The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is a race that has captured the hearts of the nation for a century, and 2024 will be a momentous year as The Jockey Club celebrates the centenary of chasing’s Blue Riband event.

Racing will enjoy re-watching famous duels like the 2018 race starring Native River and Might Bite or historic head-to-heads like Arkle taking on Mill House, while telling stories about where they were when Best Mate completed the hat-trick - the centenary year will be aiming to leave a golden legacy.

The community is at the heart of The Jockey Club’s ethos to ensure that as large sports venues we are having a positive impact on the areas around us, and one of the three objectives of the Gold Cup Centennial year is to fundraise for worthy causes that will benefit the local area.

In recognition of this, Cheltenham Racecourse will be launching a community fund run in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Cheltenham to assist with neighbourhood projects.

The Community Grant will be awarded to registered charities recognised, established community groups promoting sport, art, music, or health and well-being, schools and playgroups, sporting, art or music groups or societies and not for profit organisations.

These grants will support life-enhancing projects and initiatives operating within the boundaries of the Cheltenham-specific Postcodes: GL50, GL51, GL52, GL53, and GL54.

Over the next 12 months, several fundraising events will take place to raise funds for the Community Grant before a panel made-up of representatives from the Rotary Club and The Jockey Club to accept applications and ensure that the funding goes to the best possible causes for the community.

Assistant General Manager of Cheltenham Racecourse, Andre Klein, who has led recent campaigns within the local community such as Love Our Turf, said: “We always try to ensure that the local community is at the heart of what we do. We want people to be proud to live in a town that is home to this great sporting arena, and we know it is important to help and support the community where we can and leave a positive impact where we can.

“Gold Cup 100 is an incredibly exciting project, and it really is a once in a lifetime event to be a part of. We want to leave a legacy from the celebrations that will truly help and enhance our local area, and this felt like a great way to that.”

To find out more about the Gold Cup 100 Community Fund and how to apply for a grant, please go to https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham-festival/gold-cup-100/community-grant-initiative/