European Free Handicap


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The European Free Handicap was a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It was run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in mid-April. In December 2022 the British Horseracing Authority announced that it would not be run in 2023.

The handicap for the race is based on the European Thoroughbred Rankings, an assessment of the previous season's two-year-olds published in January.

History
Records point to the first running of the race being 1929. It was won by top weight Sir Cosmo carrying 9st. The event was formerly known as the Free Handicap. For a period it was backed by the Tote. The word "European" was added to its title in 1981.

The race served as a trial for various Classics in Europe. The last winner to achieve victory in the 2000 Guineas was Mystiko in 1991. The last participant to win the 1000 Guineas was Harayir, the runner-up in 1995.

Records
Leading jockey since 1968 (8 wins):
 * Pat Eddery – Charlie Bubbles (1974), Lyric Dance (1979), Danehill (1989), Anshan (1990), Pursuit of Love (1992), So Factual (1993), Cayman Kai (1996), Twilight Blues (2002)

Leading trainer since 1968 (5 wins):
 * Richard Hannon Sr. – Bluegrass Prince (1994), Cayman Kai (1996), Cape Town (2000), Kamakiri (2005), Pausanias (2011)

Winners since 1968

 * Weights given in stones and pounds.

Earlier winners

 * 1929: Sir Cosmo
 * 1930: Quothquan
 * 1931:
 * 1932:
 * 1933:
 * 1934:
 * 1935: Knighted
 * 1936: Pay Up
 * 1937: Mid-Day Sun
 * 1938: Lapel
 * 1939: Solar Cloud
 * 1940: Salt Spring
 * 1941: Orthodox
 * 1942: No Race
 * 1943: No Race
 * 1944: Roadhouse
 * 1945: Grandmaster
 * 1946: Cama
 * 1947: Benedictine
 * 1948: Rear Admiral
 * 1949: Spy Legend
 * 1950: The Moke
 * 1951: Wilwyn
 * 1952: Caerlaverock
 * 1953: Good Brandy
 * 1954: Sun Festival
 * 1955: Counsel
 * 1956: Honeylight
 * 1957: Quorum
 * 1958: Faultless Speech
 * 1959: Petite Etoile
 * 1960: Running Blue
 * 1961: Erudite
 * 1962: Privy Councillor
 * 1963: Ros Rock
 * 1964: Port Merion
 * 1965: Short Commons
 * 1966: Kibenka
 * 1967: Supreme Sovereign