Beginners’ guide to Cheltenham Festival horse racing

The Cheltenham Festival takes place annually between March and April in the small village of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. It is the “Epsom Derby” on which many bet their last Derby Day ticket for the year. Cheltenham racecourse has been described as a “Delightful overgrown school playground with a track that mops its forelegs twice a day.” Well-known horse racing stable owners like Godolphin have called it “the crown jewel

What is Cheltenham Festival?

Cheltenham Festival is a horseracing event held every March in the town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in England. It has been running since 1839 and thus is one of the oldest sports events in the world with many famous riders having won at this prestigious race (such as George Washington). The race starts at 6.45am on 27th of March and runs through to 9.30am on 28th.

Types of horse racing

Horse racing is a great sport because there are many different types of horse racing events such as flat racing, steeplechasing and hurdle. Despite the heterogeneity of these types, they all share one fundamental aspect. The horses will compete against each other in a course over either which a number of obstacles have been placed or have been transformed in order to add a sporting element to the race.

Arrangements at the Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival offers a number of different competitions during the three-day horse racing festival, which runs from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning. The celebration of the 162nd incarnation is set to take place on January 28th and 29th, 2018.

General betting information

Cheltenham Festival, which is held annually in England, is the only horse racing event recognized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. There are two types of events during this festival: the races and the cross country challenges.

Tips

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most important horse racing events in the world and its average odds are greater than that at Trafalgar Square. The running of the race occurs every two years and is loved by horse racing enthusiasts. On general, horses produce twice as many winners at this festival compared to other festivals around the year because the venue’s magic really does stir up those horses’ hearts! With so much on offer and a packed schedule, it can be challenging to keep up so our personal tip would be to pre-book your bets with an online service before setting off on your day trip!

Competitions like quarter lame

A spectacle every year, Cheltenham festival is both a race and a jumping competition. Aside from race day itself, there are various events that happen in order for things to get started up to 6 weeks before the actual event day. The competitions vary by type, one being quarter-lame which isn’t actually running but consists of a round of jumps known as fences. These smaller competitions give beginners an opportunity to try out the horse-racing world, getting involved months in advance or just wanting to watch the action unfold.

The race cards, the weights, and how to bet on a race

Plan where you are going to be and how long your ticket is for the two different horse races. Open your race card yourself, because the bookmakers offer bets for a fixed price. Write in your start and finish times for each horse. Add the weight difference between what each horse weighs. Add up their weights and do the same with their favorite betting odds, which are also on your race card. The result will tell you what times your horses should place/win and if they should place/overcome or something else.

Explanations about each weight, who can win it and why it is important

British flat racing at the Cheltenham Festival is split into three classes of weight- A, B, and C. There are six weights in total that can be won. One weight was awarded to Edward Hales (an owner) and one to The Jockey Club. Sometimes the race results are decided based on the first, last, or head of the weights because they contribute most to the overall winner.

Summary

Cheltenham is steeped in history, featuring twenty-two horseracing meetings for owners, trainers and jockeys to make a profit. Meeting in Cheltenham on weekdays and on the Thursday, the festival features various classes of horseracing with a total purse that exceeds $51 million USD. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the world’s premier meetings with more than forty different kinds of race attract thousands of racing enthusiasts every year.