The Hunt Family Fund Auction

Leon Hughes / 7:34 AM GMT • 11th December, 2025

3 minutes

The highlight of the Christmas meeting will be run in 2025 as the “Support the Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup”, bringing added significance to one of the festive season’s standout races.

Cheltenham Racecourse has confirmed that this year’s December Gold Cup, the £125,000 Premier Handicap Chase held on the second day of The Christmas Meeting (Saturday 13th December), will be run as the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup.

The Hunt Family Fund was created by racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy in memory of Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt. The fund aims to support charities that inspire and empower young women, reflecting the love, kindness and positivity that Carol, Hannah and Louise brought to the world.

One of the fund’s current projects is Carol, Hannah and Louise’s Winter Wonderland Fundraiser, a silent online auction that celebrates their joy for the festive season and their many visits to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. The silent auction is now live and features an extensive selection of sporting experiences for people to bid on, all helping to raise money for The Hunt Family Fund.
In support of this great cause we here at winningpost.co.uk have donated Qatar Goodwood Festival Hospitality for 2 on Saturday 1st August, which is now live in the auction.

We are delighted to support a fantastic cause and we look forward to the race on Saturday. We will be supporting any and all future fundraisers for the Hunt Family Fund.

The lots include behind-the-scenes access to Match of the Day and Sky’s Monday Night Football, a guided tour of Michael Owen’s racing stables, and a visit to the yard of champion jump trainer Willie Mullins in Ireland. The auction closes on the evening of Thursday 11th December, when a gala dinner in support of the fund will take place at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Amy Hunt said:

Cheltenham have been so supportive to both Dad and myself and to run Saturday’s big race in honour of Mum and my sisters, acknowledging their amazing lives as well as driving forward the support for women of all ages, is a wonderful gesture.
Dad has been coming to Cheltenham all of his adult life, he loves the place and will be commentating on the race for BBC Radio 5 Live. It will be an honour for us all to be there to present the prizes for such a fantastic race

Guy Lavender, CEO at Cheltenham Racecourse, added:

John and Amy Hunt are two outstanding people and how they have faced the world with such courage, dignity and resilience since the tragic events of July last year is truly humbling.
The team at Cheltenham wanted to assist The Hunt Family Fund in any way possible and hopefully by running the feature race of The Christmas Meeting as the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup in 2025, we can help to highlight the important causes which the fund is helping and also provide a fitting tribute to another three outstanding people – Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt.

For BidAid founder Jamie Baulch, this auction feels different.

We support charities all year round, and it’s genuinely what we love to do,” said Jamie. “When we were approached about this event and heard about the Hunt Family Fund, and the lives of Carol, Hannah and Louise, we were incredibly moved. It was important to us to do what we could to support the family and help create something positive in their memory. It’s a privilege to be involved.
The Hunt Family Fund has been set up as a living legacy to Carol, Hannah and Louise, reflecting the love, care and positivity they radiated throughout their lives. They adored Christmas, and visiting Winter Wonderland in Central London was one of their favourite family traditions. This fundraiser captures that spirit: joyful, festive, and full of heart, while doing something meaningful for others.