The Desert Orchid Chase is a Grade 2
National Hunt
In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...
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 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late December during the course's Christmas Festival.
The race was first run on 27 December 2006. It is named in memory of
Desert Orchid
Desert Orchid (11 April 1979 – 13 November 2006), known as ''Dessie'', was an English racehorse. The grey achieved a revered and esteemed status within National Hunt racing, where he was much loved by supporters for his front-running atta ...
, a popular racehorse who died several weeks earlier. Desert Orchid won Kempton's most prestigious event, the
King George VI Chase
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 ...
, four times between 1986 and 1990. His ashes were scattered at the racecourse on the day of this race's inaugural running. The event has replaced the
Castleford Chase in the National Hunt calendar as a Grade 2 chase over 2 miles.
Winners
See also
*
Horse racing in Great Britain
Horse racing is the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain, and one of the longest established, with a history dating back many centuries. According to a report by the British Horseracing Authority it generates £3.39 billion total d ...
*
List of British National Hunt races
A list of notable National Hunt horse races which take place annually in Great Britain, under the authority of the British Horseracing Authority, including all races which currently hold Grade 1, 2 or 3 status.
History of the National Hunt Patter ...
References
*
Racing Post:
** , , , , , , , , ,
** , , ,
----
pedigreequery.com– ''Desert Orchid Chase – Kempton.''
{{Race Meeting, Christmas Festival (Kempton Park), Turf
National Hunt races in Great Britain
Kempton Park Racecourse
National Hunt chases
Recurring sporting events established in 2006
2006 establishments in England