

Early Races and First Big Wins

Arkle's first win at Cheltenham was in the Broadway Chase. He won by a huge distance of twenty lengths! This showed everyone how talented he was.

In 1963, Arkle raced against another famous horse, Mill House, in the Hennessy Gold Cup. Mill House won that race. But Arkle soon got his revenge.

Winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup

In 1964, Arkle and Mill House met again in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This time, Arkle won by five lengths! After this win, Arkle was always the favorite to win his races. Only two other horses were brave enough to race against him in the Gold Cup that year.

Arkle won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in a row: in 1964, 1965, and 1966.

• In 1965, he beat Mill House by an incredible twenty lengths.
• In 1966, he was the biggest favorite in the race's history. He won by thirty lengths, even after making a small mistake at a fence! Arkle had a unique way of jumping, crossing his front legs.

Irish Grand National and Other Triumphs

Arkle also won the Irish Grand National in 1964. This was a very special win because he carried much more weight than the other horses. The racing rules in Ireland were even changed just for him!

He also won many other important races, including:

• The King George VI Chase in 1965.
• The Hennessy Gold Cup in both 1964 and 1965.
• The Gallaher Gold Cup in 1965, where he broke the course record.
• The Whitbread Gold Cup in 1965.

Arkle won 27 out of his 35 races. He won races of many different lengths, from short sprints to very long chases. Many people, like famous racing commentator Peter O'Sullevan, called Arkle a "freak of nature." They believed a horse like him might never be seen again.

Injury and Retirement

In December 1966, Arkle was racing in the King George VI Chase. He hit a guard rail while jumping, which caused a serious injury to his hoof. Even with this injury, he bravely finished the race in second place.

Arkle had to wear a cast for four months. He tried to recover and train again, but he never raced professionally after that. He was retired and lived a quieter life. Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 13 due to health problems.

Arkle's Legacy

Arkle became a true legend in Ireland. People even joked that his strength came from drinking Guinness beer every day! At one point, people wrote "Arkle for President" on walls in Dublin. Fans often called him "Himself," and he even received fan mail addressed to "Himself, Ireland."

Today, you can see Arkle's skeleton on display at the Irish National Stud museum in Kildare, Ireland. This helps people remember his incredible achievements and how special he was.

See Also

• List of leading National Hunt racehorses