The Cheltenham Festival, one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar, has announced an honour for Princess Anne, the Princess Royal. In a tribute to her achievements in the equestrian world, the annual Hunters Chase will now bear her royal title.
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Scheduled to take place on 13 March, the Hunters Chase, colloquially known as the “Amateurs’ Gold Cup”, will follow the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup race. This challenging event spans three and a quarter miles and tests both the stamina and skill of its competitors as they navigate 22 fences, including a steep uphill climb.
Cheltenham Racecourse’s CEO, Guy Lavender, expressed the significance of naming the race after Princess Anne. He stated, “The Hunters’ Chase at The Festival is a contest which recognises and celebrates the very origins of our great sport. We therefore feel it is very appropriate to stage it under the name of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal – an outstanding all-round equestrian who has excelled in a wide range of disciplines.”
Princess Anne boasts an impressive equestrian pedigree. She secured individual gold at the European Eventing Championships in 1971 and made her mark on the global stage by competing for Great Britain in the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal. Notably, she was the first British royal to participate in the Olympics, riding her mother, Queen Elizabeth II’s horse, Goodwill, and finishing in a respectable 24th place during the three-day event.
The equestrian talent appears to run in the family, as Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, has also made a name for herself in the sport. Zara won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, continuing the family legacy. Her father, Mark Phillips, also contributed to the family’s competitive history, securing a team gold medal in eventing at the 1972 Olympics and a silver at the 1988 Games.
The new name for the Hunters Chase is not the first recognition of royal achievements at the Cheltenham Festival. The two-mile Champion Chase received a makeover in 1980, when it was renamed the “Queen Mother Champion Chase” in celebration of the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday. This latest tribute to Princess Anne marks the second time a race at the prestigious event has been dedicated to a royal family member.
Interestingly, the National Hunt Chase, which was renamed to honour Princess Anne in the previous year, will revert to its original title, the National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase. This decision reflects the festival’s ongoing tradition of celebrating its roots while embracing modern acknowledgments of equestrian excellence.
As the Cheltenham Festival approaches, the renaming of the Hunters Chase intends to pay homage not only to Princess Anne’s achievements but also to the deep heritage of horse racing in the UK. The festival is renowned for drawing large crowds and features some of the most exhilarating races in the world, making it a central event in the jump racing calendar.
With a history steeped in tradition and an ever-evolving commitment to excellence, the Cheltenham Festival continues to feature both the sport’s rich past and its promising future. As the new Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase prepares for its inaugural run in March, it will undoubtedly be a highlight of the festival, showcasing not only the competitive spirit but also paying tribute to an inspirational figure in equestrian history.