[Pedigree Ann]

And it was called that long before the International was dreamed of. The big race was always the Ebor Handicap, with its 20+ -horse field going 14f. Lest we forget, historic open handicaps like this one are not infrequently won by horses of group class, especially 3yos on the way up who get a weight break, like Protection Racket (who went on to Doncaster Cup-G3 and Irish St. Leger-G1 wins in the autumn) and the unfortunate Kneller (who followed his Ebor win with scores in the Doncaster Cup-G3 and Jockey Club Cup-G3). Great favorites like Sea Pigeon, Further Flight, and Sergeant Cecil have won the Ebor.

Back in the earlier part of the 20th century, the snobbishness about "group-type" horses and 'inferior' handicappers was not around (as the group system hadn't been created yet). So 'group 1' winners like Gladness and Cinq-a-Sept didn't disdain a run in the Ebor (both fillies won it).