Cheltenham racecourse has long been a favourite destination for ardent fans of horse racing, casual race-goers and those who want to be seen at the trendiest of places. With the Gold Cup as the centrepiece of their annual festival, Cheltenham races have an unrivalled place in the sporting and social calendars. Located at Prestbury Park, the racecourse has a scenic location set within a bowl, making it a kind of natural theatrical arena. And with a capacity of 67,500 spectators, Cheltenham has plenty of room, unlike some smaller racecourses where it can feel a little cramped for space. The racecourse is also served by its own railway station which operates a steam service on race days – something that kids and adults enjoy in equal measure.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is but one of many notable races that are held at the course throughout the year. Others include the Champion Hurdle, a Grade 1 National Hunt race over hurdles that is for horses aged four years or older. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is another race that is looked forward to. In it, horses aged over five years of age compete over a course that is about two miles long with a challenging twelve hurdles to negotiate. Another globally famous race held at Cheltenham is the World Hurdle which has a three mile course and takes place during the festival season.
The Cheltenham festival attracts the best National Hunt, or hurdling, horses to it because of the prize money that is on offer. Only the Grand National, held each year at Aintree, has greater prize money. The festival attracts a lot of interest for another reason in that Irish and UK-based horses compete against one another. Although not unheard of, this is a relatively rare phenomenon in racing and sparks a lot of betting from punters eager to see their local horses win. Large quantities of money are wagered during the week-long festival, with hundreds of millions of pounds – and quite a few euros from Irish punters – being bet. Cheltenham is often remarked upon for another reason – its atmosphere. Although hard to pin down, you will notice it if you have ever been to a race meeting elsewhere in the country. One of the most noticeable things is the so-called ‘Cheltenham roar’. This is heard when the crowd generates a great deal of noise as the starter raises the tape for the initial race of the festival.
A day at the Cheltenham races is not – to be honest – just about the horse racing and the betting. There’s plenty more to it. Many businesses from London and elsewhere relocate, in part at least, to Cheltenham during the festival week. This is so they can entertain VIPs and important clients in a madcap and magnificent atmosphere. The 2014 festival will be held in March and horse racing hospitality can be obtained from the likes of Keith Prowse, who can help businesses find the right sort of package for their party numbers and entertainment budget. Some of the entertainment suites available at Cheltenham are large and can accommodate up to 40 guests, including dining.
Cheltenham is home to the festival now but that was not always the case, since it originated in 1860. After its inception, the meeting was held at a number of locations – including Cheltenham in 1861. However, the National Hunt Race, which was then the reason for the festival to be held, returned to Cheltenham in 1904 and it hasn’t moved much ever since. Nowadays, most people simply say the Cheltenham festival, but the official title still remains the National Hunt Meeting. In 2005, due to the growing popularity of the event, a further day was added to the festival’s schedule. Since then, festival organisers have not looked back and the event continues to go from strength to strength.
James is an avid sports fan, and guests blogs about horse racing, cricket, and football.
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