Charles and Camilla at the races

Sep 21 2012

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will back a cause close to their hearts as they enjoy a day at the races.

Charles and Camilla are special guests for Ladies Day at Ayr Racecourse, which is holding Scotland's biggest flat racing meeting.

The fixture, the middle day of the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival, will raise funds for Dumfries House, a stately home and estate which the Prince helped to save for the nation.

The royals will meet race-goers and be invited to rename a stand. They will also present the trophy for the feature race, the William Hill Supporting Dumfries House Ayrshire Handicap Stakes.

Built between 1754 and 1759, Dumfries House is set in 2,000 acres of land near Cumnock, Ayrshire, and is acknowledged as one of the most architecturally significant stately homes in the UK. It was last inhabited in 1993.

In his capacity as Great Steward of Scotland, Charles headed a consortium of charities and heritage bodies which bought the house and its land in 2007. The purchase stopped the house, contents and estate from being broken up.

Dumfries House was opened to the public for the first time in 250 years in summer 2008.

Each of the seven races at the meet are individually sponsored by companies. All the money from their sponsorship will go to the charity set up to run the various regeneration projects linked to the stately home.

Officials will be hoping the weather is on their side after Thursday's meeting was abandoned because of a waterlogged track.

Racecourse chairman Alan Macdonald said: "It is a great honour to have the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay attending a meeting at Ayr Racecourse. We are delighted to play a part in helping raise funds to support the various projects at Dumfries House."