Enjoy horseracing at Cheltenham Race Course - By: cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse is located near Cheltenham town centre, Gloucestershire, in the suburban village of Prestbury. Cheltenham is called the "home of National Hunt racing", largely because it hosts the prestigious four-day Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup, held every March and features some impressive Cheltenham Festival horseracing events throughout the year.

Unique Features

Cheltenham Racecourse has a scenic location, situated in a natural amphitheatre just below the Cotswolds, at Cleeve Hill. This racecourse in Cheltenham can accommodate up to 67,500 spectators. The racecourse also has its own railway station, which is the southern terminus of the preserved Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. The railway offers a 20-mile round trip between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds.

The unique features of Cheltenham Racecourse include two separate courses alongside each other, the Old Course and the New Course. The New Course has a tricky downhill fence and a longer run-in for steeplechases than the Old Course. Hurdle races over two miles on the New Course also differ in that most of the hurdles are jumped early on in the race with only two hurdles being jumped in the last seven furlongs. There is also a cross-country course which is laid out inside the main racecourse and is used for cross-country steeplechases.

The Centaur

Cheltenham Racecourse is the home of The Centaur, one of the largest auditoriums in the South West of England. The Centaur is intended for multiple uses, being able to seat over 2,000 people for conferences and exhibitions as well as around 4,000 standing for concerts. Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for other festivals such as the Greenbelt Festival, which hosts musicians such as Billy Bragg, Fightstar, Royksopp, Athlete, José Gonzalez, and The Proclaimers. Each year Cheltenham Racecourse hosts a rich programme of visual and performing arts, spirituality, comedy and talks and discussion by welcoming Greenbelt to its doors. Other festivals include the Wychwood Festival held in June idyllically set in the heart of Cheltenham Racecourse. The racecourse is divided into the Festival Village; encompassing the Main Stage Arena, the Big Top, workshop areas, Global Trade Village and Healing Gardens, as well as a campsite which is a short distance from the Festival Village. The University of Gloucestershire also holds its graduation ceremony and summer ball at Cheltenham Racecourse, welcoming students and families to celebrate the event.

Racecourse Entertainment

Many visitors to Cheltenham will be surprised to see there is often entertainment showcased at Cheltenham Racecourse. Katherine Jenkins will soon be performing at Cheltenham Racecourse’s outdoor stage on July 3rd, as she performs this concert in aid of LINC, the Leukemia and Intensive Chemotherapy Fund. Cheltenham Racecourse will also open its doors to the Velo Club Montpellier Cycle racing tour and the Cancer Research UK charity event ‘Race for Life’. With so much to offer visitors can never get bored when visiting Cheltenham town.

Staying in Cheltenham

With such an array of horseracing, festivals and entertainment featured at Cheltenham Racecourse, why not make a stay out of your visit to Cheltenham? There are many cheap hotels in Cheltenham so an overnight break won’t break the bank. One of the frequently recommended hotels in Cheltenham is the Holiday Inn Express located in Cheltenham town centre. It is one of the closest hotels to Cheltenham Racecourse and offers visitors up to 25% off restaurant meals in the town centre, free use of a gym, pool and spa and a complimentary breakfast. With such added-value discounts available, the Holiday Inn Express hotel is an ideal place to stay for all Cheltenham’s leisure visitors.

About the Author

Enjoy horseracing at Cheltenham Race Course with hiexcheltenham.com, The Holiday Inn Express Hotel Cheltenham is a sophisticated, modern hotel set amid the regency splendour of Cheltenham Town Centre.

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