HIGHCLERE CASTLE GIN ANNOUNCED AS NEW PARTNER AT

NEWBURY RACECOURSE

Newbury Racecourse is delighted to announce Highclere Castle Gin as an exciting new partner for the Summer of 2022 as well as the sponsor of the Highclere Castle Gin Cup (formerly Marsh Cup) which takes place on Saturday 16 July as part of Weatherbys Super Sprint Day in just over two weeks’ time.

Locally based, Highclere Castle and its family, The Carnarvons, have a long association with Newbury Racecourse and the partnership is a continuation of a relationship already steeped in history. Indeed, the association can be traced back to its creation in 1905 when the 5^th Earl was one of the first stewards and a strong supporter of the development of the new racecourse. He entered five horses on the very first day of racing and Robert le Diable and Mauvezin Valens were some of his most successful runners at the track before WW1. To this day, The Carnarvon Stakes continues to be run on Lockinge Day.

This year is of particular significance, as it is the centenary of the 5^th Earl’s discovery of the tomb of the Pharoah Tutankhamun, first discovered in November 1922.

More recently, Highclere Castle has become the much-loved familiar backdrop for the set of the popular BBC drama and subsequent films, Downton Abbey and the heritage site welcomes thousands of visitors every year from across the globe for tours of the home and gardens.

Lord Carnarvon said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Newbury Racecourse this summer and are particularly looking forward to our involvement on 16 July for the Weatherbys Super Sprint Day. My father the 7^th Earl bred many horses who were very successful at Newbury over the years and owned Lyric Fantasy who was a winner of the Super Sprint back in 1992.”

Lara Johnston, Sponsorship Manager at Newbury Racecourse added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Highclere Castle Gin as a partner here at Newbury and sponsor of the Highclere Castle Gin Cup. The brand is a perfect fit for our popular summer series and Gin Thursdays which draw a crowd from all over Berkshire and beyond.

“Highclere Castle Gin have done a brilliant job of growing their audience since launching in 2020 and have won an impressive number of awards for the quality of their gin – it’s a pleasure to have their distinctive bottles stocked behind our bars and we look forward to working with their team to bring the partnership to life.”

The Highclere Castle Gin Cup run over 2miles ½ furlong will take place on Saturday 16 July as part of a seven-race card which features the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes and Group 3 bet365 Hackwood Stakes. Recent Queen Alexandra Stakes winner, Stratum won the inaugural running of the Highclere Castle Gin Cup back in 2018, and most recently, it was the Paul Nicholls-trained Scaramanga who took the spoils last year.

Following racing, Craig David will perform a 90-minute set on the Party in the Paddock Stage. Tickets are selling fast with limited Premier Tickets now remaining. Book today at newburyracecourse.co.uk