BBC SPORT | Other Sports | Horse Racing | Crowning glories of great race

BBC Sport Online's Frank Keogh looks at the history of the King George VI Chase, which takes place on Boxing Day.

Kempton Park's Christmas meeting has established itself as one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar.

Watching some of the sport's top jumping stars provides bleary-eyed National Hunt fans with the perfect hangover cure.

The main attraction of the two-day meeting, which traditionally starts on Boxing Day is the King George VI Chase.

Recent winners

2000 First Gold 5-2

1999 See More Business 5-2 f

1998 Teeton Mill 7-2f

1997 See More Business 10-1

1996 One Man 8-13f

1995 One Man 11-4f

1994 Algan 16-1

1993 Barton Bank 9-2 jt f

1992 The Fellow Evens f

1991 The Fellow 9-4f

1990 Desert Orchid 9-4f

Although first run more than 60 years ago, it was transferred to Boxing Day in 1947 and several fixtures have been claimed by the wintry weather

The King George roll of honour contains some of the most famous names in the game.

It is also a race where multiple winners are commonplace.

See More Business was one of several to rack up a second triumph when winning in 1999.

No horse did more to establish the event as a national attraction than the great Arkle, who dominated the sport in the 1960s.

After triumphing by a distance in 1965, Arkle was a warm favouriute to follow up the following year.

And despite suffering a fractured pedal bone, Arkle struggled over the last two fences and was just overtaken by Dormant with the winning line in sight.

Arkle
Arkle was one of the great winners

It was only the sixth time the great horse had been beaten in a steeplechase, and he struggled to recover.

Other King George winners include favourites such as Wayward Lad, Burrough Hill Lad and One Man.

But surely none are more fondly remembered than Desert Orchid.

Kempton regulars like nothing more than a bold-jumping grey and they do not come more enigmatic than 'Dessie', as he was known.

Grey days

Desert Orchid won the race an unrivalled four times between 1986 and 1990, beating Wayward Lad's record of three wins.

Hats flew into the air as the crowd roared him home. Even those who had not backed the 9-4 favourite could appreciate the achievement.

It was jockey Richard Dunwoody's second win in the race on Desert Orchid.

He also went on to succeed for a record four times, adding dual victories aboard another grey, One Man.

There always appears to be some sort of silver lining at Kempton.

And some of those racing greats can be toasted at one of the nearest watering holes to the track.

Its name? The Grey Horse, of course.