ZABEEL CHAMPION wins the Calvin Houghland Iroquois at record-setting Nashville steeplechase

By AI, Created 4:39 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – ZABEEL CHAMPION won the featured Calvin Houghland Iroquois at the 85th Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, drawing more than 35,000 spectators and claiming $250,000 from a record $730,000 purse. The victory also earned an invitation to the 2027 Cheltenham Festival, giving the horse a chance to compete on one of jump racing’s biggest global stages.

Why it matters: - ZABEEL CHAMPION’s win lifted the Iroquois Steeplechase deeper into elite jump-racing territory. - The race drew more than 35,000 spectators, setting a crowd record for the event. - The winner earned $250,000 from a record $730,000 total purse. - The victory also brought an invitation to the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2027 Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire, England. - The Cheltenham invitation includes travel expenses and opens a rare path to one of the sport’s most elusive double wins.

What happened: - ZABEEL CHAMPION won The Calvin Houghland Iroquois, the featured race of the 85th Iroquois Steeplechase, on Saturday at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. - Sean Clancy of Riverdee Stable owns ZABEEL CHAMPION. - Freddie Proctor rode the horse. - Jack Fisher trained the winner. - The event was sponsored by Bank of America.

The details: - ZABEEL CHAMPION won by inches, according to Dwight Hall, chairman of the Iroquois Steeplechase. - Clancy said the race held deep personal meaning because his father won the Iroquois as a trainer in the 1970s. - Clancy also won the Iroquois twice as a jockey before winning it as an owner. - Riverdee Stable also won The Marcellus Frost, the Sport of Kings Novice Hurdle Stakes, with Ten Strike Racing. - Fisher added another major win to a strong day by capturing both The Marcellus Frost and The Calvin Houghland Iroquois. - The 85th running reinforced the Iroquois Steeplechase’s status as one of the premier and wealthiest events on the National Steeplechase Association circuit. - The invitation to Cheltenham is supported by The Jockey Club U.K. and locally by TVV Capital and Andrew Byrd, founder and CEO. - No horse has yet won both the Cheltenham Festival and the Iroquois Steeplechase. - Complete results and race information are available at NationalSteeplechase.com. - More information is available at IroquoisSteeplechase.org.

Between the lines: - The event is no longer just a regional race day; the crowd size, purse and Cheltenham berth point to a stronger international profile. - Clancy’s ownership win adds a personal storyline to a race already built around tradition and prestige. - Fisher’s double victory underlines his standing among top steeplechase trainers. - The combination of racing, fashion, music and community programming keeps the steeplechase positioned as both a sporting event and a civic fundraiser.

What’s next: - Organizers said the 86th Iroquois Steeplechase is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2027. - ZABEEL CHAMPION’s next major target is the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2027 Cheltenham Festival next March. - The Iroquois Steeplechase has launched Race for the Chase, a multi-year capital campaign to preserve and improve the historic racecourse infrastructure. - Organizers will hold an inaugural golf tournament on Monday, October 19, 2026. - Since 1981, the event has raised more than $12 million for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. - The 2026 event also featured live performances, contests and other trackside traditions, including the Style Contest, Tailgating Contest, Stick Pony Races and Mells Parade of Hounds. - Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt remains the event’s central charitable beneficiary.