Horse racing quiz questions: from Cheltenham to the Grand National

Horse racing has been part of British culture for centuries, and it's packed with stories that make for brilliant quiz questions. Whether your crowd are seasoned punters or people who only watch the Grand National once a year, these ten questions cover the big races, legendary horses and famous jockeys that most people will have heard of.

The questions

1How many fences do horses jump in the Grand National at Aintree?

Answer:30(click to reveal)

The course has 16 fences in total, but 14 of them are jumped twice over two laps. The Chair and the Water Jump are only jumped once, bringing the total to 30. The full course stretches over four miles and two and a half furlongs, making it one of the longest and toughest races in the sport. More about the Grand National fences.

2Which horse is the only one to have won the Grand National three times?

Answer:Red Rum(click to reveal)

He won in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and came second in the two years he didn't win. No other horse has managed more than two victories in the race. He was trained by Ginger McCain on the beach at Southport, and his name has become synonymous with the race itself. Red Rum on Wikipedia.

3The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the Cheltenham Festival. Which Irish horse won three consecutive Gold Cups from 1964 to 1966 and is widely considered the greatest steeplechaser of all time?

Answer:Arkle(click to reveal)

He was so dominant that in his final Gold Cup he started at odds of 1/10. The Cheltenham Festival now has a race named after him. His rivalry with Mill House is one of racing's greatest stories. Arkle on Wikipedia.

4In horse racing, how long is a furlong?

Answer:One eighth of a mile (220 yards or about 201 metres)(click to reveal)

The word comes from "furrow length," originally the distance a team of oxen could plough before needing a rest. It's now almost exclusively used in horse racing, where race distances in the UK, Ireland and the US are still measured in miles and furlongs. Furlong on Wikipedia.

5The Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville. It's sometimes called "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports." Over what distance is it run?

Answer:One and a quarter miles (10 furlongs)(click to reveal)

The first Derby took place in 1875 over a longer distance of one and a half miles. It was shortened to the current distance in 1896. Secretariat holds the track record, set in 1973, which still hasn't been beaten. Kentucky Derby on Wikipedia.

6Which jockey rode a record nine Epsom Derby winners between 1954 and 1983?

Answer:Lester Piggott(click to reveal)

His first Derby winner was Never Say Die in 1954, when he was just 18. His ninth and final victory came on Teenoso in 1983. He broke the previous record of six wins, and no jockey has come close to matching his tally since. Lester Piggott on Wikipedia.

7On 28 September 1996, jockey Frankie Dettori achieved a feat at Ascot that's become known as "The Magnificent Seven." What did he do?

Answer:Won all seven races on the card(click to reveal)

The cumulative odds were roughly 25,000 to 1. Bookmakers lost an estimated 40 million pounds on the day, and the BBC interrupted its regular programming to show the final race live. It turned him into a household name overnight. Frankie Dettori on Wikipedia.

8Which flat racehorse, trained by Sir Henry Cecil, retired in 2012 with a perfect record of 14 wins from 14 races?

Answer:Frankel(click to reveal)

He was rated 147 by Timeform, the highest rating in their history. He won ten Group 1 races during his career and was never seriously challenged in most of them. He's now a hugely successful stallion at stud. Frankel on Wikipedia.

9Which jump jockey was champion jockey in Britain for 20 consecutive seasons and rode over 4,000 winners in his career?

Answer:AP McCoy (Sir Anthony McCoy)(click to reveal)

He rode 4,358 winners in total before retiring in 2015. He won the Grand National at his fifteenth attempt in 2010 on Don't Push It, and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year later that same year. Tony McCoy on Wikipedia.

10Ascot Racecourse, home of Royal Ascot each June, was founded in 1711 by which British monarch?

Answer:Queen Anne(click to reveal)

She spotted the open heathland near Windsor Castle and decided it was the perfect place for horses to race. The first meeting took place on 11 August 1711. Royal Ascot is now one of the most famous race meetings in the world, known as much for its dress code and hats as for the racing. Ascot Racecourse on Wikipedia.

---

If you're putting together a sports round, horse racing questions are a good way to mix things up beyond the usual football and cricket. For more sports questions, take a look at our sports quiz questions.