- Mill House (horse)
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Mill House Sire King Hal Grandsire Windsor Lad Dam Nas Na Riogh Damsire Cariff Sex Gelding Foaled 1957 Country Ireland Colour Bay Breeder Mrs Bridget Lawlor at Punchestown, Co. Kildare Owner William H. Gollings Trainer Fulke Walwyn Record 34: 16-6-2 Major wins Cheltenham Gold Cup (1963)
Hennessy Gold Cup (1963)
King George VI Chase (1963)
Gainsborough Chase (1964, 1965, 1967)
Whitbread Gold Cup (1967)Horse (Equus ferus caballus) Last updated on September 30, 2006 Mill House was an Irish-bred but English-trained racehorse. He is considered one of the best National Hunt racing competitors in UK horse racing history but whose quality was overshadowed by arch rival, Arkle. Mill House won the 1963 Cheltenham Gold Cup and 1967 Whitbread Gold Cup.
Known as 'The Big Horse' on account of 18 Hands height, Mill House took part in one of the epic battles of National Hunt Racing when, in March 1964, he defended his Cheltenham crown against the Irish star Arkle. Trained by the legendary Fulke Walwyn and ridden by Willie Robinson, Mill House matched Arkle stride for stride over the last two miles failing by 5 lengths to hold the great horse off. It was a classic England v Ireland match at Cheltenham and regarded by many as the finest race ever for the Gold Cup.
Tragically Mill House was never quite the same horse again. The following year he took Arkle on again in the Gold Cup but was beaten quite easily. His size meant increasing back problems and he failed to participate in 1966 when Arke won his third crown. But in 1967 he was back again this time without his great rival who was retired after a serious leg injury a few months before at Kempton. Hopes were high that he could become the first horse ever to win back his crown in a field that was not considered the best. Sadly he slipped and fell at an open ditch in the back straight and left the race to a virtual unknown, Woodland Venture.
A few weeks later his form was confirmed when he took the prestigious Whitbread Gold Cup under top weight at Sandown Park. It was his last major win. Continuing back weakness plagued his campaign in 1968 when he fell again in both the Cheltenham and Whitbread Gold Cups. He died in 1975.
Mill House still has among the highest ratings ever for a National Hunt horse - see Timeform.
References
irish bred,irish ridden,pre-trained in ireland
Categories:- Racehorse stubs
- 1957 racehorse births
- Cheltenham Gold Cup winners
- Cheltenham Festival winners
- Thoroughbred racehorses
- National Hunt racehorses
- Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
- British racehorses
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