The UK has a storied history with horse racing. Many of the world’s oldest racecourses, races, and traditions come from Britain. In fact, many of the terms that crop up in US racing parlance, such as “derby” or “triple crown,” come from the UK. Much of the focus is on the flat racing season over the summer, with great races and events like the Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas, Royal Ascot, and Glorious Goodwood getting international attention.
Yet, throughout the winter and early spring, the focus in Britain is on national hunt (jumps) racing. Jumps racing isn’t unique to Britain, as Ireland (we will get to the Irish a bit later), France, and even the US (to an extent) host the discipline. Yet, the UK holds the world’s premier jumps racing event – the Cheltenham Festival. Nothing else comes close.
A Super-Bowl-style finish to the season
Cheltenham is unique in that it takes a kind of Super Bowl-esque position toward the end of the jumps season. A lot of the ante-post horse racing betting throughout the winter is based on finding clues to who will perform at the Festival (March 11th to 14th). Yes, we can say there are parallels with the Road to the Kentucky Derby in that sense, but that’s just one race, and the Kentucky Derby acts as a curtain raiser for the season rather than a finale. The Cheltenham Festival has 28 races across four days. While there are other big events later in the spring, such as the Aintree Grand National, Cheltenham is the end goal for most of those involved in UK jumps racing.
We said we would circle back to the Irish, and it’s worth stressing that the Festival is as much Irish as British, although not always by design. Irish trainers, riders, and runners have dominated the Festival in recent years. There is a semi-official competition between the British and Irish trainers, and it has not been close in recent times. The “invasion” of Irish fans also makes for an extra special occasion.
A special relationship with Cheltenham runners
Part of the allure of the Festival is the affinity between the fans and the horses. In flat racing, many star horses go to stud at the age of 3 or 4. In jumps racing, which tends to favor stamina over speed, horses can compete until they are teenagers. Most hit their peak around 8-10 years old. The upshot is that you will get horses returning year after year. Galopin des Champs, for example, will be returning to Cheltenham for the 5th time. The horse is the clear favorite for the biggest race at the Festival – the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The rise of the Cheltenham Festival is also down to astute marketing. As mentioned earlier, the summer season has brilliant events in UK flat racing. Consider the likes of Royal Ascot, featuring all that pomp and circumstance through its patronage from the British Monarchy. Cheltenham, while steeped in history dating back centuries, has been promoted as the rougher, more action-packed alternative. Broadcasters, notably the network channel ITV, have also played an important role in transforming the Festival into one of the UK’s premier sporting events.
A unique collection of races
The action is unique. All horse racing festivals will have different disciplines in terms of age, handicaps, and distances. Yet, Cheltenham has a bit of everything – fast hurdles, long-distance cross-country races, and even races for amateur jockeys. The Gold Cup is the most prestigious event, but each fan will have their favorite: It could be the speedy Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles. It might be the long-distance Stayers’ Hurdle. Or perhaps it is the prospect of seeing the ‘next big thing’ in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Whatever it is that draws the fans to it, Cheltenham has become the number-one event on the UK racing calendar, surpassing even Royal Ascot, the Grand National, and the Derby as the one that catches the eyes of the casual fans. This year’s Festival begins on March 11th, and it promises to be even bigger than ever.