Representatives of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup and the Chester County Food Bank pose for the $50,000 check presentation.

The tailgaters and steeplechase enthusiasts who gathered on Nov. 4 to enjoy the 48^th annual Pennsylvania Hunt Cup race helped boost the proceeds presented to the Chester County Food Bank earlier this week.

Since 1964, The Pennsylvania Hunt Cup has raised over $715,000 for local charitable organizations.  This year’s beneficiary received a $50,000 check on Monday.

The Chester County Food Bank Inc., a non-profit organization that provides food for those in need in Chester County, collects and facilitates the distribution of almost 1,000,000 pounds of food each year. It supports more than two dozen Food Cupboards and about three dozen meal sites that serve more than 100,000 people from every corner of the county.

The 501(c)3 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup is a Timber steeplechase race with a distance of four miles and 22 fences, over fair hunting country. From its inception, it has been intended as a substantial test of both horse and rider, and is one of just three 4-mile steeplechase races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, according to its web site.

First run in 1921 over a course in Whitemarsh, the race moved to its present location in Unionville, where it has operated since 1964 on land that is now permanently protected by conservation easements.