Wrexham racecourse to welcome royal visitor

 The Leader - 29 October 2010

The Princess Royal is set to be a guest of honour at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse.

On November 10, Princess Anne will be hosting a charity lunch for more than 200 guests and will also be making presentations for The Anne Duchess of Westminster Memorial Chase.

The raceday has been given to Racing Welfare by the Trustees of Anne, Duchess of Westminster’s Charity, who support a charity day at Bangor-on-Dee each year.

Charities previously benefiting from this day include the Spinal Injuries Association, Clwyd Special Riding Centre and NSPCC North Wales.

Princess Anne set up the charity in 1965 with the aim of assisting charities reflecting her own interests as well as those in her home region of Cheshire and the North West.

Since her death in 2003, a board of trustees have maintained her charity and this will be the fifth running of the day at Bangor.

On the day a silent auction will be open to members of the public with the proceeds going to Racing Welfare.

Lots on offer include a morning on the gallops with trainer Tom Dascombe at footballer Michael Owen’s Manor House stables in Malpas and a signed photograph of Grand National winning jockey A. P. McCoy.

Jeannie Chantler, general manager of Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse said: “We are delighted to have Racing Welfare as the charitable recipient from Anne Duchess’ of Westminster’s Charity and the icing on our cake is to have their President HRH The Princess Royal attending a race meeting at Bangor-on-Dee.

“With The Anne Duchess of Westminster Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase and The Sportech plc Sir John Hanmer Graduation Steeple Chase carrying prize money of £39,000 between them, we are looking forward to some excellent racing; with her knowledge of National Hunt racing, we very much hope our royal guest will enjoy her day.”