Lincoln Handicap
2026
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2005
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2002
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2000-1991
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1999
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1998
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1997
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1996
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1995
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1993
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1992
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1991
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1990-1988
1990
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1989
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1988
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The Lincoln Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) at Doncaster in late March or early April.

It is traditionally the feature event on the first Saturday of Britain's turf flat racing season. It usually takes place one or two weeks before the Grand National, and for betting purposes the two races form the Spring Double. The only jockey to have ever won both legs was Dave Dick in 1956.

History

An event called the Lincolnshire Handicap was established at Lincoln in 1849. It was run over a distance of 2 miles in August.

The venue introduced the Lincoln Spring Handicap at a new fixture in March 1853. The first two runnings were over 1½ miles, and it was shortened to a mile in 1855. The summer race ended when the meeting was temporarily discontinued in the 1850s. The spring version was renamed the Lincolnshire Handicap in 1860.

The race continued to be held at Lincoln until 1964. It was transferred to Doncaster in 1965, following the closure of its former venue. From this point it was known as the Lincoln Handicap.

The bookmaker William Hill supported the Lincoln Handicap for several years prior to 1997. The company started a new period of sponsorship in 2006 which ran until 2014, and from 2015 to 2017 the race was sponsored by the bookmakers Betway. In 2018, it was sponsored by 32Red and since 2019 Unibet have sponsored the race.

The names of the winning horses from 1926 (King of Clubs) to 1937 (Marmaduke Jinks) are used in the Waddingtons board game Totopoly.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Ob – 1906, 1907
  • Babur – 1957, 1958

Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Charlie MaidmentIndigestion (1868), Royal Rake (1870), Guy Dayrell (1872), Vestminster (1873)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

  • William Haggas - High Low (1992), Very Wise (2007), Penitent (2010), Addeybb (2018), Godwinson (2025)

