Hennessy end Gold Cup sponsorship Newbury has announced last month's Hennessy Gold Cup was the last running of the race under the sponsorship of the drinks firm, bringing an end to one of the longest associations in the sport. The Grade Three handicap, which was won this year by the Colin Tizzard-trained Native River, was backed by Hennessy for 60 years, but the company has decided not to continue the sponsorship. Dominic Burke, chairman of Newbury, said: "For anyone with even a passing interest in jump racing, the Hennessy Gold Cup has been a race that has captured the imagination. It has helped to identify future stars, confirmed existing champions and produced as much emotion and excitement as almost any other race in the calendar." He added: "We are enormously grateful to several generations of the Hennessy family and the company's management team for their wonderful support of such a special event, but everything comes to an end at some point and it is fitting that the sponsorship is drawing to a close after such a thrilling race to mark the 60th Hennessy Gold Cup as the highlight of two wonderful days of top-class jump racing last month." Jo Thornton, managing director of Moet Hennessy UK, added: "Hennessy has enjoyed 60 wonderful years of sponsoring the Hennessy Gold Cup. Over the decades, the race has been won by many extraordinary and courageous horses, jockeys and trainers. "We are enormously grateful to the directors and team at Newbury, who have always delivered racing of the highest quality, at one of the UK's most iconic racecourses. "Hennessy are proud to have worked with Newbury in creating such an important and enjoyable day in the racing calendar. We wish them every continued success."
