NEXT weekend sees York Racecourse stage the 50th John Smith’s Cup. In the first of a two-part Turf Talk examination of the race, we look back at the last half century.

FROM featherweight victors, to young apprentices, dead-heats and disqualifications – York Racecourse has witnessed every kind of drama in the John Smith’s Cup.

July 11 will see the 50th running of the event, continuing to mark the longest-running Flat race sponsorship in Britain, and another huge crowd will pack into Knavesmire’s stand and terraces.

It’s hard to believe that it was in 1960 that the first Magnet Cup, as it was known until 1998, was staged – with three-year-old filly Fougalle slipping the pack and holding off Billum by a head in a frantic finish.

She was carrying just seven stone that day and needed all of her light weight to claim the £4,125 first prize and give trainer Rupert Beasley another tick in the winner’s column.

Since then, the ten-furlong contest hasn’t just become synonymous as a great race, it has traditionally played host to the season’s biggest attendances.

Outside of Royal Ascot, and the 1945 St Leger, they have never had more people in the grandstands than the 42,578 who turned out two years ago.

Malton’s Richard Fahey is looking for a treble this time around following consecutive victories for Charlie Toyko and Flying Clarets and he is likely to have a strong hand in his bid for a three-timer.

Victory would be the Musley Bank handler’s fourth win, following 20-1 shot Vintage Premium’s 2002 success, in a race which is always at the top of his list of targets.

“The John Smith’s Cup and the Ebor are two races that we love to try to win,” he said. “I’ve targeted the John Smith’s Cup and been lucky enough to win it three times.”

Fahey hasn’t been the only notable local winner of the heritage handicap, which is now worth £150,000.

Peleid, trained by Malton’s Bill Elsey, took the 1973 event before going on to win the Classic St Leger at Doncaster and, in 1983, Bedtime put the bookies to sleep when scooping the 23rd running.

The gelding was trained in Berkshire by Major Dick Hern, then the handler of the Royal horses, and was ridden by leading jockey Willie Carson.

But he was bred and owned by Lord Halifax and the joint favourite, carrying the colours which had seen Shirley Heights scoop a Derby, got the better of Gay Lemur by half a length in a thrilling finish.

Chaumiere is another horse who will take some forgetting in the John Smith’s Cup. After taking victory in 1985, a splendidly timed late burst ensured a double.

It looked hopeless for the five-year-old at the two-furlong marker with jockey Tony Ives seemingly off the pace. But he got through on the inside rail and made up almost three lengths in the last 100 yards to snatch the spoils.

The handicap has also been a birthplace for some sparkling talent.

Frederik Tylicki’s win on Flying Clarets last year propelled him into the big time.

He currently leads the apprentice championship this year, on 28 winners, having scooped nearly £200,000 in prize money.

Jamie Moriarty, another Fahey talent, took the glory the year before on Charlie Tokyo and the race will always have fond memories for Norton trainer Ollie Pears who, as a 17-year-old apprentice, piloted Mr Confusion to glory in 1992.

And there have been other successes.

Arcalis, the 2004 winner ridden by former York-based jockey Robert Winston, went on to win a National Hunt race at the Cheltenham Festival the following year, but Lester Piggott only won the race once – on My Swanee in the 1969 renewal.

It’s a highly competitive race, between tough and top horses, and it will continue in that vein. James Brennan, York Racecourse marketing manager, reckons more legends could be born on July 11.

“In a world where unique is over-used, this really is,” he said.

“No other Flat race has had 50 years of constant sponsorship. North Yorkshire is going for three wins in a row and the 50th running will be huge.

“It has gone on from strength to strength.”