Tingle Creek (1966–1996) was an American-bred, British-trained
steeplechaser of the 1970s. A handsome, lightly built
chestnut
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.
The unrelat ...
horse with a white
blaze under a white headband, Tingle Creek was a top-class performer at two miles and won 31 of 80 starts worldwide (23 of 52 races in the UK). He was also a favourite of racing fans for his fearless frontrunning, despite often giving away substantial weight, and never falling.
![Tingle Creek](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Tingle_Creek.jpg)
He specialised at two miles and performed best at
Sandown Park
Sandown Park is a horse racing course and leisure venue in Esher, Surrey, England, located in the outer suburbs of London. It hosts 5 Grade One National Hunt races and one Group 1 flat race, the Eclipse Stakes. It regularly has horse rac ...
, a right-handed racecourse, breaking the track record numerous times.
'Tingle Creek Betting Odds'
Betfred, undated, accessed 6 December 2022 Cheltenham
Cheltenham (), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in the county of Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort, following the discovery of mineral s ...
, a left-handed track, was the only course where Tingle Creek struggled.
Timeform
Timeform is a sports data and content provider located in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1948, it provides systematic information on form to punters and others involved in the horse racing industry. The company was purchased by t ...
considered Tingle Creek the best two miler around when conditions were in his favour.[Nicholas Godfrey]
'Ten things you didn't know about Tingle Creek'
''The Racing Post'', 22 November 2019, accessed 6 December 2022
Jockey Steve Smith Eccles, who became Tingle Creek's regular jockey in 1977, considered the horse "absolutely unbelievable. I never rode a more exciting jumper... He was flat out from start to finish and he would just eat fences".
A son of Goose Creek, who ran as a sprinter and miler, the horse began his career successfully in the United States but came to England at an early stage. He wore distinctive white bandages on his forelegs and had a white sock on his left back leg.
Tingle Creek was retired in November 1978. Until his death in 1996, he made an appearance at Sandown Park before the race named in his honour in 1979. He had won that race, carrying 12 st 5 lb., in 1973.
References
{{reflist
1966 racehorse births
1996 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in the United States
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom