Horse racing is a sport that has worked hard to improve its hospitality packages in recent years to attract a new audience to their racecourses. They have done this by adding gourmet quality food to their restaurants, luxurious private boxes to their grandstands and packages that give racegoers exclusive access to parts of the course.
Here is a look at the three most luxurious horse racing events in the UK and why they are a must-visit.
Grand National (Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, Merseyside)
The Grand National meeting takes place over three days in April at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. The feature race, the Grand National, is run on the final day on a Saturday. Last year’s contest was won by Corach Rambler, who is 12/1 in the Grand National odds to defend his crown in 2024.
This meeting takes place in the final month of the National Hunt season, and you can follow Grand National tips throughout the campaign to get a good idea of the horses that travel there with a strong chance of success.
Aintree offers a VIP experience, which includes a four-course a la carte menu, afternoon tea and a private table to watch the action across the afternoon. If you’d prefer a box to enjoy the racing with friends and family, you can have a four-course meal, with a private balcony overlooking the racecourse.
When racing finishes, you are just down the road from Liverpool city centre where you can enjoy your evening in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.
Royal Ascot (Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire)
Not many sporting events do glitz and glamour like Royal Ascot. This meeting is as much about fashion as it is about horse racing. It has a strict dress code, particularly in the hospitality areas of the course.
Staged in June across five days, Royal Ascot sees the best Flat horses from around the world compete. Horse racing fans travel from the USA, Japan and across Europe to visit this event each year. One of the biggest races of the week is the Ascot Gold Cup, run on Ladies’ Day. It was won in 2023 by Courage Mon Ami, who was ridden to victory by Frankie Dettori.
The a la carte menus at Royal Ascot are designed by Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc. It is considered best in class hospitality, and you get to experience it all at an iconic sporting venue.
Cheltenham Festival (Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire)
The Cheltenham Festival is described as “the greatest show on turf”. It takes place over four days in March and there are 28 prestigious races, with the feature contest being the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Galopin Des Champs won the Gold Cup in 2023, producing one of the best performances in recent years.
This meeting separates itself from any other in the sport due to its electric atmosphere. Many horse racing fans clear their diaries for this event every year, as they see it as a must-not-miss fixture.
There are six restaurants to choose from at the Cheltenham Festival, including the Panoramic Restaurant, which offers an amazing view of the racecourse. Cheltenham have won awards for their hospitality packages, and these appear to get better every year.
Enjoy your next visit to one of the three horse racing events, and hopefully, the experience will be so positive that you will want to go back again and again.
