Cheltenham Festival and Gold Cup 2010

16 to 19 March – Cheltenham Festival and Gold Cup 2010 will see more passionate and exciting horse racing, hats galore, not to mention more than £600 million of wagers at the annual highlight of the jump racing calendar.

With a history dating back almost two centuries, Cheltenham has become synonymous with world class National Hunt horse racing, and from Tuesday 16 March to Friday 19 March 2010 a staggering 230,000 people will descend on Gloucestershire’s spa town for the world-famous spectacle of The Festival.

Encompassing the internationally-renowned Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010, the four-day event will see more than 25 world-class races take place in 2010, with almost £600 million being waged on some of the world’s finest race horses as they speed around Cheltenham Racecourse’s Old Course, New Course and Cross Country Steeplechase Course.

The provisional line-up of events for The Festival 2010 is as follows:

Tuesday 16 March 2010 at the Cheltenham Festival

Kicking off the Cheltenham Festival in 2009 was the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle race, set to be another gripping highlight of the four-day event in 2010 – particularly as the winner is granted the most sought after prize anywhere in the world for two-mile hurdlers.

The running order is yet to be announced.

Wednesday 17 March 2010 at the Cheltenham Festival – St Patrick’s Day

A highlight of the second day of Cheltenham Festival 2009 was The Seasons Holiday Queen Mother Champion Chase, taking place once again in 2010. Today is also St Patrick’s Day in 2010 – meaning even more excuses to celebrate with a pint of Guinness or two than usual!

The running order is yet to be announced.

Thursday 18 March 2010 at the Cheltenham Festival – Ladies Day

Thursday, the third day in the Festival 2010 line-up, sees what is arguably the most important race take place in the form of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle – when only the brave and the strong prevail in the thrilling three-mile race.

The running order is yet to be announced.

Also, following on from a successful introduction in 2007, Thursday will also mark The Festival’s fourth annual Ladies Day, when fashion provides a very different slant to a day at races. Members of the fairer sex will be showing off their best glad rags and most overstated hats in the hope of scooping an award for the Best Dressed Lady, Best Accessories or Best Hat. Ladies are selected and invited to enter the fashion awards on arrival at the course and entrants are judged in a private area, away from public view. Presentations are then made before the horses enter the paddock for the first race of the day. So ladies, dress to kill if you have your eyes on this particular set of prizes.

Friday 19 March 2010 at the Cheltenham Festival – The Cheltenham Gold Cup

Undoubtedly the highlight of The Festival – Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010 is one of the most famous races in the world, and one which every horse owner, trainer and jockey dreams of winning. The testing three and a quarter mile course was won by Kauto Star in 2009.

The running order is yet to be announced.

Plus, with plenty of live music, entertainment, dining and trade stands to indulge in and explore in addition to the races, whether you’re a seasoned Festival fan or not – The Festival and Cheltenham Gold Cup 2010 is not to be missed.

Event: The Festival and Cheltenham Gold Cup 2009
Venue: Cheltenham Racecourse
Date: Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2010
Times: Vary per specific event, contact organisers for details.
Tickets: Start from around £20. Call the Cheltenham Racecourse box office on 0844 579 3003 for more information.

SoGlos.com
13 March 2009