CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF THE GOLD CUP WITH UNSUNG HEROES FROM THE PAST 10 DECADES
Monday 11th March
- This year, the Cheltenham Festival will celebrate a century of the world-famous Cheltenham Gold Cup
- To mark the occasion, special guests came together for striking portraits to honour the century-long history of the iconic prize
- Each guest has an inspiring connection to festival from the past ten decades or a desire to be part of its future, creating a living timeline of its evolution
- Over the next decade, The Jockey Club has pledged to provide 100,000 opportunities for young people to experience racing and power the future of the sport
- For more information about the 100th year of the Gold Cup, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
The Jockey Club, the largest racecourse group in Britain, is celebrating 100 years of the world-famous Cheltenham Gold Cup with a collection of compelling portraits that capture some of the unsung heroes connected to the iconic race. The heartwarming photography features both those who have been instrumental in making the iconic Cheltenham Festival race what it is today and those that will be defining the next 100 years.
In advance of the landmark running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which first took place in 1924, individuals from across the nation were invited to visit to the home of Jump racing with the centenary celebrations just days away. With each person symbolising a significant moment from the century-long history of the Gold Cup or representing what the race could be in the future, a one-of-a-kind living timeline has been constructed that illustrates the evolution of the iconic horse race.
From seasoned racing veterans to long standing local business owners, the wide range of stories that accompany the unique portraits showcase just how many communities have been inspired by the Cheltenham Gold Cup over the last century, as well as those who could be inspired to be part of its next 100 years.
Gemma Collins, whose three year old daughter, Koa, was photographed and whose father, Dudley Coombs, was a racehorse owner, commented, “Cheltenham is rooted in me, with my father taking me from when I was a child to watch our horses race. I'm immensely proud to be part of a family who has seen a century of stories involving the Gold Cup. My daughter absolutely loved being at Cheltenham Racecourse and having her portrait taken. I can’t wait to continue taking her there and for her to be part of the next generation at Cheltenham Festival.”
Freedom Zamapaladus, Founder of The Urban Equestrian Academy, which aims to open doors in the equestrian world for a younger, more diverse generation and whose students were photographed, commented, “It has always been our mission to inspire the younger generation and open doors that have not been visibly present into the world of equestrianism. For some of our students to be part of the 100-year celebration of the Gold Cup will have been hugely inspiring and who knows, perhaps we could have given a future Gold Cup winner their first taste of Cheltenham.”
Looking ahead to the next 100 years of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, The Jockey Club has pledged to provide 100,000 opportunities for young people to experience racing over the next decade. This is part of its long-term strategy to inspire the next generation of racing fans by creating repeated engagement with young people who might not otherwise have had a chance to experience the joy of horseracing.
Speaking of the commitment, Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of the Jockey Club, commented, “The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup represents one of the pinnacles of our sport, and its centenary is a milestone moment that we feel honoured to be able to celebrate. These unique portraits, coupled with our commitment to provide 100,000 opportunities for young people over the next ten years not only reflects the extent of the Gold Cup's power to inspire, but also allows us to look forward and show how we can help power the next 100 years of this historic contest, and continue to grow the appeal of racing as a whole.”
