Cheltenham Racecourse
The home of British National Hunt racing, Cheltenham is England’s most famous jumps track.
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About Cheltenham Racecourse
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Cheltenham Racecourse, situated in Prestbury Park, is often referred to as the home of National Hunt racing. Established in 1815, it is most famous for hosting the Cheltenham Festival, the UK’s National Hunt championships, every March.
Cheltenham features three courses, the Old Course, New Course and Cross-Country Course each offering unique challenges to race participants.
Key races run at the course include the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Stayer’s Hurdle.
Following a major redevelopment in 2015, Cheltenham can accommodate up to 67,500 spectators, offering modern hospitality suites, expansive viewing areas, and convenient amenities.
Beyond the Festival, Cheltenham hosts other meetings including the October Meeting, November Meeting, December Meeting, Trials Day and New Year’s Day Races.
Cheltenham Racecourse features two main tracks: the Old Course and the New Course, along with a cross-country circuit.
The Old Course is generally regarded as the faster of the two and is often used for major events, including the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival. It includes 11 fences for steeplechase races and 8 hurdles for hurdle races.
The layout allows horses to maintain a strong pace, making it suitable for those that can travel well and stay close to the leaders throughout the race.
In contrast, the New Course is characterized by its more challenging design, featuring a tricky downhill fence and a longer run-in for steeplechases. This course typically has 12 fences for steeplechases and 10 hurdles for hurdle races.
The New Course requires a different race strategy; horses need to conserve energy early on, as most obstacles are jumped in the initial stages of the race. This setup favors horses with exceptional stamina and finishing power, as they must navigate both the downhill jumps and a stiff uphill finish.
The cross-country circuit adds further variety to Cheltenham’s offerings, with a mix of obstacles such as banks, ditches, hedges, and water jumps. This circuit is used for cross-country steeplechases and presents a unique challenge that tests both horse and jockey.
Cheltenham Racecourse boasts a rich history spanning more than two centuries.
The first recorded horse racing in the area dates to 1815, with flat races on Nottingham Hill. By 1818, the action had moved to Cleeve Hill, where Colonel William Fitzhardinge Berkeley established a formal racing venue.
The inaugural race at Cleeve Hill took place on August 25, 1818, attracting significant crowds. Up to 30,000 people attended the annual two-day meetings that featured an early version of the Gold Cup, then a flat race.
The early years of Cheltenham’s racing were turbulent. Reverend Francis Close, a local parish priest, fiercely opposed the events, condemning them as morally corrupt. His sermons sparked unrest, culminating in disruptions during the 1829 races. In 1830, arsonists burned down the grandstand, prompting a move to Prestbury Park in 1831, which became the racecourse’s permanent home.
Prestbury Park marked the rise of steeplechasing, with the first Grand Annual Steeplechase held in 1834. By 1898, Cheltenham was firmly established as the epicenter of National Hunt racing.
The Cheltenham Festival, as we know it today, evolved from these earlier events and became a fixture at Cheltenham in 1911. Over the years, the Festival has expanded, featuring marquee races such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup (introduced as a steeplechase in 1924) and the Champion Hurdle (added in 1927).
Cheltenham Racecourse has seen numerous upgrades to accommodate its growing popularity. The original grandstand was replaced in 1960, with additional developments such as a new main grandstand completed in 1979 and extensive modernizations in the early 2000s. A £45 million redevelopment in 2015 further increased capacity to around 67,500 spectators.
Address: Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1242 513014
Email: cheltenham.reception@thejockeyclub.co.uk
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