It’s the 2023 Shergar Cup, from Ascot racecourse, this Saturday (12th August) and even though it’s a bit of a ‘marmite’ fixture for horse racing fans, we’ve put together a guide ahead of the 2023 Shergar Cup renewal.
Meet the teams, the captains and learn how the Shergar Cup – a horse racing team event – works. Plus we’ve also got the race times and schedule for Saturday’s big Ascot meeting – with all six races LIVE on ITV4.
What Is The Shergar Cup?……. A Brief History Of The Ascot Meeting
The Shergar Cup was put together by the BHB (British Horse Racing Board), with the aim to create a horse racing event with a similar format to the Ryder Cup in golf.
First staged back in 1999 and at Goodwood racecourse, the event was originally competed by just two teams with horses owned in Europe against those owned in the Middle East.
In 2000, the Shergar Cup was then moved to Ascot racecourse – it’s home ever since.
It was between 2001 and 2004 that the format changed slightly from the ownership of the horses to the jockeys.
This led to teams being set up consisting of riders from Great Britain and Ireland taking on jockeys from the Rest of The World, which gave the event a more international appeal and attracted viewers from all around the globe.
Named After The Legendary Shergar
The event is also named after the legendary Shergar, who was famously stolen in 1983. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by the Aga Khan, the horse won the Epsom and Irish Derby in 1981 and also the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the home of the Shergar Cup – Ascot.
Jockeys Score Points For Their Shergar Cup Team Depending On Where They Finish
The jockeys would then score points for their teams based on where they finished in each race over the one-day meeting (see below how the points are awarded).
The points were totted-up after each race with an in-running league table shown in between races to keep the crowd entertained – with the team with the most points after the final race declared the Shergar Cup winners.
Then, since 2012, the competition evolved with four teams being created that consisted of Great Britain/Ireland, Rest Of The World, Europe and a fourth team ‘The Girls’ made up with lady riders from anywhere in the world. (meet the 2023 Shergar Cup teams below)
The Shergar Cup now fills a slight void in the UK horse racing calendar at the start of August each year and sits between Glorious Goodwood and the York Ebor Festival.
The 2023 Shergar Cup will be the 22nd renewal on the event and will be shown LIVE on ITV4 (Saturday, 12th August 2023).
Frankie Dettori Will Ride At The Shergar Cup For The Final Time
A lot of the Shergar Cup 2023 focus will also be on popular jockey Frankie Dettori, who will be riding in the event for the final time.
Dettori announced his retirement from riding last year – saying this season will be his last.
Frankie will captain the Europe team as part of his farewell tour and over the years has been the winning captain four times (2001, 2003, 2004 and 2014).
See the Frankie Dettori Shergar Cup rides here
Hayley Turner Will Race For The Girls Team For a 16th Time
Top lady rider Hayley Turner has been a regular at the Shergar Cup over the years too and she’s back for more in 2023 – for a record-extending 16th time.
Turner will again captain the Girls team and she’ll also be looking to win the ‘Silver Saddle’ for a third time having been top jockey in 2018 and 2019.
Hollie Doyle and Saffie Osborne will join Hayley Turner on the Girls Team in 2023.
When Is The 2023 Shergar Cup?
🕙Time: First Race 1:35pm, Last Race 4:30pm
📅Date: Saturday 12th Aug 2023
🏇Racecourse: Ascot
📺 TV: Sky Racing /ITV4
DID YOU KNOW? The Girls team have finished first in 4 of the last 7 Shergar Cups
How Does The Shergar Cup Work?
- Each Jockey Rides In Five Races
- Each Team Has Either 2 or 3 Jockeys Riding In A Race (balanced out over the races)
- Points Are Given To Each Jockey Based On Where They Finish In The Race
- Points Are For The First Five Places: 1st 15, 2nd 10, 3rd 7, 4th 5, and 5th 3
- Fields Are Limited To 10 Horses (and 2 reserves) – (first 5 home will get points)
- League Table Is Updated After Each Race
- The Team With The Highest Points After The Last Race Wins The Shergar Cup
- A ‘Silver Saddle’ Award (plus £3,000) Is Also Given To The Jockey With The Most Points
Meet The 2023 Shergar Cup Teams, Jockeys and Captains
The 2023 Shergar Cup four teams will each have a captain, plus three other riders. This year’s event has a true international feel with jockeys riding from all around the world.
2023 Shergar Cup Teams
- GIRLS – Hayley Turner (Capt), Hollie Doyle, Saffie Osborne
- GREAT BRITAIN/IRELAND – Luke Morris (Capt), Tom Marquand, Declan McDonogh
- EUROPE – Frankie Dettori (Capt), Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, Olivier Peslier
- REST OF THE WORLD – Vincent Ho (Capt), Joao Moreira, Kazuo Yokoyama
RELATED: Free NAP of The Day – Today’s Horse Racing
2023 Shergar Cup Race Names, Times and Schedule (Ascot Racecourse)
- 1:35 – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 5f ITV4
- 2:10 – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 2m ITV4
- 2:45 – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 1m4f ITV4
- 3:20 – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m ITV4
- 3:55 – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) Cl3 (3yo 0-95) 1m4f ITV4
- 4:30 – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo 0-100) 6f ITV4
Recent Shergar Cup Winners
- 2022 – Great Britain and Ireland (Capt, Jamie Spencer) – 132 Points
- 2021 – Girls (Capt, Hayley Turner) – 69 Points
- 2020 – Not Held
- 2019 – Rest Of The World (Capt, Yuga Kawada) – 86 Points
- 2018 – Girls (Capt, Josephine Gordon) – 76 Points
- 2017 Great Britain and Ireland (Capt, Jamie Spencer) – 86 Points
- 2016 Rest of the World (Capt, Silvestre de Sousa) – 68 Points
- 2015 Girls (Capt, Emma-Jayne Wilson) – 69 Points
- 2014 Europe (Capt, Frankie Dettori) – 69 Points
- 2013 Europe (Capt, Gérald Mossé) – 97 Points
- 2012 Rest of the World (Capt, Yutaka Take) – 89 Points
Shergar Cup Silver Saddle Winners (Top Jockey)
- 2022 – Neil Callan – 50 Pts
- 2021 – Nicola Currie – 47 pts
- 2020 – Not held
- 2019 – Hayley Turner – 40 pts
- 2018 – Hayley Turner – 39 pts
- 2017 – Fran Berry – 37 pts
- 2016 – Thierry Jarnet – 38 pts
- 2015 – Sammy Jo Bell – 42 pts
RELATED: Top Free Horse Racing Tips & Advice for UK Betting Today
WATCH: The 2022 Shergar Cup Highlights
Related Horse Racing Content:
- Best Horse Racing Free Bets Offers at UK Sportsbooks – Top Horse Racing Bonuses for 2023
- Top Free Horse Racing Tips & Advice for UK Betting Today
- Free NAP of The Day – Today’s Horse Racing NAPs
- Free Horse Racing Lucky 15 Tips for Today – Best Lucky 15 Bet Today
- Today’s Racecards – View Horse Racing Cards Today
- Horse Racing Results Today – See All Recent Race Results & Winners
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
