A Guide to Cheltenham Racecourse – History, Events and More

This is our comprehensive guide to Cheltenham Racecourse, the home of National Hunt racing and the Cheltenham Festival. We take you through the history of Cheltenham, the big races and best horses plus an outline of the transport, catering and ticket news for the greatest steeplechase meeting in the world.

The Cheltenham Festival is the annual clash between the best horses in Great Britain and Ireland. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the four-day March festival meeting, the championship race of the season for staying chasers. Legends of the turf to win the Gold Cup include Golden Miller, Arkle, Best Mate and Desert Orchid. Other feature races at the festival include the Champion Hurdle, Stayers Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair Chase.

Cheltenham racetrack also hosts other important races throughout the winter months. The Cheltenham season launches in October and there are valuable handicap chases at the November and December meetings. The build-up to the Festival continues with Cheltenham races New Year’s Day and Cheltenham Trials day in January.

General Information About the Cheltenham Racecourse

Although Cheltenham stages several important meetings throughout the winter, the Festival meeting in March is the reason for its reputation as the home of steeplechasing. The Cheltenham Festival attracts over 200,000 racegoers in total with estimated gate returns of around £7 million.

Records were broken at the 2019 meeting with over 266,000 spectators including more than 71,000 on Gold Cup day. Tickets can usually be purchased on the day of the races from Tuesday to Thursday but Cheltenham Gold Cup Day on Friday is often a sell-out. You are advised to book your Cheltenham tickets in advance if you wish to attend on Gold Cup Day.

Cheltenham is a left-handed track, well known for its tough fences and stiff uphill finish. Besides the Cross Country, there are two distinct tracks at Prestbury Park, the New Course and the Old Course. The Old Course is generally regarded as being the faster of the two and suits strong-travelling types who can lay up with the pace. The New Course has a tricky downhill fence and a longer run-in for steeplechases.

History of the Cheltenham Racecourse

The first recorded racing at Cheltenham was a flat race meeting at Nottingham Hill in 1815. The first race meeting at nearby Cleeve Hill took place in 1818 before Prestbury Park became the official venue in 1831.

The National Hunt Festival meeting originated in 1860 but was held at several venues before Cheltenham became its permanent home in 1911. The future of the racecourse was secured in 1964 by Jockey Club Racecourses, now the owners and managers of fifteen British racecourses.

The main Cheltenham Grandstand was completed in 1979 with an impressive new stables complex being officially opened in 1990. The Cross Country course was introduced in 1995 and is comprised of a wide variety of fences including banks, ditches, hedges, a water jump and timber rails. Cross Country races now feature at three meetings during the season culminating in the series final at the Festival. In 2015 a £45 million redevelopment of Cheltenham racecourse was completed taking the Cheltenham capacity to 67,500 spectators.

Cheltenham Racecourse Events

The Cheltenham Festival in March is the highlight of the National Hunt season with 28 championship races over four days. An estimated £300 million is staked during the week as the best chasers and hurdlers from Great Britain and Ireland compete in championship races for all divisions.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the Blue Riband event of steeplechasing over three and a quarter miles. The Aintree Grand National may be regarded as the world’s greatest steeplechase but that race is a handicap while the Gold Cup is a level weights contest for the best chasers in training. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the premier two-mile chase with the Ryanair Chase being the championship race over two miles and five furlongs.

The Champion Hurdle is the ultimate prize for two-mile hurdlers while The Stayers Hurdle is over three miles. There are championship events in all spheres of National Hunt racing from the Champion Bumper on the flat to the marathon Cross Country Chase over nearly four miles.

Cheltenham’s season begins with the October meeting before the three-day Open meeting in November which runs from Friday to Sunday. The big Cheltenham races here are the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Greatwood Hurdle.

The December meeting features the December Gold Cup, a race which usually sees runners from the Paddy Power Gold Cup renew rivalry. Cheltenham Trials Day takes place in late January where the Cleeve Hurdle and Cotswold Chase can have a big impact on the betting for the Stayers Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively.

