Cheltenham Racecourse
Gold Cup • Cheltenham Festival

From: Horse Shows
See Also : Royal Ascot • Gold Cup

Cheltenham Racecourse
The racecourse is situated in Gloucestershire and holds National Hunt races. Cheltenham Racecourse is particularly well known for holding the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Festival.

National Hunt Racing
This is the racing of horses over fences covering a distance of around two to three miles.

The Courses
There are three courses at Cheltenham:

• The Old Course
• The New Course
• The Cross Country Steeplechase Course

History
Racing at Cheltenham first began in 1815 where flat racing took place at Nottingham Hill.

By 1818 horse racings popularity increased and the race meetings moved to Cleeve Hill which has views over where the racecourse is currently situated.

In 1829 the annual Gold Cup meeting was disrupted and the stadium was actually burnt down by the following year. This opposition came about largely from the Cheltenham Parish priest at the time called Reverend Francis Close whose preaching's about the evils of horse racing to his congregation led to the racecourse actually having to move to avoid further violent disruption.

The new chosen venue for the racecourse was Prestbury Park which is where it still remains today.

In 1898 Steeplechase first arrived at the venue having been moved from Andoversford where it had been long established since 1834.

In 1964 to secure the future of racing at Cheltenham the Racecourse Holdings Trust was formed, this trust is now known as the Jockey Club Racecourses and reinvests its profits into the continued success of horse racing.

In the 1960's to cope with the growing number of race enthusiasts the Tattersalls Grandstand was opened and in the 1980's the main Grandstand was also completed.

In 1997 the Tattersalls Grandstand was knocked down and replaced with a restaurant and tiered viewing over the racecourse.

Horses
All horses participating must be fit and in excellent condition in order to travel at speeds of up to 35mph. There are several vets on site with access to horse ambulances if required.

The Going
This is the term given for the ground conditions, which are as follows:

• Hard
• Firm
• Good to firm
• Good
• Good to soft
• Soft
• Heavy
• Waterlogged

The Cheltenham Festival Dates
The Festival holds 11 Grade 1 races over 4 days:

• Cheltenham Festival
• 13th March 2018 Champion Day
• 14th March 2018 Ladies Day
• 15th March 2018 St. Patrick's Day
• 16th March 2018 Gold Cup Day
• Cheltenham Gold Cup 16th March

The Main Races -
The main races held at Cheltenham are:

• Cheltenham Gold Cup - Held during the Cheltenham Festival on the New Course, it is for horses who are 5 years old or above and is run over a distance of 3 miles and 2.5 furlongs.
• Champion Hurdle - Held on the fist day of the Cheltenham Festival for horses who are 4 yeas old or above over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards on the Old Course.
• Queen Mother Champion Chase- Held in March during the Cheltenham Festival it is for horses who are 5 years old and above and is run over a distance of 2 miles.
• World Hurdle - Held during the Cheltenham Festival on the New Course for horses who are 4 years old, over a distance of 3 miles.
• Triumph Hurdle - Held on the New Course during the Cheltenham Festival over a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong for horses aged 4 years old.
• RSA Chase - Is run on the Old Course during the Cheltenham Festival and is open to horses aged 5 years and above over a distance of 3 miles and 110 yards.
• Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle - Held on the Old Course during the Cheltenham Festival. For 4 year old horse and above over 2 miles and 5 furlongs.
• Supreme Novices' Hurdle - Held on the Old Course over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards for horses 4 years old and above. The event takes place during the Cheltenham Festival.
• Champion Bumper - For horses who are aged between 4 and 6 years old, the event takes place on the Old Course over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards during the Cheltenham Festival.
• Festival Trophy - Held during the Cheltenham Festival on the New Course over a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs it is open to horses 5 years old and above.
• Spa Novices' Hurdle - Held during the Cheltenham Festival over a distance of 3 miles on the New Course and is open to horses 4 years old and above.
• Paddy Power Gold Cup - Held during November for horses 4 years old and above over a distance of 2 miles and 4.5 furlongs.
• Cleeve Hurdle - Held in January on the New Course and is open to horses who are five years old and above over a distance of 3 miles.
• Cotswold Chase- Held in January on the New Course over a distance of 3 miles and 1.5 furlongs it is open to horses who are aged 5 years and above.

The Distance
Races are held over varying distances of around 2 to 3 miles.

A furlong is a distance measurement and is one eighth of a mile or 220 yards.

Dining At Cheltenham Racecourse
There are several restaurants offering a wide range of food and drink to add to your racing experience.

Location
Cheltenham Racecourse is situated just below Cleeve Hill of the Cotswolds and is near to the village of Prestbury just outside Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.

Equestrian and Horse • The Equestrian • The Horse 'Equus' • Equestrian News • Horse Tack • Horse Care
Equestrian Clothing • Horse Riding • Horse Worming • Horse Training • Horse Bits • Riding Holidays
Horse Shows • Horse Videos • Riders • Equine Art • Books • Directory • Site Map • Contact Us

© 2012 Equestrian and Horse