30/07/2025
Haven’t seen this photo of “Himself” before so shared it to keep it.
Arkle: The Irish King of the Steeplechase❤️💥
There was a time, in 1960s Ireland, when pubs would fall silent, roads would empty, and the entire country would turn its eyes to a single figure , a dark bay horse with fierce eyes, proud carriage, and a spirit that could not be broken. His name was Arkle, and he was not just a champion: he was a symbol. A living legend who transcended the limits of sport.
Humble Beginnings, a Destiny Written in Gallop.
Arkle was born in 1957 in County Meath, Ireland. A Thoroughbred of modest pedigree, he was bred by Mary Baker and sired by Archive, out of the mare Bright Cherry. Though his bloodlines weren't especially fashionable, Arkle displayed something different from an early age ,a rare mix of intelligence, courage, and sheer power.
Purchased for just £1,150 guineas by the Duke of Westminster, he was sent into training with the legendary Tom Dreaper. And from that moment, the legend began.
The Horse Who Defied Logic
Arkle competed in National Hunt racing, the grueling world of steeplechase, where horses must combine speed, stamina, and flawless jumping over fences. What set Arkle apart was his ability to win under impossible weights. In handicap races, he often carried two stones (28 lbs or more) more than his rivals , yet still surged to victory.
His greatest triumphs came in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which he won three times in a row: 1964, 1965, and 1966. In 1965, he won by 20 lengths, cruising to the line as if he were in another league. Even his closest competitors seemed to be racing in slow motion when Arkle opened up his famous stride.
He also won the Irish Grand National (1964), the King George VI Chase (1965), and the Whitbread Gold Cup (1965), among others. Against England's best horse, Mill House, he proved supreme , their rivalry culminating in Arkle’s emphatic victory at Cheltenham in 1964, a race still discussed with reverence.
A Nation's Champion
In Ireland, Arkle became much more than a racehorse. He was a national icon. His nickname , “Himself” , was used with reverence. Songs were sung about him, poems were written, and pubs carried his photo like a saint’s portrait.
He was known for his kind temperament off the course , curious, intelligent, and deeply bonded to his groom, Paddy Woods, and trainer Dreaper. It’s said that Arkle would relax only when he heard their voices or felt their familiar hands.
The Injury That Ended It All
In December 1966, during the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, Arkle fractured a pedal bone in his hoof. Incredibly, he still finished second , a testament to his will and heart. But the injury ended his racing career at just nine years old.
He spent his retirement at the Duke of Westminster’s estate, well cared for and visited often by fans and admirers. Arkle passed away peacefully in 1970, aged 13, and was buried at the Irish National Stud in Kildare, where a simple headstone honors his memory.
A Legacy Never Forgotten
Arkle was awarded a Timeform rating of 212 , the highest ever given to a steeplechaser. To this day, no horse has surpassed it.
When people talk about the greatest racehorses of all time, Arkle remains the gold standard , not only for his victories, but for how he inspired a nation. His statue still stands at Cheltenham, and his story is told wherever the love of horses and history meet.
There will never be another Arkle.
whispered across Ireland, the day he died.
