Big changes are coming to The Cheltenham Festival

The Jockey Club has announced several big changes coming to next year's Cheltenham Festival, 11 - 15 March 2025, aiming to make it the best experience possible for all visitors to the Home of Jump Racing.

From alterations to the race programme to a series of new initiatives for racegoers, the full festival review aims to improve every aspect of your day at the races. Creating a truly unforgettable experience, for all the right reasons. Because at its best, nothing feels like Cheltenham!

Read on below for full details of the forthcoming changes...

RACE PROGRAMME

Six key changes are being made to the Cheltenham Festival race programme from 2025, with a focus on providing more competitive racing while ensuring that the welfare of horses and jockeys is front and centre.

Best Horses

The Jockey Club is committed to attracting the best horses from Britain, Ireland and France to compete at the pinnacle of the sport, with new eligibility criteria ensuring that the best will always face the best.   

Competitiveness

Updated races and new conditions aim to make the racing more competitive and compelling across the whole race programme at the festival.

Equine Welfare

Enhanced care, world-class facilities, and an increased prize fund ensure the welfare of all race participants remains a top priority.

FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

Several key enhancements are being made to improve the overall Customer Experience at The Festival across the areas that matter to you most.

Transport & Parking

More hard-standing ‘trackway’ will be laid in Cheltenham Racecourse’s grass car parks, covering an area the size of 17 football pitches to aid the arrival and departure of racegoers in all weather conditions.

Meanwhile, a new park-and-ride system will be launched with 84 Raceday shuttles running across Cheltenham, and National Express coach travel available from 20 pick-up locations.

Food & Drink

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, while hot and cold meal deals will be offered, allowing racegoers to find food and beverages at all price points across the venue.

Entertainment & Assistance

Additional entertainment spaces across the venue will offer a wider variety of music and entertainment after the final race. Ensuring the fun continues for longer while helping to ease congestion.

A new team of ‘Racemakers’ is also being introduced, with dedicated individuals trained to help you make the most of your day, wherever you need guidance and help.

VALUE FOR MONEY

To give racegoers the best value for money and more options to attend The Festival, a number of changes are being made to the ticketing system.

Tickets

All ticket prices for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be frozen at 2024 levels, and racegoers purchasing a ticket for any day of The Festival will be given a 20 per cent discount on additional days of the event.

A new group discount is also available for groups of six or more. So you and your friends can save 10 per cent on ticket prices when booking together.

Room to Race

Announced earlier this month, The Jockey Club and Cheltenham Racecourse have entered into an exciting new partnership with leading sports tour operator Venatour Racing, which will allow racegoers to purchase discounted packages including tickets, hotels, travel and more in a one-stop shop initiative known as ‘Room To Race’.

Ian Renton, The Jockey Club’s Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, said the changes follow an extensive review which began after this year's Festival.

He said, “The Cheltenham Festival is the very pinnacle of our sport and the best-attended and most prestigious Jump Racing meeting anywhere in the world. As with any major event it is important to evolve and improve to ensure everyone who joins us throughout the week has the best possible experience.

“...As with any event of this size, it is never possible to make changes which are welcomed by everyone. However, we have prioritised listening to our racegoers to put them and their experiences at the heart of The Festival, with the ultimate goal of delivering something that not only meets but exceeds expectations."

Ruby Walsh, the most successful jockey of all time at The Festival with 59 winners, was one of those consulted about the race programme changes and has filmed a video for Cheltenham Racecourse explaining what they will mean for participants and fans.

He said, “All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive. The aim is to attract as many of the best horses as possible to run at the Cheltenham Festival and for them to run in the right races.

“Cheltenham is the pinnacle of Jump Racing and these changes help to maintain that ...those making these changes have done so in the best interests of Jump Racing and The Festival.”

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