The list of horses, jockeys and trainers to have won on the Roodee reads like a Who's Who of horse racing.

Some of the most famous names in the sport have paraded around the winner's enclosure at Chester .

So as the countdown to the May Festival continues, we've rounded up some of the most notable Chester triumphs from down the decades.

Shergar

Before being stolen by masked gunmen in 1983 and never seen again, the Michael Stoute-trained horse was a Chester Vase winner. Shergar's Roodee triumph came in 1981, the same year he won the Epsom Derby by an emphatic 10 lenghts.

Walter Swinburn on racehorse Shergar wins the Derby at Epsom.
3rd June 1981.
Shergar, ridden by Walter Swinburn, pictured winning the 1981 Derby at Epsom, a month affter his Chester Vase victory

Frankie Dettori

A household name whose fame transcends horse racing, the Italian-born jockey has wins in the Chester Cup, Chester Vase, Dee Stakes and Cheshire Oaks on his stellar CV. He was just 20 years old when he was first home in the Cup on Star Player at the Roodee in 1991.

Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen gets a hug from Frankie Dettori after meeting him at Chester races in 1999
Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen gets a hug from Frankie Dettori after meeting him at Chester races in 1999

Lester Piggott

Among the living legend's 4,493 career wins were four Chester Cup victories, making him the joint-most successful jockey in the race's long history. The only other man to win four is Sam Darling, whose successes came in the 1830s. Piggott also bagged four Dee Stakes wins, between 1964 and 1982.

Horse Racing at Redcar. Lester Piggott at the Zetland Gold Cup Day. 31st May 1993.
Lester Piggott, a prolific winner at Chester and just about any other racecourse in the world

Sea Pigeon

Said to be one of Britain's best known racehorses after Arkle and Red Rum, Sea Pigeon excelled in National Hunt and flat racing. He won back-to-back Chester Cups in 1977 and 1978, before going on to claim the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1980 and 1981.

Racehorse Sea Pigeon winner of thirty-seven races, seen here with Steven Muldoon son of Pat Muldoon who owns the horse.
21st July 1983
Sea Pigeon, seen here with Steven Muldoon son of Pat Muldoon who owned the horse

Willie Carson

A true national treasure, the five-time British Champion jockey was no stranger to the winner's enclosure at Chester. Along with victories in the Chester Cup, Chester Vase, Dee Stakes and Cheshire Oaks, the Scotsman also has an honorary doctorate from the city's university which he picked up in 2010.

Willie Carson at last year's May Festival

Donald McCain

Son of Red Rum's trainer Ginger and based at Cholmondeley, McCain Jnr trained two 'local' Chester Cup winners in 2011 and 2012, claiming the famous trophy with Overturn and Ile de Re respectively.

Horse Racing Trainer Donald McCain during the totesport Cup Day at Chester Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 4, 2011. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire
Donald McCain bagged consecutive Chester Cup victories

Barry Hills

The Lambourn-based trainer may not be a household name but punters at Chester loved him. Upon retiring in 2011, he reckoned he'd sent out about 150 winners at Chester's May Festival. Hills won the Dee Stakes no fewer than 11 times, the Chester Cup four times, the Cheshire Oaks five times and the Chester Vase twice. Astonishing.

Horse Racing - York Ebor Meeting - York Racecourse - 18/8/11
Trainer Barry Hills during the meeting
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Julian Herbert
Livepic
Trainer Barry Hills, who forged a reputation as a real specialist at the Roodee