Arkle
| 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 |
| 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) Gallaher Gold Cup (1965) Punchestown Gold Cup (1963) Powers Gold Cup (1963) SGB Handicap Chase (1966) | |
| Awards | |
| Timeform: rating: 212 | |
| Honours | |
| British Steeplechasing Hall of Fame (1994) Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown Song 'Arkle' by Dominic Behan Irish postage stamp (1981) | |
| Last updated on 14 March 2025 | |
Arkle (19 April 1957 – 31 May 1970) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, Arkle was the grandson of the unbeaten Flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred by Mary Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin, and was born at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath. He was owned by Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, who named him after the mountain Arkle in Sutherland, Scotland, which bordered her Sutherland estate. Trained by Tom Dreaper at Greenogue, Kilsallaghan, in County Dublin, Arkle was ridden during his steeplechasing career by Pat Taaffe.
Arkle won three Cheltenham Gold Cups and a number of other top races before his career was cut short by injury. At 212, his Timeform rating is the highest ever awarded to a steeplechaser.