December Gold Cup prize money
The December Gold Cup is worth £125,000 for the 2025 running , £71,188 of it to the winner . That makes it the 551st richest of the 997 races on this site and the 44th richest in Great Britain.
Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the December Gold Cup is
Premier Handicap · 2m 4f 127y (4,139 metres) · Turf · Cheltenham Racecourse
- Racecourse
- Cheltenham Racecourse
- Country
- Great Britain
- Grade
- Premier Handicap
- Distance
- 2m 4f 127y (4,139 metres)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Steeplechase
- Open to
- Four-years-old and up
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1963
The winner takes 57% of the fund. The remaining £53,812 is shared between the horses behind, on a scale the racecourse sets race by race rather than a fixed one.
Where the December Gold Cup prize money goes
the British Horseracing Authority sets the shares, and the December Gold Cup is jumps racing
| Who takes it | Share of the fund | Out of this purse |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | 78.25% | £97,813 |
| Trainer | 7.85% | £9,813 |
| Jockey | 7.52% | £9,400 |
| Stable staff | 4.75% | £5,938 |
| Industry causes | 1.63% | £2,038 |
Every share here is a percentage of the £125,000 fund rather than of the winner's cheque, and the rider's figure covers the whole field rather than the winning rider alone. The same rule pays every race in the country, and where a purse goes in Great Britain works it out across all of them.
Every December Gold Cup winner
55 runnings, 1963 to 2025, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Glengouly9 | Sean Bowen | Faye Bramley |
| 2024 | Gemirande8 | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams |
| 2023 | Fugitif8 | Gavin Sheehan | Richard Hobson |
| 2021 | Coole Cody10 | Adam Wedge | Evan Williams |
| 2020 | Chatham Street Lad8 | Darragh O'Keeffe | Michael Winters |
| 2019 | Warthog7 | David Noonan | David Pipe |
| 2018 | Frodon6 | Bryony Frost | Paul Nicholls |
| 2017 | Guitar Pete7 | Ryan Day | Nicky Richards |
| 2016 | Frodon4 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
| 2015 | Village Vic8 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2014 | Niceonefrankie8 | Aidan Coleman | Venetia Williams |
| 2013 | Double Ross7 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2012 | Unioniste4 | Harry Derham | Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | Quantitativeeasing6 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2010 | Poquelin7 | Ian Popham | Paul Nicholls |
| 2009 | Poquelin6 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2007 | Tamarinbleu7 | Denis O'Regan | David Pipe |
| 2006 | Exotic Dancer6 | Tony Dobbin | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2005 | Sir Oj8 | Paul Carberry | Noel Meade |
| 2004 | Monkerhostin7 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2003 | Iris Royal7 | Mick Fitzgerald | Nicky Henderson |
| 2002 | Fondmort6 | Mick Fitzgerald | Nicky Henderson |
| 2000 | Go Roger Go8 | Norman Williamson | Edward O'Grady |
| 1999 | Legal Right6 | Richard Johnson | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 1998 | Northern Starlight7 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 1997 | Senor El Betrutti8 | Graham Bradley | Susan Nock |
| 1996 | Addington Boy8 | Tony Dobbin | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1994 | Dublin Flyer8 | Brendan Powell | Tim Forster |
| 1993 | Fragrant Dawn9 | Declan Murphy | Martin Pipe |
| 1992 | Another Coral9 | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson |
| 1991 | Kings Fountain8 | Anthony Tory | Kim Bailey |
| 1989 | Clever Folly9 | Neale Doughty | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1988 | Pegwell Bay7 | Brendan Powell | Tim Forster |
| 1987 | Bishops Yarn8 | Richard Guest | Toby Balding |
| 1986 | Oregon Trail6 | Ronnie Beggan | Simon Christian |
| 1985 | Combs Ditch9 | Colin Brown | David Elsworth |
| 1984 | Beau Ranger6 | John Hurst | John Thorne |
| 1983 | Fifty Dollars More8 | Richard Linley | Fred Winter |
| 1982 | Observe6 | John Francome | Fred Winter |
| 1980 | Bueche Giorod9 | Bryan Smart | Jenny Pitman |
| 1979 | Father Delaney7 | Alan Brown | Peter Easterby |
| 1978 | The Snipe8 | Anthony Webber | John Webber |
| 1977 | Even Melody8 | Colin Hawkins | Neville Crump |
| 1975 | Easby Abbey8 | Ron Barry | Peter Easterby |
| 1974 | Garnishee10 | David Mould | Harry Thomson Jones |
