The Festival - Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup Festival comprises of four days of exciting and invigorating steeple chase and hurdle racing, as 450 horses compete only a few can call themselves winners!
Each day of the Gold Cup Festival hosts a feature race, this year the line up is as follows:
Tuesday sees the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, which is a 2 mile hurdle race, with the Irish having won this 7 times running to date, can they continue their run in 2008?
Wednesday is the Seasons Holiday Queen Mother Champion Chase, a 2 mile Chasers race for the fast and the furious, hold onto your hats!
Thursday is all about endurance, as The Ladbrokes World Hurdle race gets underway. Over 3 miles of hurdles, timing is key. This is also Ladies day, when fashion is key, and the Lady who has made the most outstanding contribution to Jump racing is announced.
Friday is the big Gold Cup Day! This race is over 3 ¼ mile, and the highlight of the four day event. Be a part of 2008 Cheltenham Cup Racing, place your bets on the winner....
Useful Information:
Parking for Cars – Parking for the festival costs £8 in advance or £10 on arrival.
Arrive in Good Time – The gates to the enclosures will open at 10.30am at The Festival. There is plenty to see and do beforehand with trade stands, live music and paddock interviews.
Public transport runs regularly from the Town Centre to the Centaur Race Course, and from the local Park and Rides.
The D bus will take you from the Train Station into the Town centre, and continue on to the racecourse. The Gold Cup is not just about the racing, there is plenty to enjoy in the 3 hours before the race and the hour and a half afterwards, The Festival atmosphere amongst the trade stands, parades, music and entertainments, and a closing party at the end of each day of the Festival held at the Centaur. If you are looking to continue the festivities Cheltenham hosts an atmospheric nightlife, with many clubs, pubs and wine bars holding special race night events. If that's not enough, why not stay to celebrate St Patricks Day.