1965 King George VI Chase

Date: Monday 27th December 1965 |
Course: Kempton |
Distance: 3m |
Going: Good |
Winning Time: 6m 9.8s |
Winner: Arkle (Pat Taaffe) [T Dreaper] |
Runners: 4

[@bobbell4461]

Watched it live as a wee boy in the Borders. Arkle and Border hero Freddie cemented a love for three mile chasers that has never dimmed,

[@mickeypip1524]

As a 9 yo my first ever bet was on Freddie @ 1 shilling Last year I read the book on Freddie....happy memories of a time and a beloved horse....(although Freddie did lose me my shilling!)

[@mcculloch29]

I can remember watching this, aged six, with my family. We all loved Arkle, and I have a memory of seeing him before the race, looking at everything around him with such interest and intelligence. My parents realised that Dunkirk had been killed instantly when he fell, and were upset at the loss of such a beautiful horse. I can still remember how we all felt that day. What a mix of emotions. No other sport comes close.

[@philgriffiths2600]

I remember this race too, particularly the loss of Dunkirk, watched with my dad, he was genuinely upset

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

It’s great folk like yourself are keeping the memory of this wonder horse alive by posts like this , I e never seen it before and I can only thank you for your time 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@anthonygee6568]

Dunkirk was a fantastic 2 mile chaser, I shed a tear after what happened to him

[@johnkimber776]

A fantastic race and thank you for posting it. Dunkirk still to today was imo the best two mile chaser ever. He would have beaten Arkle over 2 miles and Arkle would have beaten Dunkirk over 3 miles who was then best. History tells you Arkle and his name will never be forgotten but Dunkirk you were simply a superstar

[@mickeypip1524]

57 years ago...Dad told us that Dunkirk had died....I was barely 9 years old yet I remember that day. His name stays with me after all these years. I had never seen the race until now. Arkle was so special and so were those other horses , they too were heroes to me , giving their all as they did. Dunkirk lives on in my memory , he paid the ultimate price , as racehorses continue to do....and Dunkirk , is still remembered by that little boy.He died instantly, Dad said ...broke his neck...it was so appalling to me. Death was new then , but although Arkle had done what Arkle always did...that afternoon I remember a sadness around the house...

[@ianzanshin5044]

Great to see this. Indeed what a horse, phenomenal chaser! Terrible fall by Dunkirk, how sad. Peter O'Sullevan on great form as usual

[@NickOToole-jb6dm]

Two Icons of Horse Racing ‘ARKLE’ and ‘ SIR PETER O SULLEVAN’ what a memory for Posterity!

[@kurman4749]

I remember watching this race in 1965 and was sad to see Dunkirk fall and later informed that he had died. Dunkirk had won what was then the Two Mile Champion Chase and is now the QMCC. Dunkirk was running over a distance that he had never attempted before.

[@mikehopkins4040]

Such a small field but still a great great horse.

[@paulallen1539]

Love the camera shots when they cross the old sprint track, didn't know that rounding the bend out into the country that the hurdles were on the inside of the chase course. Shocking fall from Dunkirk when upsides the Greatest.

[@arkle1964]

Sadly Dunkirk fell on his neck killing him instantly. However, his trainer Peter Cazalet said after the race that the vet said Dunkirk had a congestion of the lungs which caused the fall.

[@lesblakeman]

Quite simply , the greatest racehorse that has ever lived

[@barbaradyson6951]

Er shows how little you know about steeplchasing.

[@williammitchell9974]

Great Post💯Thanks From🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@waqarkhan25]

someone, please tell me how long did BBC have the right to televise king George VI's chase

[@nancyhammons3594]

Did anyone else think the beginning of the race was a little wonky? They weren't in line with each other, Dunkirk was off to the side and it looked like a little ahead.

[@andymatthews7617]

So sad, god bless dunkirk.

[@112sje]

Interesting archive clip, great to see it for the first time. This was two years before I was born. I never knew the BBC used to televise races from Kempton. Another top class performance from Arkle but where was Mill House ?

[@williamnightingale2285]

BBC televised Kempton until the end of 1979 when ITV did a massive deal with United Racecourses the then owners of Sandown, Epsom and Kempton.

[@112sje]

@@williamnightingale2285 Thank-you for your reply. That explains why Troy was the last Derby winner called home by Peter O'Sullevan. I think both channels did it that year.

[@lennylaa1686]

Wonder if Dunkirk was slightly distracted as Arkle suddenly drew level...and misjudged the jump with disastrous consequencies, very, very sad. Has this ever happened before where a horse has quite literally somersaulted over it's full length?

[@markclitheroe900]

What size crowd was there that day ?

[@MultiArkle]

1969?

[@cttempestwoods5704]

WHAT WERE THE SP ??????

[@espmadrid]

1st Arkle, 1-7F 2nd Dormant, 25-1 3rd Arctic Ocean, 100-1 Fell Dunkirk, 7-1

[@williammitchell9974]

Such A Great post💯Well Done 👍Thanks From🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