British Deputy High Commission hosts Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Cup reception in Kolkata's iconic Royal Calcutta Turf Club

Speaking at the event, British Deputy High Commissioner to East & Northeast India Andrew Fleming said during his tenure he would try to help British nationals understand the opportunities present in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country.

"My task here over the next three or four years is to try to help British people better understand and know the opportunities in East and North-East India. At the same time, I will also equally help those who are interested in taking their business to the UK," Andrew Fleming said.

The official, who took up his role in the city late last year, said: "I have already begun to fall in love with your city."

"This is truly a remarkable race now fitted to our former Monarch who so very much loved horses," he said about the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Cup horse race that took place at RCTC on February 10.

Up until 2020 the reception was an annual fixture hosted by British Deputy High Commission Kolkata ahead of the formally named Queen Elizabeth II horse race.

The new name for the race was adopted following the Queen’s death in September 2022.

The pre-reception was the first since the pandemic.

Andrew Fleming, Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India hosted the reception in the presence of Sudipto Sarkar, Chairman, RCTC.

Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia & the British Deputy High Commissioner to Western India accompanied him.

RCTC and its connection with the Queen Elizabeth II Cup

RCTC has been hosting the Queen Elizabeth II Cup race since 1953.

The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Cup race was the longest race of the day at 2800 metres.

Fleming handed over the QE II Memorial Cup 2024 to the winner Aashay Doctor who represented the trainer Arti Doctor.

Jockey Yash Narredu rode the Winning Horse No. 1 – Third Avenue.