Changes to the Cheltenham Festival
The Jockey Club has announced a number of changes to the Cheltenham Festival, ranging from alterations to the race programme over the four days to a series of new initiatives for racegoers.
The changes are the result of a full review of the event and a period of consultation with participants, racegoers, racing fans, members of the media, sponsors and a wide range of industry stakeholders in order to focus on providing more competitive racing and a better experience and value for all visitors.
All changes to the race programme will be in place for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, which takes place from Tuesday 11th March to Friday 14th March inclusive in 2025, whilst most of the initiatives for racegoers will be implemented from the racecourse’s first fixture of the 2024-25 season - The Showcase Meeting on October 25th and 26th 2024.
RACE PROGRAMME
- The 2m 4f Turners (Golden Miller) Novices’ Chase will be replaced by a Grade 2 Limited Novice Handicap Chase over the same distance.
- The National Hunt Chase will become a Class 2 Novice Handicap Chase (0-145), with amateur rider restrictions for jockeys removed to allow professionals to take part.
- The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase will be changed from a conditions race to a Limited Handicap.
- The race conditions for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle will be changed to remove the penalty structure, resulting in a level weights contest.
- From 2023 any horse finishing in the first four of a qualifying race for the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle has been eligible for the race at The Festival. From 2025 the race conditions will be altered to provide a guaranteed run in the Pertemps Final for all winners of series qualifiers (provided they are within the weights at declaration stage).
- Currently horses must have run at least three times (chases) or four times (hurdles) to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival. From 2025, this will be increased to four chase and five hurdle runs.
In addition to these changes The Jockey Club will be increasing prize money over the four days by £115,000, taking the total on offer at the Cheltenham Festival to £4,930,000 in 2025. Prize money for all the Cheltenham Festival races will be published in due course.
FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
- More hard-standing ‘trackway’ will be laid in Cheltenham Racecourse’s grass car parks than ever before. Covering an area the size of 17 football pitches this will aid the arrival and departure of racegoers, especially in the kind of adverse weather conditions experienced earlier this year.
- A new park and ride system will be launched within easy access of Cheltenham. In addition The Jockey Club has partnered with National Express to offer coach travel direct to Cheltenham Racecourse from more than 20 pick-up locations, doubling the number of coaches running to the venue.
- Racegoers will have more course-facing areas to enjoy a drink, easing queues and reducing the need to rush between races. Bar facilities are also being upgraded to give more choice and indoor seating.
- Hot and cold meal deals will be offered, giving racegoers the opportunity to save money when buying any hot and soft drinks with food throughout the day and at multiple outlets on course.
VALUE AT THE FESTIVAL
- All ticket prices for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be frozen at 2024 levels.
- Racegoers purchasing a ticket for any day of The Festival will be given a 20 per cent discount on any tickets purchased for other days of the event. Discounts will not be applied to Gold Cup day tickets.
- Groups of six people can save 10 per cent on ticket prices when booking together. Previously this discount was offered to groups of 15 or more.