Overview of Cheltenham Festival 2024
Cheltenham Festival 2024 is just around the corner, featuring the best National Hunt horses from Britain and Ireland. With 28 races spread across four days, this prestigious jumps meeting is sure to captivate horse racing enthusiasts.
Feature Races to Look Out For
Each day of the festival will showcase a 'feature race,' starting with the Champion Hurdle on opening day, followed by the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Stayers' Hurdle, and culminating in the iconic Cheltenham Gold Cup on the final day.
How to Watch Cheltenham Festival 2024
Can't make it to Prestbury Park? No worries! ITV will broadcast the first five races of each day, while Racing TV will cover the final two races. You can also stream the first five races for free on the ITVX app or website.
ITV Presenters Lineup
Former Sky Sports Football presenter Ed Chamberlain will lead the coverage, joined by legendary jockeys Ruby Walsh and Sir AP McCoy. Other experts providing insights include Mick Fitzgerald, Luke Harvey, Megan Nicholls, and Alice Plunkett.
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Schedule
Here's a quick look at the schedule for each day of Cheltenham Festival 2024:
Champion Day – Tuesday, March 12
Featuring races like the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy.
Ladies Day – Wednesday, March 13
Highlights include the Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase and the Champion Bumper.
St. Patrick’s Thursday – Thursday, March 14
Don't miss the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Gold Cup Day – Friday, March 15
The final day features the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey's Handicap Hurdle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does a steward play in horse races?
Stewards perform a critical role in ensuring fairness and compliance with racing rules in horse racing. Stewards have the responsibility of overseeing the conduct and behavior of jockeys, other racing personnel and trainers. They monitor races for any rule infractions and hold hearings into any incidents. The stewards can also impose sanctions, such as suspensions or fines, if rules are broken.
How is safety maintained for horses and riders in a race event?
Safety is paramount in UK horseracing. This includes both the horses and their riders. Stringent regulations are in place to ensure that racecourses meet high safety standards, including the condition of the tracks and the quality of the jumps. Horses are inspected for health before and after racing, and jockeys must wear safety equipment such as body protectors and helmets. Moreover, the sport employs rapid response teams and veterinarians on standby to manage any incidents swiftly and competently.
Can you explain what the ‘Going’ is in horse racing?
‘Going” refers to the surface condition of the track on the day a race takes place. It is a critical factor that can affect the performance of the horses and the outcome of a race. The ‘Going’ can range from heavy, indicating a very soft and wet track, to firm, indicating a hard and dry surface. Between these are several different grades, including good to soft (soft), good to firm (firm), and hard. Trainers and jockeys must consider the ‘Going’ when deciding on racing strategy and equipment, such as the choice of horseshoes for better grip.
Are there different types horse races in Britain?
Yes, there are different kinds of horse races held in the UK. The most common ones fall into two categories: Flat racing and National Hunt or Jump racing. Flat racing is held over flat tracks that range from 5 furlongs up to 2 miles. National Hunt racing places emphasis on the horse’s speed and ability to jump, and races such as hurdles and steeplechases feature a number of obstacles. There are many variations of these two broad categories. For example, handicaps, maidens and conditions races. Each with its own rules and criteria.
How does the handicap system work in UK horse racing?
In UK horseracing, the handicap system gives every horse an equally good chance of winning. Essentially, horses are assigned different weights to carry during the race based on their past performances. The heavier the weight, the better for horses that have a good past performance. The British Horseracing Authority oversees the handicapping in the UK. A team of handicappers is constantly updating ratings following race results.
What are ‘Classics’ in UK horse racing?
In UK horse racing, ‘Classics” refers to five prestigious races considered to be the highest-ranking contests for thoroughbreds aged three years. The 2,000 Guineas race, The 1,000 Guineas race, The Epsom Derby Race, The Epsom Oaks Race, and The St. Leger Stakes are all Classics. Wining one of the Classics is a great achievement for a racehorse. And winning all three races of a gender is rare and historic.
Statistics
- Horse racing contributes an estimated £3.7 billion to the UK economy directly and indirectly each year.
- British racing oversees around 1,500 fixtures annually across its 59 racecourses.
- The prize money for the Epsom Derby stands at approximately £1.5 million, with the winner taking home a substantial portion of this sum.
- British horse racing generates over £350 million in annual tax revenues for the UK government.
- The National Hunt racing season in the UK sees approximately 1,000 races with hurdles or fences each year.
- The annual Cheltenham Festival has an economic impact of over £100 million for the local Gloucestershire economy.
External Links
racingpost.com
thejockeyclub.co.uk
thejockeyclub.co.uk
britishhorseracingmuseum.org.uk
thejockeyclub.co.uk
tattersalls.com
How To
How to get live horseracing coverage in the UK
You can access live UK racing coverage by subscribing to channels such as Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV. These channels broadcast races while providing expert analysis. Online betting sites often offer live streaming for their customers. Some require a minimum wager to view the stream. Many major races, festivals, and other events are also broadcast on free-toair television. Channels like ITV will cover selected racing events across the calendar. Consider downloading apps from the racing channels, or using betting sites’ mobile apps to watch races live on the move.
