Golden Miller (1927–1957) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who is the most successful Cheltenham Gold Cup horse ever, winning the race in five consecutive years between 1932 and 1936.
He also is the only horse to win both of the United Kingdom's premier steeplechase races - the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National - in the same year (1934).
[2][3] Golden Miller had already changed hands a couple of times when a young trainer from Longstowe, Cambridgeshire, Basil Briscoe, bought him for 500 guineas.
The new owner died soon afterwards and Golden Miller was sold for £6,000 to Miss Dorothy Paget, who had just engaged Basil Briscoe as her private trainer.
In 1931, Golden Miller made his steeplechasing debut at Newbury where he finished first, only to be disqualified for carrying incorrect weight.
Fifty-six horses fell during the three days, and an amateur rider, Count Louis Bernheim, was killed when Summer Song came down.
In "The History of Steeplechasing", published in 1966, Roger Mortimer comments that "It took some little time for the racing public to accept Golden Miller as the great horse that he was because he lacked the almost insolent panache of Easter Hero.
His class and cleverness, combined with courage and stamina, earned him one Grand National, but in fact he was essentially a park course type.
Cheltenham was a track that suited him to perfection, his long stride and apparently boundless stamina earning a rich dividend in that stiff uphill climb to the winning post."
Seventeen days later Golden Miller put up the finest performance of his career by winning the Grand National in record time with 12 st 2lbs.
There was a fierce tussle up the run in, but Golden Miller managed to win his fourth Gold Cup by three quarters of a length.
Roger Mortimer comments that, "It was the hardest race of Golden Miller's career and his light never shone so brightly again."
In the same month, carrying 12 st 10 lbs and ridden by Gerry Wilson, he won a two-mile chase at Newbury in great style.
In the aftermath of this race it was announced that Evan Williams would ride Golden Miller in the Gold Cup instead of Gerry Wilson.
Golden Miller's task in the Gold Cup was made easier by Thomond II's absence, and he started at 21/20 favourite.
[5] In 1937 there was no Cheltenham Gold Cup because of the weather, so Golden Miller had to wait until 1938 to attempt to win it for the sixth time.
At the 10th fence, the one after Valentine's, he screwed badly to the left taking off (some thought he tried to refuse) and landed awkwardly, parting company with Gerry Wilson.
The horse's owner, Dorothy Paget and jockey Gerry Wilson had a less than amicable relationship with the trainer, Basil Briscoe.
Miss Paget moved Golden Miller again, in August 1935 to Owen Anthony, where he statyed for the rest of his racing career.
Reynoldstown (10/1) won his second successive Grand National carrying 12st 2 lbs, this time ridden by Mr Fulke Walwyn.