Cheltenham Festival race named in honour of Princess Royal
In honor of the Royal Princess, the National Hunting Chase at this month’s Cheltenham Festival is permanently named.
The match, the oldest to be held at the conference and will now be known as the Royal National Hunting Chase Princess, will be held on Tuesday, March 11, the opening day of the four-day conference.
Running over three miles and six furlongs was previously limited to amateur riders, but starting this year it will open to professional jockeys and be a barrier for newbies to chase.
The competition was held at many venues until 1911 as part of Cheltenham’s new two-day National Hunting Festival, after which it was also running in Cheltenham in 1904 and 1905.
Princess Anne is an excellent female cyclist and a regular at Cheltenham Racecourse.
She won her personal gold at the 1971 European Championships and participated in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
In the 1980s, she rode an amateur jockey, successfully collaborated with the winners on apartments and jumps, and was the president of the Disabled Persons’ Association for Horse Riding.
“We announce that the National Hunting Chasing will now honor the title of Royal Princess,” said Guy Lavender, CEO of Cheltenham.
“As an outstanding all-round equestrian, it is appropriate that the Royal Princess will be associated with such a historic competition.”
