Crystal Cup (steeplechasing)

The Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge is an annual series of steeplechase horse races in Europe. The series was introduced in 2010 although most of the individual races are much older.[1]

Points are awarded to the first six finishers in each race, with bonuses for horses from abroad and for the final race. The main prize is for the trainer whose stable's horses have accumulated the most points, with additional trophies for the top horse and top jockey.[1]

Races in the Crystal Cup series[2]
Race Course Country Date Prize fund (€) Notes
Grand Cross de Pau Reverdy (Prix Gaston de Bataille) Pau France February 70,000
Cross Country Chase[3] Cheltenham England March 74,000 During the Cheltenham Festival
Grand Steeple-Chase Cross Country de Fontainebleau Fontainebleau France April 40,000
Anjou-Loire Challenge Le Lion-d'Angers France May 112,000
Crystal Cup Partynice Wrocław Wrocław Poland June 40,000 Associate member 2016, full member 2017
Grand Steeple-Chase des Flandres Waregem Belgium August/September 100,000
Grand Cross de Craon Craon France September 75,000
Gran Premio Merano Merano Italy September 40,000
Velká pardubická Pardubice Czech Republic October 178,000
Grand Steeple Chase-Cross-Country de Compiègne Compiègne France November 40,000
Cross Country Handicap Chase[3] Cheltenham England December 48,000 During the International Hurdle meeting
Races formerly part of the Crystal Cup
La Touche Cup Punchestown Ireland April 28,500 (2016)[4] Member 2010[1]–2016[5]
Crystal Cup Cross-Country Challenge Frauenfeld Switzerland May 33,000 (2015)[6] Member 2015[7]–2016[5]
  1. ^ a b c Schlesinger, Victoria (9 November 2009). "Launch of European jump racing series". International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Crystal Cup 2018 Meetings". Crystal Cup. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Four nations represented in tomorrow's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase as Crystal Cup concludes". The JockeyClub. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Punchestown (IRE) FBD Cross Country Chase for the La Touche Cup". Racing Post. 28 Apr 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge 2016". racingbetter.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Prix Crystal Cup Cross Country Challenge 2015 Partants et Pronostics - FRAUENFELD - Réunion n°5 Course n°6 - Lundi 25 Mai 2015". turfomania.fr. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  7. ^ Müller, Christoph (May 2015). "Trois questions à...". Jour de Galop (in French). Retrieved 21 March 2018.[permanent dead link]