THE 2010 FESTIVAL
Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tuesday 16th March
1.30 williamhill.com Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f
2.05 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 2m
2.40 William Hill Trophy Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1/2f
3.20 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2m 1/2f
4.00 Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 7f
4.40 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m 4f
Wednesday 17th March
1.30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 4m
2.05 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f
2.40 RSA Steeple Chase 3m 1/2f
3.20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase 2m
4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 5f
4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 1/2f
5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Open NH Flat Race) 2m 1/2f
Thursday 18th March
1.30 Jewson Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 5f
2.05 Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) 3m
2.40 Ryanair Chase 2m 5f
3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle 3m
4.00 Freddie Williams Festival Plate Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 5f
4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1 1/2f
Friday 19th March
1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 1f
2.05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m
3.20 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 3m 2 1/2f
4.00 Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase 3m 2 1/2f
4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4 1/2f
5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase 2m 1/2f
Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire, GL50 4SH
Tel: 01242 513 014 to book tickets
Ladies Day
Thursday at The Festival is now established as Ladies Day.
This is when we celebrate the huge contribution that Ladies make to Jump racing and present the award for ‘The Outstanding Contribution made by a Lady to Jump Racing’.
Over the past three years, this award has attracted a large number of nominations from the public. Those shortlisted included ladies involved in Jump racing in many different ways, from trainers and stable staff to jockeys and charity workers. The 2007 winner was Heather Atkinson, Senior Nurse in the Jockeys’ Hospital at Cheltenham for over 30 years. In 2008 the award was shared between Ann Saunders from the Professional Jockeys Association and Lady Chicky Oaksey from the Injured Jockeys Fund. The recipient of the award in 2009 was jockey Nina Carberry, who has now ridden four Festival winners and is thought by many shrewd judges to be the best female Jump jockey of all time.
About Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural amphitheatre. But it’s the undulations of the course, the test of the fences and hurdles and the fight to the finish up the legendary Cheltenham hill that combine to test the true strength of any thoroughbred racehorse and rider.
The Old Course
Used each season for The Showcase, The Open and the first two days of The Festival.
The New Course
Used each season for The Boylesports International, New Year’s Day, Festival Trials Day, the 3rd and 4th days of The Festival (including the Gold Cup) and The April and May meetings.
The Cross Country Steeplechase course
Used for one race each at The Open, Boylesports International and The Festival each season.
History of Cheltenham Racecourse
The first organised Flat race meeting in Cheltenham took place in 1815 on Nottingham Hill, with the first races on Cleeve Hill in August 1818. Racing’s popularity soared over the next decade with crowds of 30,000 visiting the Racecourse for its annual two day July meeting featuring the Gold Cup, a 3m flat race.
In 1829, Cheltenham’s Parish Priest, Reverend Francis Close, preached the evils of horseracing and aroused such strong feeling amongst his congregation that the race meeting in 1830 was disrupted. Before the following year’s meeting the grandstand was burnt to the ground!
To overcome this violent opposition the racecourse was moved to Prestbury Park, its current venue, in 1831. Steeplechasing became established in nearby Andoversford from 1834 and moved to the present course in 1898.
In 1964, Racecourse Holdings Trust (now Jockey Club Racecourses) was formed to secure the future of Cheltenham. The Group now owns 13 other racecourses – a combination of Jumps, Flat, Dual Purpose and All Weather racecourses. Wholly owned in a Trust by The Jockey Club, Jockey Club Racecourses reinvests all of its profits into its 14 racecourses to ensure the continued success and development of British horseracing.
The changing face of Cheltenham Racecourse
1950s
The stands changed little between the 1930s and 1950s when the National Hunt Steeplechase course ran behind the back of the stands.
1960s and 1970s
The original Tattersalls Grandstand was opened in 1960 to cope with growing crowds. The Weighing Room was underneath the Festival Restaurant and the Winners Enclosure above the Parade Ring. During this period the centre of the racecourse was developed and became a popular raceday enclosure.
1980s
The main Grandstand was completed in 1979 and extended twice in the 1980s. The top two levels were dedicated entirely to Private Hospitality, and in 1982 the Parade Ring, Weighing Room and Hurdlers Hall were built behind the stands with terraced viewing for 4,000.
1990s
The new stables complex was opened in 1990 adjacent to Hunters Lodge, our stable staff hotel built 3 years earlier to sleep 124. The Pre-Parade Ring was used for the first time in 1992 and Hall of Fame Entrance officially opened in 1993.
The Cross Country Course was introduced in 1995 and is now raced on three times each season, including The Festival. The race weaves around the centre of the course with natural obstacles including hedges, banks and ditches.
In 1997, the original Tattersalls Grandstand was knocked down and replaced with tiered viewing and the Panoramic Restaurant which boasts spectacular views across the racecourse.
The Millennium
During 2003-2004 £3m was invested in the Best Mate Enclosure in the centre of the racecourse, giving a new grandstand and arguably one of the best views of racing.
During the same period, £17m was invested in providing additional raceday facilities with The Centaur, a new conference and events centre. Accommodating up to 4,000 visitors, The Centaur is the biggest venue of its kind between Birmingham and Bournemouth.
In 2005, The Festival was successfully extended to four days.
Investing in the future
Cheltenham’s next major redevelopment includes the Weighing Room and Media Centre beside the Parade Ring, more Paddock viewing and new ‘A and R’ Boxes to provide improved and new facilities for racegoers, our 8,500 Members, Box Holders and Sponsors.
Cheltenham in numbers
The Racecourse employs over 60 permanent staff, which rises to approximately 1,000 for a race meeting and over 5,000 at The Festival.
The Festival is worth an estimated £50m to the local economy and hosts the largest Tented Village of any kind at a sporting event. Over £2m is spent each year on temporary facilities alone.
Festival drinkers get through 18,000 bottles of Champagne and 214,000 pints of Guinness. Prize money at Cheltenham exceeds £6m throughout the season with £3.67m on offer at The Festival alone, making it the most valuable and prestigious fixture in Jump racing.
The racecourse is also home to many other organizations and businesses including Cotswold RDA, Cheltenham Archery and Clubs for Angling and Model Aircraft.
Throughout the year we welcome over 700,000 visitors to the racecourse and hope that every visitor – horse or human – enjoy their visit and will be back soon.
