Cheltenham is Cheltenham Ladies' College (founded in 1853). Dean Close School was founded in 1886 in memory of the Reverend Francis Close (1797–1882), a former rector of Cheltenham. The town also includes several campuses of the University of Gloucestershire, two other public and six other state secondary schools, plus institutions of further education. Cheltenham Racecourse, in the nearby village of Prestbury, is the home of National Hunt, or jumps, racing in the UK. Meetings are hosted from October to April. The highlight of the season is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is normally held in the middle of March, during the
Picnic horse racing largest picnic racing carnival during the Easter weekend. Picnic horse racing Picnic horse racing, or more usually picnic races or more colloquially "the picnics" refer to amateur Thoroughbred horse racing meetings, predominantly in Australia. The meetings are organised by amateur clubs, the jockeys are amateur riders, or sometimes former professional jockeys. The horses competing are generally of a standard insufficient to be competitive at professional meetings. They are often trained by hobby trainers. The meetings are more of a social occasion and are often held on Public Holidays, or on days when major metropolitan races such as the Melbourne Cup