Winners since 1960

  • Weights given in stones and pounds.
YearWinnerAgeWeightJockeyTrainerSPTime
1960Mustavon56-13Norman McIntoshSam Hall10088/11:39.80
1961Johns Court67-07Brian LeeEric Cousins102525/11:38.80
1962Hill Royal47-09Joe SimeEric Cousins105050/11:43.80
1963Monawin87-09Joe SimeR Mason102525/11:43.60
1964Mighty Gurkha57-08Peter RobinsonTed Lambton103333/11:45.60
1965Old Tom68-07Scobie BreasleyPeter Easterby102222/11:47.00
1966Riot Act48-03Scobie BreasleyF Armstrong10088/1 F1:41.20
1967Ben Novus57-10P RobinsonW Hide102222/11:38.80
1968Frankincense49-05Greville StarkeyJohn Oxley1012.5100/81:42.80
1969Foggy Bell47-11Sandy BarclayDenys Smith102020/11:42.20
1970New Chapter48-01Sandy BarclayF Armstrong1011.1111111111100/91:42.40
1971Double Cream48-09Edward HideBill Elsey103030/11:39.80
1972Sovereign Bill68-12Edward HidePeter Robinson1004.59/2 F1:41.10
1973Bronze Hill47-09Mark BirchPeter Easterby105050/11:39.70
1974Quizair67-13Taffy ThomasRyan Jarvis102828/11:43.27
1975Southwark Star47-03Richard FoxG Peter-Hoblyn103333/11:47.39
1976The Hertford58-06Geoff LewisBrian Swift102020/11:42.50
1977Blustery57-11D McKayR Smyly102020/11:45.53
1978Captain's Wings57-10M WighamRon Boss1006.513/2 F1:38.59
1979Fair Season58-10Greville StarkeyIan Balding10088/11:43.57
1980King's Ride48-12Geoff BaxterBill Wightman101010/11:44.40
1981Saher58-12Ray CochraneRon Sheather101414/11:45.23
1982King's Glory48-03Bryn CrossleyPhilip Mitchell101111/11:40.31
1983Mighty Fly48-04Steve CauthenDavid Elsworth101414/11:42.75
1984Saving Mercy48-09Walter SwinburnDermot Weld101414/11:47.93
1985Cataldi49-10Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood101010/11:47.65
1986K-Battery58-04John LoweBill Elsey102525/11:44.64
1987Star of a Gunner78-08John ReidRichard Holder10099/11:45.04
1988Cuvee Charlie48-01Mark RimmerHugh Collingridge103333/11:46.00
1989Fact Finder57-09Tyrone WilliamsReg Akehurst102020/11:37.48
1990Evichstar67-12Alan MunroJimmy FitzGerald103333/11:38.90
1991Amenable68-01Alex GreavesDavid Barron102222/11:42.75
1992High Low48-00Jimmy QuinnWilliam Haggas101616/11:42.74
1993High Premium58-08Kieren FallonLynda Ramsden101616/11:37.90
1994Our Rita58-05Darryll HollandDr Jon Scargill101616/11:37.97
1995Roving Minstrel48-03Kevin DarleyBryan McMahon103333/11:40.11
1996Stone Ridge48-07Dane O'NeillRichard Hannon Sr.103333/11:44.67
1997Kuala Lipis48-06Richard QuinnPaul Cole101111/11:39.02
1998Hunters of Brora89-00Jason WeaverJames Bethell101616/11:41.60
1999Right Wing59-05Richard QuinnJohn Dunlop1004.59/2 F1:41.60
2000John Ferneley58-10Jimmy FortunePaul Cole10077/1 JF1:41.12
2001Nimello58-09Jimmy FortunePaul Cole1004.59/2 F1:46.68
2002Zucchero68-13Simon WhitworthDavid Arbuthnot103333/11:45.44
2003Pablo48-11Michael HillsBarry Hills10055/11:39.18
2004Babodana49-10Philip RobinsonMark Tompkins102020/11:40.15
2005Stream of Gold49-00Robert WinstonSir Michael Stoute10055/1 F1:38.18
2006Blythe Knight68-10Graham GibbonsJohn Quinn102222/11:44.33
2007Very Wise58-11Joe FanningWilliam Haggas10099/11:46.18
2008Smokey Oakey48-09Jimmy QuinnMark Tompkins101010/11:42.38
2009Expresso Star48-12Jimmy FortuneJohn Gosden1003.333333333310/3 F1:36.51
2010Penitent49-02Johnny MurtaghWilliam Haggas10033/1 F1:43.31
2011Sweet Lightning69-04Johnny MurtaghMichael Dods101616/11:38.38
2012Brae Hill69-01Tony HamiltonRichard Fahey102525/11:37.36
2013Levitate58-04Darren EganJohn Quinn102020/11:41.91
2014Ocean Tempest59-03Adam KirbyJohn Ryan102020/11:40.17
2015Gabrial69-00Tony HamiltonRichard Fahey101212/11:39.62
2016Secret Brief49-04William BuickCharlie Appleby101212/11:46.25
2017Bravery49-01Daniel TudhopeDavid O'Meara102020/11:38.38
2018Addeybb49-02James DoyleWilliam Haggas10055/11:43.56
2019Auxerre49-02James DoyleCharlie Appleby1002.55/2 F1:36.82
no race 2020
2021Haqeeqy48-12Benoit de la SayetteJohn & Thady Gosden1004.59/21:38.26
2022Johan59-04Silvestre de SousaMick Channon102828/11:37.34
2023Migration79-09Benoit de la SayetteDavid Menuisier101818/11:47.86
2024Mr Professor58-08David EganDominic Ffrench Davis103333/11:44.00
2025Godwinson59-04Cieren FallonWilliam Haggas1007.515/21:40.09
2026Urban Lion59-06Edward GreatrexJack Channon10099/11:41.26

