Eclipse Cup recognises author's contribution in her novels to promoting the 'terrific fun' to be had at the races
From the Cheltenham Gold Cup to the Grand National, horseracing trophies pepper the pages of Jilly Cooper's latest romp. Now, the bestselling author has been awarded a cup of her own for "services to the social side of racing".
Horseracing magazine Eclipse was inspired to create the Eclipse Cup award by Cooper's new bestseller, the jauntily titled Jump! which follows the adventures of beautiful widow Etta Bancroft and her motley racing syndicate as they enter their horse, Mrs Wilkinson, in races around the country. The magazine hopes the novel will help encourage more people to attend horse races: around 75% of race-goers only attend once a year.
"Horseracing is a vast and complicated subject and various racing organisations, committees, and marketing agencies have been wracking their brains for years as to how to communicate in an attractive and accessible way the sheer fun and thrill that is to be experienced at a day at the races," said Eclipsemagazine.co.uk editor Karen Taylor.
"Jilly has obviously done a huge amount of research and combined it with her own experiences of exercising racehorses, part-owning a racehorse as a member of a syndicate and visiting the races herself. Remarkably, she has managed to weave that huge jumble of information into a fast-paced and captivating story that showcases racing – both the highlights and the darker sides – in a fantastically exciting way."
Cooper, who has previously been given an OBE for services to literature as well as a lifetime achievement prize from the British Book awards, said she was "bowled over" by the Eclipse award. "I'd love it if my new book could introduce a new generation of racing converts to enjoy the same fun I've had," said the author, who had an "absolute riot" while writing and researching the novel.
"The National Hunt crowd were so friendly and welcoming, I've always adored horses and here was an opportunity to meet and make friends with trainers, owners, jockeys and horses I've hero-worshipped for years," she said. "As part of my research, I joined a syndicate and became part-owner of a beautiful dark brown gelding Monty's Salvo, trained by Nicky Henderson, and had terrific fun going to racecourses around the country. Winning a race is thrilling, syndicate members invariably hug each other to bits immediately afterwards. The trick is to be standing at the moment of victory beside a syndicate member you fancy like mad."