Hunt Family Fund Gains Racing World’s Support in Poignant Tribute

Introduction: A Charity Born from Tragedy

The Hunt Family Fund, a charitable initiative created by racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy, aims to support causes relating to young women and has been established in memory of Hunt’s wife, Carol, and daughters Hannah and Louise, who were murdered at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire in July 2024. This powerful response to unimaginable tragedy has quickly gained the support of the racing community and wider sporting world, transforming grief into meaningful action that will help vulnerable women across the UK.

Cheltenham’s Remarkable Gesture

The December Gold Cup, a valuable premier handicap first run in 1963, has been renamed the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup to raise awareness for this vital cause. John Hunt stoically called home the race from the Cheltenham grandstand before joining daughter Amy on the rostrum to hand over the weekend’s biggest prize in what he described as an ‘eventful, tough and joyful’ week.

Fundraising Success and Community Support

More than £50,000 was raised in a live auction at a four-hour Winter Wonderland event held at the racecourse’s Centaur, hosted by a star-studded line-up including Clare Balding, Mark Chapman and Ed Chamberlin. The Winter Wonderland fundraising event was attended by numerous well-known names from both racing and the wider sporting world, and an online auction with numerous prizes to bid on has helped raise over £250,000. The silent auction featured exclusive experiences including tours of Willie Mullins’ stables and Michael Owen’s racing facilities.

The Fund’s Mission and Future Impact

The Hunt Family Fund aims to raise funds for charities that help and inspire young women, reflecting the love, care and positivity that Carol, Hannah and Louise brought to the world during their lives. The initiative will raise awareness and vital funds for nationwide charities combating violence against women. The racing community’s overwhelming response demonstrates how sport can unite people for important social causes, creating a lasting legacy that honours three remarkable women whilst helping countless others facing similar dangers.