Cheltenham Festival

Such is the importance of the Cheltenham festival that ante-post betting is now available throughout the year on all 28 races. Most leading bookmakers also offer non-runner – no bet terms on the five major Cheltenham racecourse events; Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Stayers Hurdle.

Many of the greatest names in jumping history have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Golden Miller won the race for a record five consecutive seasons between 1932 and 1936. The legendary Arkle, still regarded by many as the finest chaser in history, won three times from 1964 to 1966. Best Mate emulated Arkle’s achievement with three victories from 2002 to 2004. Other notable Gold Cup winners include Dawn Run (1986), Desert Orchid (1989) and Kauto Star (2007 and 2009).

Five horses have won the Champion Hurdle three times; Hatton’s Grace (1949-51), Sir Ken (1952-54), Persian War (1968-70), See You Then (1985-87) and Istabraq (1998-2000). Istabraq was denied a possible fourth victory in 2001 when the meeting was abandoned due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Big Buck’s won the Stayers Hurdle for four successive seasons between 2009 and 2012. Badsworth Boy (1983 – 1985) is the only horse to win three Queen Mother Champion Chases. Quevega established an even more astonishing record by winning the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle for six successive seasons (2009 – 2014).

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Cheltenham Gold Cup Day on Friday is the climax of the week and the most prestigious jump race in the world. The extended three and a quarter miles puts the emphasis firmly on stamina and many Gold Cups have been won and lost on the uphill run to the finishing line.

Golden Miller’s record five Gold Cups (1932 to 1936) may never be repeated. Cottage Rake (1948 – 1950), Arkle (1964-66) and Best Mate (2002-2004) all won three consecutive Gold Cups. Michael Dickinson famously trained the first five horses to finish in the 1983 Gold Cup. Bregawn defeated stable companions Captain John, Wayward Lad, Silver Buck and Ashley House.

Dawn Run (1986) became the first horse in history to win the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup. The mare battled back bravely on the run-in under a strong drive from Jonjo O’Neill to spark wild celebrations among her Irish supporters.

Desert Orchid’s victory in 1989 was one of the most memorable Gold Cup races of recent times. Heavy rain had made the ground bottomless, and Desert Orchid looked beaten turning for home. He was gathered up for one final effort by jockey Simon Sherwood and wore down Yahoo for a famous victory. The following season he was favourite to retain his crown but could finish only third behind 100-1 winner Norton’s Coin.

Kauto Star (2007 and 2009) became the first horse to regain the crown. He had been defeated by stable companion Denman in 2008 but the five times King George VI Chase winner reversed the form comprehensively to re-write the record books for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.

Willie Mullins finally ended his long wait for success in this race when Al Boum Photo won in 2019. The horse followed up the following season but could finish only third to Minella Indo when attempting his hat-trick.

Cheltenham New Year Races

Cheltenham stages a traditional New Years’ Day meeting which features the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle and Dipper Novices’ Chase. The Relkeel Hurdle is named after a three-times course winner of the Bula Hurdle and was moved to the New Years’ Day fixture in 2016. It is over an extended two and a half miles and notable past winners include Black Jack Ketchum (2006), Oscar Whisky (2011, 2012) and Rock On Ruby (2014).

The Dipper Novices Chase is also over two and a half miles and was held at Newcastle until 2005. The inaugural running was famously won by subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Little Owl in 1980. Other significant winners include Barton (2002), My Way De Solzen (2007), Whisper (2017) and L’Homme Presse (2022).

The latter returned to Cheltenham in March to win the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices Chase. There are even more clues to the Festival meeting on Trials Day which is held towards the end of January. Feature races include the Cleeve Hurdle, Cotswold Chase and Triumph Hurdle Trial.

