Hidden Truths/Secrets About The Cheltenham Festival By The racing?

The truth is… we don’t have any juicy exclusive gossip to spill to you, but this article will hopefully enlighten you with facts you didn’t know about Cheltenham Festival. Or at least clear up any questions you may have had!

12 things you didn’t know about the Cheltenham Festival

1. In 1934 Golden Miller became the first horse to win both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in a single season.

2. The average daily attendance is 62,000 with a larger sum attending on Gold Cup day. In 2018 a total of 262,637 people attended the festival over the four days of racing.

3. The Festival sees record numbers of pints of Guinness served over the 4 days.

4. Those who fancy treating themselves to a place in the Champions Walk Restaurant, will be billed £515 on Gold Cup day for the experience. 

5. There is no dress code at the course, but it is traditional to make an effort and people really do, especially on Ladies day.

6. Since World War 2, The Festival has only been cancelled once. This was in 2001 and due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

7. The longest odds winner of The Gold Cup was Norton’s Coin at an unbelievable 100/1. His backers must have been ecstatic. Usually the winners are short odds due to the lack of handicap in the race. 

8. Ruby Walsh is the most successful jockey in the history of The Festival. He won 36 races during his career here. He’s won the most races of all the jockeys, 6 times at the festival, earning him top jockey. In 2009 he stunned as he won 7 races.

9. Over £600million is spent on Cheltenham Festival betting each year.

10. On average the festival brings in around £100 million each year into the local Gloucestershire economy.

11. The record prize money for The Festival 2019 was over £4,590,000. The most of any Jump festival in the world, over £1,000,000 per day.

12. The first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race was Katie Walsh in 2018, winning The Weatherby's Champion Bumper. The following year Bryony Frost and Racheal Blackmore won Grade 1 races, joining the hopefully growing list of women to win at The Festival. 

Be sure to not miss out on 2020’s action, even if you can’t make it to The Festival in person, you will easily be able to watch at home with family and friends. Maybe you can impress everybody by reeling off some of these facts whilst you’re at it!