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Once likened to racing on ‘green velvet’ by jockey Lester Piggott, Chester’s hallowed Roodee turf is uniquely positioned at the heart of the city of Chester.
As the racecourse celebrates another milestone in its illustrious history, a special exhibition at the Chester Grosvenor Museum commemorates 480 years of racing at Chester.
Presenting objects and images from Chester Race Company and the Grosvenor Museum, the exhibition explores the origins and heritage of the oldest racecourse still in operation in Great Britain, if not the world.
Members of the public are invited to visit the exhibition and learn the fascinating story of the evolvement of the racecourse and its famous site which dates back to the Roman period. From archaeological excavations and racing firsts to tales of legend and stories of gallant victors, the timeline of the Roodee paints a rich tapestry that will stand the test of time.
Chief Executive Officer of Chester Race Company, Richard Thomas said, “We have been working closely with the museum over the last 12 months in a new Corporate Partnership capacity to bring our story to the general public. Many will be aware of some of the more famous facts, faces and stories of the Roodee and we are thrilled that a fascinating collective narrative of the racecourse’s history will be brought to life this year to commemorate 480 years. We are proud to have built a strong relationship with the museum and celebrate our connection with the city of Chester and its people.”
Running the duration of the 2019 Chester racing season, members of the public along with racegoers visiting the city are invited to enjoy this exciting exhibition and even get involved by imparting their own mementos or memories into the narrative. The museum is interested in hearing from anyone who holds anything from race badges, programmes and photographs to hats and fascinators from the past 480 years.
Visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to leave their story for others to read and a digital capsule will be made public via the Chester Racecourse website once the exhibition closes at the end of September.
For more information visit http://events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/event/going-the-distance-480-years-of-racing-at-the-roodee/ Entrance to the museum is free, but object as well as monetary donations are gladly welcomed.
Tickets and badges to all fixtures across the 2019 Chester racing season are currently available to purchase online at http://www.chester-races.com or from the Chester Racecourse Box Office – 01244 304 600.
Image courtesy of RM Bevan.
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Karen can usually be found glued to her computer or at the stables. Having edited several national magazines she co-founded Eclipse Magazine in 2008 after realising that many of her friends were nervous about going racing due to lack of information – what to wear, how to bet etc.
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