Champion Hurdle

The feature race on Cheltenham festival day 1 is the Champion Hurdle, a race for four-year-olds and upwards over two miles. Many of the greatest names in National Hunt racing have won this race including five three-time winners; Hatton’s Grace (1949, 1950, 1951), Sir Ken (1952, 1953, 1954), Persian War (1968, 1969, 1970), See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987) and Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000). Other notable winners include Sea Pigeon (1980, 1981), Dawn Run (1984) and Hurricane Fly (2011, 2013).

The Champion Hurdle has been dominated by owner JP McManus in recent years. He has won the race a record nine times in total, including the three victories of Istabraq. Trainer Nicky Henderson also has a formidable Champion Hurdle record with eight victories, most recently with the mare Epatante who carried the green and gold colours of McManus to victory in 2020.

The brilliant mare Honeysuckle has since made it three successive victories for the fairer sex, winning for Trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore in 2021 and 2022. She won her first sixteen races under rules, including three Cheltenham Festivals, before suffering defeat in the 2022 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 race over two miles and the highlight of Cheltenham Ladies’ Day. Badsworth Boy (1983, 1984, 1985) is the only horse to win the race three times while dual winners include Viking Flagship (1994, 1995), Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Master Minded (2008, 2009) and Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016).

Sprinter Sacre claimed his second Champion Chase victory after recovering from a heart problem. In his prime, Sprinter Sacre was rated behind only three times Gold Cup winner Arkle and 1966 Champion Chase winner Flyingbolt by the Timeform organisation.

Sprinter Sacre was trained by Nicky Henderson who also produced Altior to win the Champion Chase in 2018 and 2019. Injury thwarted his hat-trick bid in 2020 with Politologue posting a record-equalling sixth win in the race for Paul Nicholls. Henderson saddled hot favourite Shishkin in 2022 but he ran well below form and was pulled up behind Energumene. The winner was a first success in the race for Willie Mullins who is now the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival.

Stayer’s Hurdle

The Stayers’ Hurdle, previously known as the World Hurdle, is a Grade 1 race over three miles. Big Buck’s famously won this race for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh for four consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2012. Other multiple winners include Baracouda (2002, 2003) and Inglis Drever (2005, 2007, 2008).

Big Buck’s had originally been sent chasing by Trainer Paul Nicholls but he returned to hurdles after unseating his rider in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. He dominated the staying hurdle scene for the next four seasons. Besides his four festival victories, Big Buck’s also won the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Liverpool Hurdle four times and the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot three times.

Inglis Drever won three times for Trainer Howard Johnson but with a different jockey on each occasion. He was famous for his strong finish up the Cheltenham hill. Since Big Buck’s recorded his fourth win in the race there have been nine different winners, Flooring Porter winning it in 2021 and 2022. The 2020 renewal produced the biggest shock in the history of the race when 50-1 chance Lisnagar Oscar won for Rebecca Curtis and Adam Wedge.

Famous Cheltenham Jockeys

There is an annual award for the leading jockey at Cheltenham. It was dominated by Ruby Walsh between 2004 and 2017, winning it a record eleven times. Walsh returned a remarkable 38% strike-rate over fences and returned impressive statistics over hurdles. Walsh twice rode a record seven winners at the meeting in 2009 and 2016.

Tony McCoy was one of the top Cheltenham jockeys and rode some of his most memorable races there. He won top jockey in 1997 and 1998, won all the major races and rode his final festival winner aboard Uxizandre in the 2015 Ryanair Chase.

Paul Townend took over the reins from Walsh at the powerful Willie Mullins stable and was top jockey at the 2020 and 2022 Cheltenham festivals. History was made at Cheltenham in 2021 when Rachael Blackmore became the first lady rider to win the award with six winners. She also finished runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard but the combination went one better in 2022. Her achievements came almost 40 years after Caroline Beasley became the first female to ride a winner at the Festival on Eliogarty in 1983.

