The Rendlesham Hurdle 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: ...
hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to
horses
The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million yea ...
aged four years or older. It is run at
Haydock Park
Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Merseyside, North West England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, the racecourse is set in an area of parkland bounded by the towns of Haydock to the west, Ashton-in-Makerfield ...
over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ a
furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...
(3 miles and 58 yards, or ), and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The race was first run in 1980 and was initially held at
Kempton Park. It was a limited
handicap from 1995 to 2001.
The race was transferred to Haydock in 2006, and its distance here was initially 2 miles and 7½ furlongs. It was extended to 3 miles in 2008, and then to 3 miles and 1 furlong for 2009 and 2010 before reverting to 3 miles in 2011 and being cut to 2 miles and 7 furlongs in 2012. It has been run at its present distance since 2019. The race is currently sponsored by
William Hill and was run under various sponsored titles between 2010 and 2016.
The Rendlesham Hurdle serves as an important trial for the
Stayers' Hurdle
The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles ...
in March. The last horse to win both races in the same year was
Baracouda
Baracouda was a top staying hurdler for racehorse trainer François Doumen in the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century. Amongst his major successes, he won the Stayers Championship, the World Hurdle twice, as well as winning 10 ...
in 2002.
Winners
See also
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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 di ...
*
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
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 6 ...
:
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**, {{Racing Post, 721304, 2019, 02, 16, 23
* Timeform Chasers & Hurdlers Statistical Companion 1992–93
pedigreequery.com– ''Rendlesham Hurdle – Haydock.''
National Hunt races in Great Britain
Haydock Park Racecourse
National Hunt hurdle races
Recurring sporting events established in 1980
1980 establishments in England