Maggie's Cheltenham Gold Cup Day Friday 16th March 2018

"Maggie's Cheltenham Gold Cup Day"

The Rotary Club of Thornhill and District held a charity race afternoon and raised well in excess of £2,500.00 in aid of "Maggie's" at The Friars Carse Country Hotel, held on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, Friday 16th March 2018.

The Cheltenham Festival is the highlight of the Jump season with thousands of enthusiastic racegoers descending on the small spa town to soak up and enjoy the special atmosphere generated throughout this week. But now in a clever and imaginative venture the Thornhill and District Rotary Club brought the excitement and drama of Cheltenham’s Gold Cup day to Dumfries and Galloway, all in the aid of charity.

On Friday, March 16 members and guests experienced the exhilaration and drama at Friars Carse Hotel where its marquee was transformed. “Racegoers” were cocooned in an environment matching the members’ enclosure with the races being shown live on giant screens.

The Rotary club were raising funds for the Maggie’s Centre and thus the event was named "Maggie’s Cheltenham Gold Cup Day" Rotarian Alastair Sillars was significantly involved in the organisation of this special day for Maggie’s: “Our club has been involved with Maggie’s over the years and we believe it was fitting that we recognised the inspiration of local woman Maggie Keswick in creating a blueprint for cancer care centres.

“Since her death in 1995, Maggie’s Centres have opened all over the country with many more currently in development. Its work has been praised by leading doctors who recognise the importance of meeting the practical, emotional and social needs of people with cancer and as Maggie’s local Rotary club we want to help as much as we can.”

The day commenced at 12.30pm with a Prosecco reception prior to the first race at 1.30pm (the last televised race was at 4.10pm). Afternoon tea was served and the Creative Whisky Company offered samples of its gin and whisky products while Moniaive Chocolatiers sweetened the event with its Tartan Chocolates. 

In true Cheltenham Festival tradition, the racegoers entered into the spirit and dressed up for the occasion. A fun day was had by everyone with Maggie’s benefiting from all of the proceeds of the day. 

A huge thank you goes to Nick Brown (General Manager) and staff of The Friars Carse Hotel who looked after us all at no charge and for allowing access to this fantastic venue.

A.S./A.S. 17/03/2018