Horse racing in England gets a new name

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The London pub "The Duke of York" in the City of Westminster district could also be renamed

Photo: VICKIE FLORES/EPA

These are not good times to be associated with the disgraced Prince Andrew.

A British racecourse therefore wants to change the name of a traditional race.

The Duke of York Stakes is to be renamed because of abuse allegations against the Duke of York, the racecourse's Marketing Director James Brennan told the Yorkshire Post.

Allegations of sexual abuse are raised against Prince Andrew, which the 61-year-old firmly rejects.

Because of the allegations and previous contacts with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, however, he had already given up his royal duties in 2019 and largely withdrawn from the public.

The York horse race was named in 1895 after Prince George, later King George V, who was also Duke of York.

"There was never a direct link to Prince Andrew," Brennan clarified.

Now, however, the racecourse wants to "make it clearer" that the name goes back to a completely different Duke of York.

The race could therefore be called the 1895 Duke Of York Stakes.

A similar debate about possible name changes has erupted in Great Britain around the many pubs that also bear the name »The Duke of York«.

The “Evening Standard” reported on this, among other things.

Civil litigation in the US is approaching

Last week, Andrew failed in a motion to dismiss an abuse lawsuit against him in the United States.

This brings a civil case against the British prince closer.

Buckingham Palace then announced that Elizabeth II's second son would be stripped of his military titles and royal patronage.

Plaintiff Virginia Giuffre alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Prince Andrew in 2001 at the age of 17, including at Epstein's luxurious New York residence.

Epstein "loaned" her to the Royal at the time.

Giuffre is now demanding undisclosed damages.

col/AFP