Cheltenham Racecourse has confirmed that the final three fixtures of its 2025-26 season will not go ahead, as the Gloucestershire venue accelerates major drainage improvements on the home straight.
The popular April Meeting, due to take place on Wednesday 15 April 2026 and Thursday 16 April 2026, along with Race Night on Friday 1 May 2026, have all been cancelled.
The decision follows a challenging winter for the course, with prolonged wet conditions highlighting issues beneath the racing surface. Following consultation with drainage specialists, officials agreed that bringing forward essential works now will give the track the best chance to recover ahead of the 2026-27 season, which begins in October 2026.
Jon Pullin, head of racing at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: ‘Our priority is always to provide the best possible racing surface for top-class jump racing. Throughout the very wet winter, we have experienced a number of issues on the track and, working with drainage experts, we have identified an area that would benefit from being upgraded.’
He added that the work will address problems linked to a hole that appeared on Festival Trials Day in early 2026, which led to rail and hurdle adjustments to maintain safe racing conditions.
While the April Meeting will not be relocated in full, several of its key races have been moved. Market Rasen will host the Mares Novices Handicap Chase on Tuesday 14 April 2026, Warwick Racecourse will stage two Challenger Series finals on Thursday 23 April 2026 and Sandown Park will host the Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Saturday 25 April 2026.
Cheltenham’s Race Night fixture will be transferred in full to Warwick Racecourse on Friday 1 May 2026.
Cheltenham Racecourse chief executive, Guy Lavender, said the investment reflects the venue’s long-term commitment to maintaining its status as the Home of Jump Racing.
‘While we appreciate that racegoers will share in our disappointment at not being able to stage our last three fixtures of the season, it is vital to give the racing surface time to recover,’ he said.
All general admission ticket holders will be automatically refunded, with hospitality guests, members and boxholders contacted directly regarding compensation and reciprocal arrangements.
