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 at Malahow House
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 (steeplechase) (highest ever given for a steeplechaser)
Honours
British Steeplechasing Hall of Fame (1994) Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown Song 'Arkle' by Dominic Behan Republic of Ireland postage stamp (1981)
Last updated on January 26, 2007

Arkle (19 April 1957 – 31 May 1970) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, Arkle was the grandson of the unbeaten (in 14 races) flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was bred by Mary Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin, Ireland, 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, that bordered her Sutherland estate. Trained by Tom Dreaper at Greenogue, Kilsallaghan, in County Dublin, he 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.