Cheltenham Racecourse will celebrate the life and legacy of the late Dame Jilly Cooper on Countryside Day at The November Meeting on Friday, November 13. The special tribute will recognise her long-standing connection with Cheltenham, her passion for horse racing and the influence her writing will continue to have on the sport and its wider audience.
A memorial bench will be unveiled on the Crescent walkway overlooking the Parade Ring as part of the celebrations. The location will provide a permanent place for racegoers to remember Jilly and her strong affection for Cheltenham, the Cotswolds and the racing community.
The tribute will also extend to one of the racecourse’s popular meeting places. During the weekend of The November Meeting, The Retreat bar will be renamed The Rutshire Arms in recognition of Jilly’s literary work. The name will reflect the world she created through her novels and the enduring popularity of her storytelling.
Jilly Cooper Cheltenham Tribute to Highlight Her Racing Connection
Jilly Cooper will be remembered at Cheltenham not only as a celebrated author but also as a regular visitor and passionate follower of racing. Her affection for the racecourse and The Festival will form an important part of the tribute planned for Countryside Day.
Her connection with horses and racing will also be remembered through her writing. Her 2010 novel Jump! will remain closely associated with the Jump racing world, with parts of the story featuring Cheltenham and reflecting the atmosphere surrounding the sport.
Through her books, Jilly brought racing, horses and the personalities around the sport to a large readership. Her work will have helped introduce many readers to the world of racing while establishing a distinctive connection between the sport and popular culture.
Her literary legacy will also continue to reach new audiences through Rivals, the television adaptation of her work that will return for a second series on Disney+. The series will bring her characters and storytelling to another generation through its ensemble cast.
The upcoming Jilly Cooper Cheltenham tribute will give the racecourse and its wider racing community an opportunity to recognise the importance of her relationship with the venue. Countryside Day will provide the setting for family members, racegoers and racing followers to come together and remember her contribution.
Cheltenham Racecourse CEO Guy Lavender will welcome Jilly’s family to the occasion and will highlight her enthusiasm for racing and the Cotswolds. He will also recognise the special place Cheltenham held in her life and the connection she maintained with the racecourse over the years.
Jilly’s son Felix Cooper and daughter Emily Tarrant will also join the celebrations. They will remember their mother’s affection for Cheltenham, including her enjoyment of the racing, horses and the people associated with the venue.
The family will also recognise the efforts made by Cheltenham Racecourse and the racing community to honour her during Countryside Day. Their presence will add a personal element to an occasion centred on remembering Jilly’s life and her close relationship with the sport.
The memorial bench will be unveiled before racing begins on Countryside Day. Its position overlooking the Parade Ring will give visitors a lasting location associated with Jilly and her connection with Cheltenham.
The renaming of The Retreat as The Rutshire Arms will provide another visible reminder of her influence during The November Meeting. The tribute will connect her literary world with the racecourse where she spent time as a racing enthusiast.
Further details of the Countryside Day celebrations and other plans to mark Jilly Cooper’s life and legacy will be announced in the coming weeks. The November occasion will bring together racing and literary elements that were central to her public life, while giving Cheltenham Racecourse an opportunity to honour one of its well-known supporters.
Cheltenham Racecourse will honour Dame Jilly Cooper on Countryside Day with a memorial bench overlooking the Parade Ring and the temporary renaming of The Retreat as The Rutshire Arms.
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