Cheltenham Racecourse: A Historical Overview
Cheltenham Racecourse, located at Prestbury Park near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, has a rich history in National Hunt horse racing. Although racing in Cheltenham began in 1815 with minor flat races on Nottingham Hill, the first significant racing took place on Cleeve Hill on 25 August 1818. The inaugural race, won by Miss Tidmarsh, was owned by Mr. E Jones. By 1819, the results were included in the Racing Calendar, and a flat racing program was held with notable attendance by the Duke of Gloucester, who contributed 100 Guineas to the prize fund. Racing moved to Prestbury in 1831, and the Grand Annual Steeplechase was first run in 1834. Notably, Lottery, who won the Grand Annual in 1839, had previously won the inaugural Aintree Grand National. The meeting briefly transferred to Andoversford in 1840 but returned to Prestbury in 1847. The current course at Prestbury Park was established in 1902, with the new stands completed in 1914. The Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run in 1924, followed by the Champion Hurdle in 1927.
prestigious Meetings and Features
Cheltenham Racecourse is renowned for its prestigious Cheltenham Festival, held annually in March. The festival features several Grade I races, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, and Stayers' Hurdle. The racecourse's scenic location in a natural amphitheatre, situated just below the escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at Cleeve Hill, allows it to accommodate up to 67,500 spectators.
Course Layout
The racecourse comprises two separate tracks: the Old Course and the New Course. The New Course features a challenging downhill fence and a longer run-in for steeplechases compared to the Old Course. For hurdle races over two miles on the New Course, most hurdles are jumped early in the race, with only two hurdles remaining in the final seven furlongs. The Old Course is used for events such as The Showcase, The November Meeting, and the first two days of the Cheltenham Festival. Additionally, a cross-country course is laid out inside the main racecourse for cross-country steeplechases.
Facilities and Events
Cheltenham Racecourse is home to The Centaur, one of the largest auditoria in South West England, which seats over 2,000 people for conferences and accommodates around 4,000 standing for concerts. The racecourse also hosts the Steeplechasing Hall of Fame and was the venue for the Greenbelt festival from 1999 to 2013. It continues to host the Wychwood Music Festival, and the University of Gloucestershire holds its graduation ceremonies and summer ball at the racecourse.
Recent Developments
In 2008, the racecourse, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, explored the possibility of Cheltenham Town F.C. moving to the racecourse, which would have involved constructing a new stadium with a double-sided stand for both football and racing. However, Cheltenham Town F.C. decided against the move in 2011 due to financial considerations. In 2015, Cheltenham Racecourse completed the redevelopment with the opening of the £45 million Princess Royal Stand, which has a capacity of 6,500.
