Hosting 16 horse racing fixtures of superb quality each year, Cheltenham Racecourse is reknowned for the National Hunt Festival held in March, with its famous Gold Cup race. Besides the festival itself there are a number of other major race days including the Paddy Power November meeting, December and Pillar meetings.

Cheltenham Racecourse

Used for the first time in 1831 when Lord Ellenborough offered his own land for racing as racing and gambling was criticised by Cheltenham parish priest Rev Francis Close, Cheltenham Racecourse has served as a racing venue since 1902.

Cheltenham now consists of two race courses called the Old and New, both containing many well-built fences, placing the emphasis on the contestants' jumping ability. There is also a cross-country course which is laid out inside the main racecourse and is used for cross-country steeplechases.

Situated below the escarpment of Cleeve Hill, the grandstand, which was opened in 1979 by the Queen Mother, a regular visitor at the National Hunt Festival, provides fascinating views of The Cotswolds. Racegoers can be brought in by a steam train, as Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway runs a regular service to the racecourse.

Races can be viewed from several enclosures. The Best Mate Enclosure gives racegoers a great view of the racing, a Harry Ramsden restaurant, betting shop and bars. Tattersalls enclosure and Club are, on every day except The Open Saturday and The Festival, combined to form one enclosure. This allows viewers to use all the areas including the members’ lawn, viewing steps, paddock and, subject to weather, the centre of the course by the jumps.

When Cheltenham Racecourse is not hosting horse racing, it serves as a venue for music festivals, such as Wychwood Music Festival, or Greenbelt Festival, and its top of the range auditorium, The Centaur, is used for concerts, exhibitions, fairs and shows.

 HOW TO BOOK

In person at the racecourse, by telephone on 01242 226226, or send a booking form to Advance Bookings at Cheltenham Racecourse address. You can also book online at www.cheltenham.co.uk , where for £4 tickets will be posted to you registered post.