| 1973 | Pendil8 | Richard Pitman | Fred Winter |
| 1972 | Arctic Bow7 | Andrew Turnell | Bob Turnell |
| 1971 | Leap Frog7 | Val O'Brien | Tom Dreaper |
| 1970 | Simian8 | David Moore | Auriol Sinclair |
| 1969 | Titus Oates7 | Ron Barry | Gordon W. Richards |
| 1968 | Tassilo10 | Aly Branford | Fulke Walwyn |
| 1966 | The Laird5 | Jeff King | Bob Turnell |
| 1965 | Flyingbolt6 | Pat Taaffe | Tom Dreaper |
| 1964 | Flying Wild8 | Tommy Carberry | Dan Moore |
| 1963 | Limeking6 | Toss Taaffe | Danny Morgan |
55 of the 55 runnings name the rider, 55 name the trainer and 0 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the December Gold Cup more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a trainer
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Frodon | 2 | 2016, 2018 |
| Poquelin | 2 | 2009, 2010 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of the December Gold Cup in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 541 | Swale StakesGulfstream Park | United States | £131,579 | $175,000 |
| 542 | Mehl-Mülhens-RennenWeidenpesch Racecourse | Germany | £130,769 | €153,000 |
| 543 | Christmas HurdleKempton Park, | Great Britain | £130,000 | £130,000 |
| 544 | Grosser Preis von BayernMunich Racecourse | Germany | £128,205 | €150,000 |
| 545 | Begonia Belle StakesFlemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | £126,984 | AU$240,000 |
| 546 | Caulfield ClassicCaulfield Racecourse | Australia | £126,984 | AU$240,000 |
| 547 | Chatham StakesFlemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | £126,984 | AU$240,000 |
| 548 | JRA CupMoonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | £126,984 | AU$240,000 |
| 549 | Ladies Day VaseCaulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | £126,984 | AU$240,000 |
| 550 | Northwood Plume StakesCaulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Australia | £126,984 | AU$240,000 |
| 552 | Golden Miller Novices' ChaseCheltenham Racecourse | Great Britain | £125,000 | £125,000 |
| 553 | Long Walk HurdleAscot Racecourse | Great Britain | £125,000 | £125,000 |
| 554 | Sandy Lane StakesHaydock Park | Great Britain | £125,000 | £125,000 |
| 555 | David Nicholson Mares' HurdleCheltenham Racecourse | Great Britain | £124,200 | £124,200 |
| 557 | Maghull Novices' ChaseAintree Racecourse | Great Britain | £120,000 | £120,000 |
| 558 | Manifesto Novices' ChaseAintree Racecourse | Great Britain | £120,000 | £120,000 |
| 559 | Sun Racing Plate Handicap ChaseCheltenham Racecourse | Great Britain | £120,000 | £120,000 |
| 561 | The Cummings StakesMorphettville Racecourse, Adelaide, Australia | Australia | £116,402 | AU$220,000 |
| 562 | Jebel Ali MileJebel Ali Racecourse | United Arab Emirates | £115,978 | AED 575,000 |
| 563 | Fighting Fifth HurdleNewcastle Racecourse | Great Britain | £115,000 | £115,000 |
The 20 races closest to the December Gold Cup in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in Great Britain
122 races, 44th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Cheltenham Racecourse | Grade 1 | £150,000 |
| Triumph Hurdle | Cheltenham Racecourse | Grade 1 | £150,000 |
| Chester Vase | Chester Racecourse | Group 3 | £140,000 |
| Christmas Hurdle | Kempton Park, | Grade 1 | £130,000 |
| Golden Miller Novices' Chase | Cheltenham Racecourse | Grade Two | £125,000 |
| Long Walk Hurdle | Ascot Racecourse | Grade 1 | £125,000 |
| Sandy Lane Stakes | Haydock Park | Group 2 | £125,000 |
| David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Cheltenham Racecourse | Grade 1 | £124,200 |
Every race in Great Britain we hold a purse for is on the Great Britain prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the December Gold Cup winner get?
£71,188. That is 57% of the £125,000 the December Gold Cup is worth, and the rest is shared down the field.
What is the total December Gold Cup prize money?
£125,000, for the 2025 running.
Where does the December Gold Cup rank among the richest races in the world?
551st of 997. 550 races pay more, the nearest of them Swale Stakes. In Great Britain it is 44th of 122.
Which horse has won the December Gold Cup most often?
Frodon, 2 times, in 2016, 2018.
Which jockey has won the December Gold Cup most often?
Richard Johnson, with 3 wins between 1999 and 2015.
When was the December Gold Cup first run?
1963. This page holds 55 runnings, from 1963 to 2025.
How far is the December Gold Cup?
2m 4f 127y (4,139 metres), on turf, at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money