Are you ready to go to the races? On Saturday, April 25, 2020, the Queens Cup will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special Silver Jubilee celebration. Brooklandwood will host four-horse races including flat and steeplechase races, Jack Russel races, Pony Rides with the Mecklenburg Hounds, a $25,000 Raffle benefiting the Alzheimer Association of Western Carolina, a Tailgating Contest, a Hat Contest, and much more. Held in Mineral Springs, off of 75, this race is easy to get to from anywhere in the TriW area.
Carrington Price, Race Co-Chair, shares more about the Silver Jubilee celebration, “On Friday night, we will have a Party at the Duke Mansion with special guests. On race day, Lamborghini will have cars on display in Brooklandwood Village. Sir Purr will be on the grounds from 12 noon through 3 pm and participating in a race against Sir Grinalot before the Opening Ceremonies. The “Golden Knights” will parachute in during the Opening Ceremonies and the Hat and Tailgate Contests both have new “Silver Jubilee” categories.”
Tailgating spaces are available now and Price expects them to sell out soon. One option is to purchase a PSL, Personal Space License, which reserves your favorite tailgate spot for you year after year. General admission tickets will go on sale on April 1 for $50 at local Harris Teeters. The price will increase to $55 on April 15 or they will be $75 at the door. Also, don’t forget that the Queen’s Cup is a special event and you should dress appropriately. Many women choose tea-length dresses and hats or fascinators while men often wear bowties with linen suits or khakis. However, this is an outdoor event so don’t forget shoes that are comfortable on the grass, sunscreen, and maybe a pair of binoculars.
Price explained how they chose the charity this year. “We chose the Alzheimer Association because this terrible disease hits very close to home. My father died of complications from dementia in 2013 and Bill’s mother passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2014. [Bill Price is Carrington’s husband and Race Co-Chair.] We then lost Bill’s father in 2018 to complications from dementia as well. While we have had numerous charities over the years, from Hospice of Union County to The Catawba Lands Conservancy to Susan G Komen, Make-A-Wish, and Purple Heart Homes, The Alzheimer’s Association has been a great partner bringing a steady stream of volunteers, ad sales, raffle prize donations, and even new PSL patrons.” Last year, the Queen’s Cup was able to make a donation of $55,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association. “They do like the money but they also are involved for the exposure. This year we are pushing the online presale of the raffle tickets because we must sell $25K dollars in raffle ticket sales to cover the Grand Prize of $25,000 cash. If we fall short, we may not quite reach the donation of $55K to Alzheimer’s but we are optimistic that we can do it again.”
“Gates open at 10 am and close at 7 pm. We are expecting large crowds, so patrons should allow extra time for traffic and plan to get here in time for the 25th Anniversary Opening Ceremony festivities. After the last race, we have the Hot Walk Party in the big tent on Member’s Hill. It is open to all our patrons free of charge and includes a live band, cash bar, free hors d’oeuvres, and ends at 6:30 pm.”
More information can be found at QueensCup.org including directions, FAQs, Race Day details, and much more.
