Oxbridge rivalry takes to the racetrack

Students from Oxford and Cambridge are to go head-to-head in an inaugural flat race at Newmarket.

Historic rivalry

Rivalry between the two universities goes back more than 150 years, with the famous Boat Race, but this is the first time students will battle it out on the racecourse.

The riders will wear the same colours as their respective rowing team, so Cambridge will wear light blue silks, while Oxford will don dark blue.

Student Harry Beckett, is the brains behind the eight-furlong race, which takes place on Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket (17 October).

“I’ve spent two years trying to get this race off the ground so I’m delighted to see it come to fruition,” he said. “Fingers-crossed it will become an annual event, enabling riders to qualify for a Blue in future years.”

In training

Fourteen students – seven from each university – are currently in training at Newmarket’s British Racing School and Oaksey House in Lambourn. The final 10 will be selected in early October.

Lizzy Hamilton, captain of the Oxford team who is studying chemistry at Christchurch College said: “I cannot wait to take part in the varsity horse race – it’s a superb initiative. Rivalry between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge goes back so many centuries and we cannot wait to compete against Cambridge on the racecourse.”

Oli Lawrence, who is studying earth sciences at Gonville and Caius College, said he is “honoured” to be captaining Cambridge’s first horse racing team.

“It’s brilliant addition to the existing varsity sporting competitions and one that hopefully will be part of history for years to come,” he said.

Free for students

Fellow studentswill be able to watch the action for free, thanks to the Weekend of Champions initiative. The aim is to attractstudentsto racing by offering free entry to the Dubai Future Champions Day (17 October) and the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot (18October).

Alongside the top class action on the track, which includes six group 1s, there will be an exclusivestudentarea with entertainment, dedicated facilities and an after-party. Thestudentday at QIPCO British Champions Day is sponsored by Sheikh Fahad al Thani.

More young people

“My passion for racing developed while I was astudentstudying in London,” he said. “It is important to my brothers and me that British racing is pro-active in introducing more young people to this wonderful sport.”

Studentscan secure theirfreetickets by registering via each course’s website using a special discount code.

More information can be found on the British Champions Series website.