David Howden and Jayne McGivern announce exciting new initiative for ex racehorses at Cornbury House Horse Trials

Cornbury House Horse Trials and Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud have combined to announce an exciting new class for ex-racehorses to be held at the Oxfordshire event in 2025.

With a first prize of £45,000, the aim of the class is to raise the profile of thoroughbred horses’ suitability for eventing. McGivern and Cornbury House Horse Trials’ founder and president David Howden are owners and breeders of both racehorses and event horses and it is their passion to bring these two sports closer together. 

The Cornbury Racehorses Eventing Challenge will be run at British Eventing Open Novice level, but using an FEI CCI2*-S dressage test in a long arena and with the showjumping phase last and in reverse order. The aim for subsequent years will be to run the class at British Eventing Intermediate level. 

Entrants must have achieved two Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) as a combination at novice in the current season (2025). Horses must not have competed at CCI4* level or above in the past two seasons, while riders will be restricted to two entries each.

David Howden, pictured with Running Lion at Royal Ascot, is the founder and president of Cornbury House Horse TrialsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Horses do not need to have raced or to have been in training, but must be registered with Weatherbys or the appropriate thoroughbred studbook of their country of origin. 

Howden said: "I'm so excited that we will be introducing this very special class at CHHT in 2025. Jayne McGivern and I share a joint passion for both eventing and racing and for the amazing horses in those sports, and we hope to draw attention to the wonderful versatility of thoroughbreds – and to encourage our best riders to recognise their suitability for eventing and to reward them for the correct training of them."

McGivern added: "There is no doubt thoroughbreds can shine at the very top level in eventing, and I hope this class will inspire our top riders and everyone else connected to this fantastic sport to believe in them and give them the opportunities and the best care and training to reach their full potential."

The 2024 edition of the Cornbury House Horse Trials is under way, and runs from September 11-15.  Tickets can be bought online at www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.

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