Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham Grandstand For most of the year Cheltenham is a sleepy spa town in Gloucestershire; about 100 miles West of London, close to the Welsh border. However for 4 days in March it becomes the centre of the racing world; as the racecourse hosts the Cheltenham Festival – one of the oldest and most prestigious race meets in the world.

The Festival is a wonder to behold; journalists rub shoulders with aristocrats in the grandstand, trainers make their final preparations and jockeys await their big moments anxiously. In the midst of all this bookies are having a frantic week both at the track and online, where they can expect to take as much as £600m in bets!

Over 4 days more than 250,000 spectators will flock to the grandstand to watch the action. The atmosphere at race meets is always something special but, at Cheltenham, this reaches new levels. As the tape is cut for the first race (The Supreme Novices Hurdle) the noise will reach a spectacular level known as the “Cheltenham Roar”.

The Cheltenham Festival has a strong association with Ireland partly due to the fact it is timed to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. On that day a large section of the crowd will be from the Emerald Isle; Guinness will be drunk a plenty and affairs may become even more boisterous than usual!

Ladies Day, this year held on the second day of racing (Wednesday 11th) is altogether a more genteel affair, when all eyes will be on the beautiful dresses and elaborate hats worn by ladies. Gentlemen are encouraged to follow suit of course, though they won’t come close to matching the style or finery!

Conti recehorse Of course, during all this, Cheltenham is also giving home to dozens of horses that will compete that day. Sheltered well out of the way of the noise and excitement for as long as possible these flighty thoroughbreds will be led around the Parade Ring before they race. This represents an opportunity for the crowd to gauge an animal’s look and temperament – bright eyes, a shiny coat and muscle tone are all pointers of a horse in prime condition.

Sadly racing is still dangerous for jockeys and horses; several of the latter will be put down each year. Owners face the prospect of losing a beloved, and very expensive, animal and so must consider the decision to enter carefully.

For racehorse owners the primary financial reward can often come after a horse’s career has ended – when they are put out to stud. A respectable showing at Cheltenham can be the difference between ignominious retirement and a lucrative second career. Frankel the last “super steed” to win widespread fame, surpassed his entire career earnings in a year of going to stud at £125,000 a go! In the run up to this year’s festival, formerly highly rated Tell Us More has already damaged his star with poor showings, but Silviniaco Conti shows every sign of adding a stunning end of career triumph to his roster by winning the Gold Cup.

Cheltenham is a simply unforgettable event which is well worth experiencing. Tickets start from as little as £22 and there are convenient rail links from London. All tickets are likely to be sold well in advance so, if you’re interested, it’s worth starting to plan now!

96 people found this helpful
17853

Share Article:

Silver Travel Advisor

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.