Cheltenham Racecourse will honour the late Dame Jilly Cooper on the opening day of The November Meeting, with the Jilly Cooper Tribute taking centre stage through a Veterans’ Handicap Chase named in her memory on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The six-race programme will feature the 2m 4f Jilly Cooper Veterans’ Handicap Chase on the Old Course, replacing the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which was cancelled last month because of firm ground. The race will be open to horses aged 10 and over and will carry Cooper’s name for this year only.
A regular visitor to Cheltenham, Dame Jilly Cooper held a special affection for the racecourse. The Jilly Cooper Tribute will extend beyond the racing programme, with several commemorative arrangements planned to celebrate her life and contribution.
A memorial bench will be unveiled along the Crescent Walkway, while The Retreat bar will be renamed The Rutshire Arms in recognition of her famous literary works. Friends and family will also gather at the racecourse to remember her legacy.
The November Meeting will run from Friday, November 13, to Sunday, November 15, with Cheltenham expecting to welcome almost 70,000 racegoers across the three days.
Friday’s Countryside Day will celebrate rural life, with the traditional local Hunt parade and Bobb Hogg’s Dog and Duck Display among the scheduled attractions ahead of the first race.
Saturday, November 14, will feature Super Saturday, headlined by the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup. The race will attract attention as an early indicator of potential contenders for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The meeting will conclude on Sunday, November 15, with Carnival Sunday. The programme will include the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle alongside family-friendly activities, live entertainment and other attractions.
Cheltenham Racecourse Chief Executive Guy Lavender said the meeting would be particularly special this year as the racecourse celebrated the life of a close friend who shared its passion for the countryside.
He added that the tribute would provide a fitting opportunity for racegoers to remember Cooper and celebrate her legacy.
Cheltenham will honour Dame Jilly Cooper on November 13 with a Veterans’ Handicap Chase carrying her name, alongside a series of commemorative arrangements during the three-day November Meeting.
**For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.