Cheltenham: Let the Jump Season Begin!

Cheltenham Festival is one of the UK’s most historic horse racing meetings, dating back more than 200 years. As the first major event of the 2023 jump season calendar, this year’s festival (from 14th to 17th March) follows a tradition dating back to 1815.

The annual meeting is held at Cheltenham racecourse, located at Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire. Last year’s festival attracted a total of 280,627 spectators over the four days. This included 73,875 on the final day to watch the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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Organisers have announced the number of racegoers at this year’s event has been capped at 68,500 per day to give those present a more enjoyable experience. The venue is famous for its lively atmosphere, especially the “Cheltenham roar”, as the lively crowd gets behind the horses and jockeys.

The prestigious Grade I race, in addition to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, include the Queen Mother Chase, the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle. Total prize money over the four days is £4.59 million between 28 races, with around 50% donated by the event’s sponsors.

History of Cheltenham Festival

The early race meetings at the location bore little resemblance to the racing spectacular that fans know and love today.

First recorded in 1815, when a flat race took place on Nottingham Hill, the first horse races on Cleeve Hill (overlooking today’s racecourse) were held in August 1818: the Cheltenham Gold Cup was first staged at Cleeve Hill in July 1819 for three-year-olds – Spectre won the race, and the owner earned £100 guineas prize money.

By 1860, Cheltenham Festival (then the National Hunt Meeting) had become an annual event. It attracted around 50,000 spectators – a massive number considering the poor transport links at the time.

In 1911, when Cheltenham Festival moved to its current course, the modern era of the meeting began. On 12th March 1924, the Cheltenham Gold Cup as we know it today was run for the first time. It wasn’t the most prestigious race in those days. This honour went to the National Hunt Chase.

Following the austerity of World War II, Cheltenham Festival bounced back, growing in popularity every year since. It is particularly known for its strong Irish contingent today.

Most famous horses

Golden Miller became horse racing’s first household name by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup five consecutive times in the 1930s. As a five-year-old, he won for the first time in 1932, before going on to win every year until 1936. He retired in 1939.

The most famous winner in modern times was Arkle, who triumphed three times in the Gold Cup on three consecutive years in 1964, 1965 and 1966. The Arkle Challenge Trophy, a Grade 1 National Hunt race for horses aged five years and older, was created in his honour.

Desert Orchid won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989, with jockey Simon Sherwood, in a legendary victory. The grey gelding became the most popular winner of all time for his sheer determination: there had been snow and the ground was hard, but an inspection ruled the race could go ahead. Desert Orchid settled at the front from the outset and triumphed, despite a late challenge by runner up Yahoo. The crowd and seemingly the whole nation got behind him, as he soldiered on through harsh conditions to win the gruelling race.

Most famous jockeys

Cheltenham Festival has attracted many famous jockeys over the years too. Ruby Walsh, 43, from County Kildare, holds the all-time record of having ridden 59 Cheltenham winners until he retired in May 2019, at the end of his 24-year career.

County Meath jockey Barry Geraghty, 43, is the second most successful Cheltenham winner, with 34 victories at the meeting before his retirement at the age of 40. His first victory was in 2002, riding Moscow Flyer.

The third most successful Cheltenham jockey is Sir Anthony McCoy, 48, from County Antrim, who has ridden 31 winners. His first success was in 1996, riding Kibreet. In 2010, he was awarded the OBE for services to horse racing. He retired in 2015.

The most successful trainer, Willie Mullins, 66, of Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, has trained 88 Cheltenham Festival winners. Former jockey Nicky Henderson, 72, of Lambeth, has trained 70 Cheltenham winners, making him the second most successful trainer of all time.

In the run-up to the festival, it has become popular for the racing press to take tours of the various stables to give the public a behind-the-scenes flavour of what’s to come.

Remembering our great Queen

The late Queen Elizabeth II was a great fan of the Cheltenham Festival. Known for her deep love of horses, she developed a very keen interest in horseracing throughout her reign.

She cherished her own horses, and her knowledge and enthusiasm will never be forgotten at the first jump race meeting of the season.

We would like to take this opportunity to remember our great Queen.