A British racecourse wants to change its name so that it is no longer associated with the disgraced Prince Andrew. The Duke of York Stakes racecourse is to be given a new name in response to abuse allegations once morest the Duke of York, its marketing director, James Brennan, told the Yorkshire Post.
The racecourse was named in 1895 following 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 is returning to a completely different Duke of York. It might therefore get the name “1895 Duke Of York Stakes”.
Allegations in the Epstein case
Allegations of sexual abuse are raised once morest 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with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, however, he had already given up his royal duties in 2019 and largely withdrawn from the public.
Last week, Andrew failed in a motion to dismiss an abuse lawsuit once morest him in the United States. This brings a civil case once morest 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 damages in an undisclosed amount.