When it comes to the most exciting and eagerly anticipated festivals of the calendar year in the UK, the Cheltenham Festival has to be near the top of the list. Many refer to this event as the “Olympics of jump racing”, which seems to be a well-earned nickname. The event takes place over four days in Cheltenham, with each day being filled with activities and events. The horses represented at the festival come from France, Ireland, and Great Britain and are all vying for the top prizes.
With the festival fast approaching, taking place March 14-17, now seems like the perfect time to brush up on all things Cheltenham Festival. Here’s a look at 10 Cheltenham Festival fun facts.
2019 Saw a Record Prize Amount
Curious as to how much is awarded in prizes during the Cheltenham Festival? It seems the record prize total was set back in 2019 when it hit £4,590,000 throughout the event.That works out to more than £1,000,000 per day, which is pretty staggering.
Jump Racing Stats and Facts That May Surprise You
Because you probably don’t watch the entire festival coverage on television or in person, you may not realise just how many jump races there are. During the four days, there are 28 jump races. That’s a whole lot of competitive action. As for the shortest distance that counts as a race during the event, that would be two miles.
Even though there are 28 jump races, there are five feature races that take place. These races are The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, Unibet Champion Hurdle, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Breaking the race stats down even further, there are 12,320 yards of running rail around the track, and each year they require a whopping 5,000 bundles of birch.
Who Is the Most Successful Rider?
A common question people ask is who the most successful rider is in the history of the festival. That would be none other than Ruby Walsh, with 63 winners under his belt. Walsh retired back in 2019 but so far still holds the prestigious record. The most wins by a jockey in a single season is also held by Walsh, who won seven in one year. Walsh managed that feat back in 2016, only a few years before his retirement.
Food Acts as a Huge Draw to the Event
Of course, the main event is the races, but it’s also important to point out the food. There are plenty of options available but it seems potatoes are the most popular with nine tons consumed throughout the four days.
Some other food-related stats include more approximately 45,000 bread rolls served, over 8,000 gallons of coffee and tea served, 350 chefs catering daily, 3,800 staff on the catering team, 45,000 hospitality meals, 74 mobile catering units, 30 temporary kitchens, and 15 restaurants. It’s clear that food and drink have started to move to the forefront of the action and ended up being a big part of the celebrations.
Just How Popular is Guinness at the Festival?
And speaking of food and drink, while tea and coffee are always popular, it is the Guinness that is flowing. On average, 265,000 pints of Guinness are served over the four days. That is a rather staggering volume when you think about it.
Guinness has become such a staple and popular drink that it has a special area in the Festival – The Guinness Village – which is often the top hospitality spot drawing the largest crowds.
You Can Get Expert Tips Broken Down by the Day
Looking to place a bet during the festival? If so, be sure to refer to Cheltenham tips for in-depth stats and information, so you can feel confident in your bet. You’ll find everything from tips to predictions straight from the “experts”. And not to worry, all 28 races are covered, no matter how big or small each one seems.
One Trainer Stands Out Over the Years
Just as there is a leading winner over the years, there is also one trainer that stands above the rest in the most wins. Willie Mullins, from Ireland, holds the title for training the most winners. As of 2021, he has trained 78 winners. And while the Gold Cup was something that Mullins got close to many times it wasn’t until 2019 that one of his riders finally won it. His luck was repeated in 2020 with another Gold Cup rider.
With all his accolades and wins, one thing that has alluded Mullins is the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The Festival Gets a Lot of News Coverage
Part of the reason the Cheltenham Festival is such big news each year is because of the press coverage it receives. There are approximately 1,000 members of the press in attendance and covering the entirety of the event.
More Than One Course
When you think of the Cheltenham Festival, most assume there is just one course. That’s not the case, as it’s made up of two courses. There is both the New Course and the Old Course that are used. The first half of the festival takes place on the Old Course and then the final two days are completed on the New Course. So which is harder?
Both are challenging for riders, but the majority tend to agree that the New Course is the more difficult one. Typically riders will say it takes more stamina to complete it successfully, making it a more challenging course.
A Massive Tourist Draw
And as you may expect, the Cheltenham Festival is a massive tourist draw. On average, about 65,000 people attend daily and then more than a quarter of a million visitors flock to the town to be part of the action. Generally speaking, it is Cheltenham Gold Cup Day that gets the biggest crowd, bringing in over 70,000 fans that day. This equates to a huge influx of customers for local businesses, so it can be a very profitable four days.
And just how do all those tourists make their way to the festival? Close to 135,000 will use the Cheltenham Spa train station during the event, 36,500 vehicles will be parked during the event, and 80,000 will make use of the shuttle bus that operates between the Town Centre and Cheltenham Racecourse.
The Event of the Year
Once you start breaking down the stats and looking at all these fun facts, it’s easy to see why the Cheltenham Festival is the event of the year for the region. It’s hard to compete with numbers like these.
