Iroquois Steeplechase Adds International Opportunity

The Iroquois Steeplechase presented by Bank of America is proud to announce an exciting partnership with the Jockey Club UK. This collaboration will see the 2025 winner of the Calvin Houghland Iroquois, a Grade 1 hurdle stakes race with a $200,000 purse, be invited and receive free entry for the prestigious Stayers' Hurdle Grade 1 National Hunt Hurdle Race at the Cheltenham Festival in 2026. This cross-Atlantic race linkup has long been a dream of racing enthusiasts on both sides of the pond. 

The 2025 Calvin Houghland Iroquois winner will need a rating of 130 or higher to qualify in Cheltenham, with free entry and a generous travel incentive provided by the Jockey Club to support participation. In addition, it is also announced today that Snap Decision, owned by Bruton Street-US, the three-time winner of the Calvin Houghland Iroquois, (in 2021, 2022 and 2024), has been invited to participate in the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle.

The tradition of pursuing an Iroquois/Cheltenham double began in 1987 when Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Shepard sent Eclipse Champion Flatterer to Cheltenham for a try at the Champion Hurdle. Flatterer narrowly missed the honor of being the first horse to accomplish an Iroquois/Cheltenham Festival double, finishing second in the Champion Hurdle before winning the Iroquois Steeplechase that same year. 

In more recent times, the Willie Mullins-trained Nichols Canyon was third in the Iroquois in 2016 before landing the 2017 Stayers' Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival.

"We couldn't be more grateful to our friends and partners at the Jockey Club UK for this generous and meaningful opportunity," said Iroquois Steeplechase Chairman, Dwight Hall. "The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of jump racing, and to have both Snap Decision, following his historic third victory in the Calvin Houghland Iroquois, and our 2025 winner invited to race at this storied event highlights the caliber of horses competing. This partnership underscores the strength of the relationship between our two prestigious events."

This partnership is made possible by the steadfast support of TVV Capital, led by Andrew Byrd, whose long-standing dedication to the Iroquois Steeplechase has championed both our local community and international efforts.

Ian Renton, The Jockey Club's Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, said: "The link between Cheltenham, the Home of Jump Racing in the UK, and US Jump Racing is strong and stretches way back to the likes of Flatterer, runner-up in the 1987 Champion Hurdle, and Lonesome Glory, who created history by becoming the first US-trained winner of a Jump race in the UK when successful at Cheltenham in 1992 as part of the Sport Of Kings Challenge.