Uncategorized

Cheltenham Gold Cup goes on tour with five weeks to go until the Festival

The Gold Cup will tour around the community and give people the opportunity to hold one of the most prestigious prizes in sport.

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup begins its annual tour around the local community, in the run-up to the race itself on March, 17.

Starting at the Cheltenham John Lewis, the Gold Cup is expected to follow a smililar path to last time, calling at Leckhampton, Bishops Cleeve and around local pubs in the area, although dates are unspecified.

Dara McKenna, national communication executive for the Jockey Club, said; ‘I have the privilege of giving literally thousands of people around Cheltenham a deeper and more personal affinity with the famous race by spending time in the company of the magnificent Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup trophy.

‘After lying in a bank vault for many years, this trophy now tours the local community every year.

It’s been a whirlwind kick-off to the tour since Tuesday and people’s reactions of being in the presence of the original trophy has been fantastic. As tempting as it is, the trophy can only be touched with bare hands by those who have won the race – everyone else must wear gloves!”

The Gold Cup origins begin in 1819, when it was a three-mile flat race up Cleeve Hill which was won by Spectre picking up 100 guineas in prize money.

Now held at Prestbury Park, the Gold Cup as we know it today was run in 1924, but was inferior to races like the National Hunt Chase and the County Hurdle.

The race grew in popularity thanks to Golden Miller, who won the race between 1932 and 1936, and became popular with the Irish in 1948, when Cottage Rake became the first Irish winner of the race.

Since then, the race has created legends like Arkle, Dawn Run, Desert Orchid, Norton’s Coin, Best Mate, Kauto Star and Denman.

Last year’s renewal was won by A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female rider to win the Gold Cup, after becoming the first to win the Grand National at Aintree the year before.

Tickets are still available for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday but are sold out for Friday, which is when the Gold Cup is held.

The Cheltenham Festival begins on March, 14.

Oliver Holmes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *