Cheshire Races
The 78th Running of The Cheshire Races will be held on
Sunday, March 30, 2025
This year our Races will be held in honor of Mrs. Averell Penn Smith Walker. We will be celebrating Mrs. Walker's life and legacy throughout our Cheshire Weekend. On the evening of March 29th, we will kick off the festivities with the Cocktail Party & Live Auction, generously hosted by Ben Barnett and Missy Shaffer at their stunning Laurel Hill Farm. Sunday brings the marquee event, a full card of racing action.
Please visit our Eventbrite page by clicking HERE to purchase tickets for both days and view a detailed schedule.
We would not be able to hold our Races without the generous and unwavering support of our Sponsors! We still have sponsorship opportunities available - please contact us to get involved: cheshirehunt@gmail.com
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors:
Venue Sponsor: Mr. Cuyler Walker
Race Day Sponsors: flyGATEWAY, Samuel Slater and Eleanor Forbes, Finally Farm, Joy Slater, Michael and Anne Moran, Ashwell Stable, Carol Fanning Young, BNY Wealth, Selkirk Partners, Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, Quarry View Building Group, National Steeplechase Association.
Cocktail Party Sponsor: Quarry View Building Group.
Race Sponsors: Cadwalader & Associates, Inc., Mrs. Wendy Hendriks, C.J. and Sarah Martin, Don Cochran, Lamplight Farm, Tranquility Farm, Drs. Janet Johnston, Dean & Laura Richardson, and Annie Renzetti.
Hospitality Tent Sponsor: Brandywine Conservancy.
Fence Sponsors: Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Mr. & Mrs. R. Dixon Thayer, Zack's Automotive Services, the National Bank of Malvern, The Hain Family, Dale & Betsy Krapf, Killians Creek - Ray & Gwen Shelling.
NSA/EMS Sponsors: Boothwyn Pharmacy, Mr. William Wylie, PennVet.
Volunteer Food Sponsor: Landhope Farms.
View photos of each year's races by Official Race Photographer Jim Graham
RACE PHOTOS
Brief History of the Cheshire Races
Mr. Stewarts Cheshire Foxhounds was founded in 1914 by Plunket Stewart, the stepfather of Nancy Penn Smith Hannum, who made her joint master with him in 1945. In 1946, after the war, they started the races because it was fun. Back then, the event consisted of just three races: a ladies race, a heavyweight race and the open race for the Cheshire Bowl. Trainers aimed for the Cheshire Bowl as it was a challenging course that would help to get horses ready for the ultimate prize in timber racing, the Maryland Hunt Cup.
Today the Cheshire Races offer a full day's race card including pony races, flat races, timber races and sidesaddle races. Held in late March, these races signify the start of the race season in the Mid-Atlantic!