Scone Palace International Horse Trials Launches
Scone Palace International Horse Trials has been launched in partnership with British Eventing, and this new CCI4*-L horse trials event promises to deliver four thrilling days of competition, top riders, exhilarating sporting action, and a memorable day out.
Following on from almost half a century of Blair Castle International Horse Trials organisers ambitions are firmly set on becoming Scotland’s leading equestrian event, with long-term plans to rival their established UK counterparts.
The event follows Paws at the Palace and Scone Palace Garden Fair, to become the third annual event owned and managed by Scone Estates and the Murray family themselves. It also follows a successful reverse takeover of Perth Racecourse in 2023, when the family moved from a position of landlord to owner-operator.
Scone Palace and the surrounding land has been owned by the Murray family for over 400 years and in 2022, William Murray – or Viscount Stormont to give him his formal title – took charge of the strategic direction and day-to-day running of what has become a diversified rural heritage business.
In March 2024, he was made aware of Blair Castle’s intention to bring their 47-year-old International Horse Trials event to a close.
What spurred you on to launch a replacement event to Blair Castle International Horse Trials?
William, Viscount Stormont: “We started conversations in Spring last year, after I was made aware of the impending closure. We know the event reasonably well and I understood the significant social and economic impact it had on the Perthshire area. It is the third largest equestrian event in the world with 2000 horses on site, and over 60,000 visitors to the event. This translates to £3 million of economic impact, including 5000 bed nights and £1million in food and drink alone. It would have been a major loss for the area.
“There was much to consider, but the fact is that we know how to do events at scale. The Scottish Game Fair has had a home at Scone for 36 years, likewise Rewind, BBC’s One Big Weekend, and Otherlands, have all successfully taken place in the Palace grounds.
“When we coupled this large-scale event experience with our recent acquisition of Perth Racecourse, we became the obvious contender to keep the event in Perthshire. Not only does the Racecourse team deliver on 13 high calibre equestrian events each year, but we were also in a position to offer a purpose-built equestrian infrastructure, knowledge of grounds, and a deep understanding of horse and rider welfare.
“We did our research, strategised the business case, and by July 2024 we were confident that we could take it on.”
What has been the biggest challenge faced in delivering such a large-scale event?
WVS: “It must be the incredibly quick turnaround that has had to happen to ensure we could deliver this event without a break. It was important to garner momentum on the back of Blair Castle’s final event, keeping both competitors and crowd engaged and interested in a large scale, CCI4*-L horse trials event in Scotland.
“In the first instance, we obtained a license and formal permission from British Eventing, and a promise of grant aid from Perth & Kinross Council to assist in facilitating the infrastructure and promotion in year one.
“From here we secured the talent and skills necessary to execute what was a seriously ambitious strategy – to deliver a brand new, world-class, Horse Trials event in little under a year.
“We are delighted therefore, to have welcomed Alec Lochore of Muskateer Event Management, Catherine Austin an industry press specialist, Tanya Adamson Sport Manager, and Executive Assistant Maddie Pullen, to join our very capable events team at Perth Racecourse. We’re also working with Perthshire-based agencies on web, ticketing, marketing and Scottish press.”
“Already, this incredible team has pulled together the logistics, infrastructure, and strategy necessary, and tickets launched to our priority access list on Wednesday 19th February.”
What are your ambitions in year one?
WVS: “To deliver a fantastic event for the competitors, the crowd and the local business economy.
“We’ve never experienced such goodwill on the announcement of a new event; we were incredibly moved by the outpouring of loyalty from the Blair competitors and attendees, and we understand entirely the responsibility we’ve taken on. There are high expectations, and we are committed to ensuring we succeed.
“We’re very grateful for the support of Perth & Kinross Council who, given the economic impact, were obviously keen to ensure the event stayed in the Perthshire area. A grant of £30,000 has assisted us in moving forward with year one, and this will undoubtedly contribute towards the event success.
How does this event fit with the overall plans for Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse?
WVS: “Scone Palace has been in my family for over 400 years, but it was in 1956 when my great grandparents opened the doors to the public, that the first significant business investment was made.
“Five generations on – my own son is now 18 months old – and we understand far more deeply the extent to which that investment was required. Scone Palace is a venue of national importance, playing a significant role in Scotland’s history, and it is our duty to ensure business concerns generate the income required for the maintenance of the historic asset.
“We need to run the estate as a modern business with an entrepreneurial spirit for attracting new events and opportunities. Taking over Perth Racecourse, for example, was a natural extension of our business and responsibilities. In our first year as owners, we commissioned the old stand to be renovated, creating the Bonnie Jockey bar and the 1908 restaurant; we also restructured the Raceday calendar in line with new guidance from British Racing. I’m pleased to report that the 2024 season was up by 7% overall.
“It has been a significant investment, but it has also made this new event, Scone Palace International Horse Trials, possible.
“History, people, skills and experience have all come together to give us a solid foundation from which to build a successful 21st century business.”
What does the future hold for Scone Palace and its business portfolio?
WVS: “The planning application is about to go in for an exciting development that will see the catering and shop relocate to a purpose-built space, with an entrance just opposite the new Cross Tay Link Road infrastructure. This will allow local people and passing trade to engage with the facilities free of charge all year round.
“It is a sizeable spend at around £10million, and will be our generational investment, ensuring the history and legacy of Scone Palace remains intact, and accessible for the future generations of local people and international visitors to come.”
Tickets to Scone Palace International Horse Trials will go on sale to the general public from 9am on Friday 21st February.
