Highclere Castle Gin To Sponsor Carnarvon Stakes

Highclere Castle Gin will sponsor the Listed Carnarvon S. at Newbury, on Saturday, May 18, the racecourse announced on Thursday.

The six-furlong race will be worth £65,000 on Al Shaqab Lockinge with Ladies Day and is a prep race for the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. In 2023, the Carnarvon was won by Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), who would go on to add the Commonwealth Cup and G1 July Cup.

Highclere Castle is the home of The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, as well as the location for beloved television series “Downton Abbey”. The gin, featuring botanicals from the Highclere Castle gardens and oats from the Highclere Estate, was created in 2019.

Lord Carnarvon said, “The Carnarvon family and Highclere Estate have a long association with Newbury Racecourse with my great grandfather the fifth earl being a founder shareholder in 1904. My father was a passionate owner/breeder and a great supporter of Newbury Racecourse being chairman from 1985 to 1998. Highclere Castle Gin is proud to sponsor the Carnarvon S. as we appreciate the link to the terroir of Highclere with our oats which have also powered so many of the winners of this race.”