Cheltenham Races Outfit

There is no official press code for the Cheltenham Festival but smart and sensible is the preferred option. You should also bear in mind the unpredictable nature of the British weather in March. Men are encouraged to wear suits while cocktail dresses are recommended for ladies in the Club Enclosure. Fancy dress is not permitted in the Club Enclosure but is allowed elsewhere, provided the outfit is not deemed to be offensive. A smart pair of fitted jeans are practical and acceptable at Cheltenham races.

Ladies should pay special attention to their coat, considering there have been some very cold and wet Cheltenham Festivals over the years. It is possible to look stylish and keep warm at the same time and it is worth remembering that this is not Royal Ascot in June! The same applies to headgear where colourful berets and faux furs make more appeal than fluffy feathers. Boots, gloves and even the umbrella can be fashion accessories at the Cheltenham Festival.

Staying at the Cheltenham Racecourse and How to Get There

Cheltenham Racecourse is located at Prestbury Park near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham racetrack nestles beneath the Cotswold Hills which form the perfect amphitheatre for the finest jump racing anywhere in the world.

Cheltenham racecourse is about two hours from London by car and an hour from Birmingham and Bristol. Road users should leave the M5 at Junction 10 and follow Cheltenham racecourse directions from the town. The nearest Cheltenham train station is Cheltenham Spa which provides a frequent shuttle bus service to the racecourse during the Festival meeting. First Great Western, Cross Country Trains and Virgin Trains all run additional services for Cheltenham festival week.

For air travellers, extra flights are scheduled to Birmingham, Bristol and East Midlands to meet demand. Ryanair puts on extra flights to cater for the huge influx of Irish racegoers during festival week. Campsite Cheltenham has a limited number of touring pitches for caravans and motorhomes but is only open for the April and May meetings.

There are a wide range of catering facilities on site including award-winning restaurants and private boxes. Cheltenham prides itself on its high quality of service with everything on offer from bar snacks to the complete fine dining experience. Cheltenham’s top of the range catering features a full a la carte menu by Michelin starred chefs.

There are eleven restaurants to choose from for visitors to Cheltenham races. The Horse & Groom Pub is very popular with racegoers and provides breath-taking views as the horses jump the final two fences. The Cleeve Suite also provides stunning views of the action with a delicious four-course lunch and complimentary bar. The Chez Roux is one of Cheltenham’s most prestigious restaurants with excellent views from the balcony while The Final Fence overlooks the final obstacle.

The Panoramic Restaurant also lives up to its name with views right across the racecourse and provides top class cuisine. There is a five-course a la carte menu with breakfast rolls on arrival, morning coffee and biscuits as well as afternoon tea. The Horseshoe Pavilion is a traditional favourite which caters for the most important of clients while family and friends will enjoy the popular Festival Restaurant. For the ultimate Cheltenham racecourse guide, download the Cheltenham racecourse map. Full catering and package details can also be booked on the Cheltenham website.

FAQs

Who is Cheltenham’s Clerk of the Course?

Jon Pullin was appointed the new Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham in 2021, succeeding Simon Claisse who had clerked 20 Cheltenham Festivals. John rode as a conditional jockey between 1987 and 1993 and has previously been clerk of the course at several courses including Doncaster and Uttoxeter. He was also Group Racing Manager for Arena Leisure and Managing Director of Royal Windsor Racecourse.

What is the capacity of Cheltenham Racecourse?

The Cheltenham racecourse capacity is 67,500. It was capped after the record attendances of 2022 resulted in complaints of over-crowding. A total of 280,627 spectators attending over the four days. A record 73,754 attended on Thursday but this was immediately surpassed by 73,875 on Gold Cup Friday.

Is the course left or right-handed?

Cheltenham is a left-handed oval racetrack. It is an undulating course with stiff fences and the uphill finish puts the emphasis on stamina. The lead often changes hands on the run-in, providing a thrilling spectacle for the Cheltenham crowd.

Can I bring my camera to the races?

Compact cameras and mobile phones are allowed. However, you are not permitted to make any commercial use of any audio/visual coverage, still images or data relating to racing at Cheltenham. Flash photography is strictly forbidden on all racecourses.