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!

Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors:

Venue Sponsor: Mr. Cuyler Walker

Race Day Sponsors: flyGATEWAY, Samuel Slater and Eleanor Forbes, Finally Farm, Runnymoore Racing, 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, Tapeta Footings.

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, Zack's Automotive Services and Mr. & Mrs. R. Dixon Thayer, Drs. Janet Johnston, Dean & Laura Richardson, and Annie Renzetti.

Hospitality Tent Sponsor: Brandywine Conservancy.

Fence Sponsors: Archer & Buchanan Architecture, the National Bank of Malvern, The Hain Family, Dale & Betsy Krapf, Killians Creek - Ray & Gwen Shelling, John & Betsy Spence, JD Mushrooms, Charles C. Coyne, Forrest Kelly, Crosby & Nancy Wood, Stephen Gretz.

NSA/EMS Sponsors: Boothwyn Pharmacy, Mr. William Wylie, PennVet- New Bolton Center.

Volunteer Food Sponsor: Landhope Farms.

Friends of Cheshire Sponsors: Michael & Katherine Bucklin, Peter & Daphne Jonas, Anthony & Jennifer Cadwalader, and Spencer & Amelia Verney.

Images of the 2025 Cheshire Races by Official Race Photographer Jim Graham will be available after the races at this link: GALLERY

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!