Earlier winners

  • 1853: Caurire
  • 1854: Georgey
  • 1855: Saucebox
  • 1856: Flageolet
  • 1857: Huntingdon
  • 1858: Vandermulin
  • 1859: Bel Esperanza
  • 1860: Vigo
  • 1861: Benbow
  • 1862: Suburban
  • 1863: Manrico
  • 1864: Benjamin
  • 1865: Gaily
  • 1866: Treasure Trove
  • 1867: Vandervelde
  • 1868: Indigestion
  • 1869: Sycee
  • 1870: Royal Rake
  • 1871: Vulcan
  • 1872: Guy Dayrell
  • 1873: Vestminster
  • 1874: Tomahawk
  • 1875: The Gunner
  • 1876: Controversy
  • 1877: Footstep
  • 1878: Kaleidoscope
  • 1879: Touchet
  • 1880: Rosy Cross
  • 1881: Buchanan
  • 1882: Poulet
  • 1883: Knight of Burghley
  • 1884: Tonans
  • 1885: Bendigo
  • 1886: Fulmen
  • 1887: Oberon
  • 1888: Veracity
  • 1889: Wise Man
  • 1890: The Rejected
  • 1891: Lord George
  • 1892: Clarence
  • 1893: Wolf's Crag
  • 1894: Le Nicham
  • 1895: Euclid
  • 1896: Clorane
  • 1897: Winkfield's Pride
  • 1898: Prince Barcaldine
  • 1899: General Peace
  • 1900: Sir Geoffrey
  • 1901: Little Eva
  • 1902: St Maclou
  • 1903: Over Norton
  • 1904: Uninsured
  • 1905: Sansovino
  • 1906: Ob
  • 1907: Ob
  • 1908: Kaffir Chief
  • 1909: Duke of Sparta
  • 1910: Cinderello
  • 1911: Mercutio
  • 1912: Long Set
  • 1913: Berrilldon
  • 1914: Outram
  • 1915: View Law
  • 1916: Clap Gate *
  • 1917–18: no race
  • 1919: Royal Bucks
  • 1920: Furious
  • 1921: Soranus
  • 1922: Granely
  • 1923: White Bud
  • 1924: Sir Gallahad
  • 1925: Tapin
  • 1926: King of Clubs
  • 1927: Priory Park
  • 1928: Dark Warrior
  • 1929: Elton
  • 1930: Leonidas
  • 1931: Knight Error
  • 1932: Jerome Fandor
  • 1933: Dorigen
  • 1934: Play On
  • 1935: Flamenco
  • 1936: Over Coat
  • 1937: Marmaduke Jinks
  • 1938: Phakos
  • 1939: Squadron Castle
  • 1940: Quartier-Maitre
  • 1941: Gloaming
  • 1942: Cuerdley **
  • 1943: Lady Electra **
  • 1944: Backbite **
  • 1945: Double Harness**
  • 1946: Langton Abbot
  • 1947: Jockey Treble
  • 1948: Commissar
  • 1949: Fair Judgement
  • 1950: Dramatic
  • 1951: Barnes Park
  • 1952: Phariza
  • 1953: Sailing Light
  • 1954: Nahar
  • 1955: Military Court
  • 1956: Three Star
  • 1957: Babur
  • 1958: Babur
  • 1959: Marshal Pil

* The 1916 running took place at Lingfield Park. ** The 1942 run as "Northern Lincoln", 1943, 1944 and 1945 (run as "Substitute Lincoln") editions were held at Pontefract.

Broadcasters

Network TV

  • BBC Television televised the race from 1959 to 1964 inclusive.
  • ITV televised from 1965-1985 and 2017–present
  • Channel 4 televised from 1986-2016

Pay TV

  • The Racing Channel 1995-2002
  • Racing UK showed it in 2005-2006
  • At The Races/Sky Sports Racing 2003-2004 and 2007–present

See also

  • Paris-Turf: ., ., .
  • Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

External links

  • Race Recordings (1973, 1974, 1978, 1982-1984, 1986-2004)
  • Lincoln Handicap (Lincolnshire Handicap).
  • Lincoln(shire) Handicap – Doncaster.
  • Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 10–12. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.
  • Waterman, Jack (1987). The Punter's Friend - A Guide To Betting. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 150. ISBN 0356121070.