Situated in the beautiful Cotswolds of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Racecourse is renowned throughout the country for its lavish events and exciting atmosphere. Thousands of racing fans flock to the racecourse every year to watch the sixteen magnificent events that take place, and this year will be no different.
Whether you wish to take in the vibe of the posh, world-famous Cheltenham Festival or simply wish to spend a day at the races, there are plenty of chances to experience the luxurious Cheltenham Racecourse.
The Festival
By far, the most notable annual event at Cheltenham Racecourse is The Festival, a three-day affair that celebrates Jump racing, horses, jockeys, owners and trainers. As the crown jewel of Jump racing, The Festival is arguably the most exciting equine events of the entire year. In fact, there is already plenty of news coming out about the events regarding who will be taking part and which horses will be your best bet, for those wishing to partake in some traditional horse racing betting.
This year, The Festival will run between 14 – 17 March and will comprise of the following events:
Tuesday 14 March – Champion’s Day
From 10.30am, racing’s most exciting event begins with a day dedicated to champions. The Stan James Champion Hurdle – arguably the most important race of the season – will take place on this day alongside many other exciting fixtures.
Wednesday 15 March – Ladies’ Day
Jump Racing continues throughout Ladies’ Day, which will features this year’s Ambassadors Roz Purcell and Miss England Elizabeth Grant. Tickets for this event increase every two months, so you best be quick if you’re interested.
Thursday 16 March – St Patrick’s Day
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style alongside plenty of Guinness and Irish tunes as you watch two of the biggest races of the year: The Ryanair World Hurdle and The Ryanair Chase.
Friday 17 March – Gold Cup Day
The Festival’s big finale comes in the form of The Cheltenham Timico Gold Cup race, a race that is sure to feature on any great racing fan’s bucket list.
Of course, as The Festival is such a special event, tickets are already being sold and many have already been snapped up. On Cheltenham Racecourse’s official website, general admissions tickets are priced as follows:
Best Mate Enclosure: £25pp – £38pp
Tattersalls Enclosure: £40pp – £70pp
Club Enclosure: £80pp – £83pp
Guinness View: £200pp
Unfortunately, tickets for the Guinness Grandstand are already sold out. However, most of the racecourse’s restaurants are still taking bookings for each of the days:
Moscow Flyer: £250pp
The Festival: £370pp
Don Cossack: £380pp
Horseshoe Pavillion: £425pp
Gold Cup: £445pp
Paddock View: £445pp
Champions Walk: £470pp
Cleeve Suite: £495pp
Final Fence: £515pp
Chez Roux at Cheltenham: £750pp
Private box prices during The Festival are yet to be announced on the venue’s official site, but there are Cheltenham accredited sites that are already offering customers packages including box seats. Team Tactics are offering a number of exclusive packages such as the Needham & Needham Boxes and Restaurant package which includes morning coffee, a bar, lunch, afternoon tea – all from the comfort of a glass box overlooking the final two hurdles on the course starting at £414pp.
The April Meeting
During April, Cheltenham Racecourse will be hosting The April Meeting on the following days:
Wednesday 19th April – Day One
The highlight of this first day is usually the Grade 2 Handicap Chase, although the spring sun finally making an appearance may outshine this. Whether you love horse racing or simply want a day out from the office, this is a great alternative to boring boardrooms.
Thursday 20th April – Day Two
The second day of The April Meeting is almost entirely dedicated to mares as four of the seven races are mare-only. This is a fantastic opportunity for women and their friends to organise their very own Ladies’ Day.
The April Meeting is always a favourite amongst fans as you receive all of the same luxury and action of The Festival without such steep general admission, restaurant or box prices:
Best Mate Enclosure: £9pp
Club Enclosure: £18pp
Tattersalls Enclosure: £18pp
Gold Cup Restaurant: £75pp
Panoramic Restaurant: £135 – £150pp
Course Facing Private Box: £205pp
Hunter Chase Evening
After the Hunter Chase Evening on May 5th 2017, you will not be able to see racing at Cheltenham for six months, which is just one of the reasons why this event is so popular. There are seven races in total, including an extended two miles to four miles and one furlong.
Best Mate Enclosure: £9
Club Enclosure: £18pp
Tattersalls Enclosure: £18pp
Gold Cup Restaurant: £75pp
Panoramic Restaurant: £125pp – £130pp
Course Facing Private Box: 175pp
On top of it all, this year BBC Radio One DJ Greg James will be attending The Centaur to perform a live DJ set in celebration of the season’s finale. Entry to The Centaur will require a wristband, which you can buy individually for just £10, or as part of The Centaur Party Package for £40. The Centaur Party Package includes tickets to the Club or Tattersalls Enclosures, £10 worth of Tote Betting Vouchers, £9 of Food and Refreshment Voucher and a Racecard.
Later This Year
After the long summer months, Cheltenham Racecourse will welcome you back to enjoy a further three events throughout autumn and winter. The first will be The Showcase on October 27th and 28th, followed by The Open from November 17th to November 19th and The International, the final event of the year, on December 15th and 16th.
Tickets and detailed information regarding these events won’t be available until June 2017, but we’re sure they’ll be just as exciting as the upcoming events detailed above. Let us know if you have any other questions regarding Cheltenham Races, if you’ve ever been or if you plan to go this year.
Main image at the very top of the article credit: “Cheltenham racecourse” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06
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