The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the UK horse racing calendar. It is the climax of the National Hunt season and takes place at Prestbury Park in the middle of every March.
These days the Cheltenham Festival compromised of 26 races over a four day period, running between Tuesday and Friday. Each day consists of either six or seven races, and one championship race. The first race of every day begins around 1.30 and culminates with the final race between 4.30 and 5.30 depending on the schedule and the number of races. Across the four days over 200,000 spectators visit the venue. It is mostly British and Irish Jockeys who take part but the number from elsewhere have increased in recent years. As with any horse racing event gambling plays a huge part, with around £600 million put on races in 2009.
One of the things the Festival is famous for is its strong Irish feel, both on the race course and in the stands. Many of the trainers, horses and jockeys over the years have been Irish, and thousands come across from Ireland to watch every year. Part of the festivities as far as the Irish contingent is concerned is that is coincides with their national day, St. Patrick’s Day.
The history of the Cheltenham Festival now dates back 108 years, with the first festival having taken place in 1902. Until 2005 it had been a three day event. Racing at Prestbury Park dates back even further though – all the way back to 1815. The most successful jockey in the festivals history is Pat Taafe who totalled 25 wins throughout his career. He is in danger of being caught though, with current rider Ruby Walsh only one behind Taafe’s record.
The highlight of the week is the Gold Cup. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is up there with the Grand National and the Melbourne Cup as being synonymous with horse racing. It is contested over three miles and two and a half furlongs and there are twenty two fences to be negotiated. Prize money for this race alone is almost half a million pounds – the first Gold Cup in 1924 had a prize pot of just £624, although this would have been a lot of money at the time. Four horses have won three or more Gold Cup’s; Golden Miller, who won five consecutive, Cottage Rake, Arkle, and Best Mate, who achieved a hat-trick between 2002 and 2004.
The Gold Cup takes place on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival and is one of the four Championship races. The others are the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the World Hurdle, and take place on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
Andrew Marshall (c)
For Solicitors Cheltenham visit the Charles Russell website.
For more on the Cheltenham Festival visit http://www.cheltenhamfestival.net/
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