Racing FAQs

Walk-up tickets will be available for racedays that have not already sold out unless when specified otherwise. Please do check the website of each individual fixture or contact the racecourse directly if you require further information.

Please note, for those purchasing tickets on the day, we will be taking card payments only. 

However, we do recommend that tickets are purchased in advance. Pre-booked tickets reduce the time taken to enter the racecourse on the day.

Children under the age of 18 accompanied by a full paying adult will gain free admission to all racedays expect Cheltenham Festival, where a full-priced ticket will need to be purchased for children ages 5 and over.  Young persons under 18 are not permitted entry unless accompanied by a responsible adult (over 18).  You are responsible for each young person that you bring onto the Racecourse and should ensure each young person complies with these Conditions. Each accompanying adult (over 18) should be responsible for no more than two children under 18 years of age.

Once you have purchased your tickets, they will be emailed to you. Please note there may be a slight delay while your booking is processed.

Your ticket is designed to be either printed at home on your home printer and brought with you on the day or presented on arrival on your mobile phone from your email confirmation. You may also opt for your ticket to be sent to you via The Jockey Club app.

Please note that tickets are not currently being made available via our postal service.

Cash may be used when placing bets on the Tote and with all on-course bookmakers.

Please note that due to new laws prohibiting the use of credit to place a bet, all betting facilities on site will be unable to accept Apple Pay.

Children under the age of 18 accompanied by a full paying adult will gain free admission to all racedays excluding Cheltenham Festival. At Cheltenham Festival a full-priced ticket must be purchased for children aged 5 and over.

Young persons under 18 are not permitted entry unless accompanied by a responsible adult (over 18).  You are responsible for each young person that you bring onto the Racecourse and ensuring they comply with these Conditions. Each accompanying adult (over 18) should be responsible for no more than two children under 18 years of age.

If an event is cancelled or a fixture is abandoned our refund policy would apply. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.

If you fall ill on a raceday and are able to get home safely we suggest you leave as soon as possible. If you need assistance please alert one of our racecourse team members who can contact qualified first aiders to help you.

RCA-issued accreditation, including badge schemes and metal badges, are accepted forms of entry at most fixtures but will be used in conjunction with the PASS system.Please note there will be a small number of fixtures where RCA-issued badges and accreditation will NOT be accepted and you will be required to apply directly to the racecourse for accreditation. We ask you to continue to check the specific raceday information and contact the racecourse directly if you require further guidance.

Our racecourses continue to operate on a ‘cashless’ basis, including concessions. However, cash may be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers.

In the event you cannot attend the raceday your ticket may be transferred to another person.

Bars on a raceday close 30 minutes after the last race.

We offer complimentary admission to one accompanying personal assistant in circumstances where a person with a disability would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage without the personal assistant. To guarantee availability, it is essential that you telephone us on the same day you make your ticket purchase if you wish to request a personal assistant ticket.

For all meeting the course crossing will be closed and access to the centre of the course is not available. This will also include any cross country races.

Our dog walking applications are now open. Please click here to register.

Reception is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 17:00, excluding Bank Holidays. 

For all enquiries, please email Cheltenham.Reception@thejockeyclub.co.uk. Please do not call and leave a message or turn up at the Racecourse. Thank you for your understanding in these difficult times.

A number of viewing areas are provided by Cheltenham including; on the balcony of The Centaur with lowered rails, opposite the weighing room beside the Paddock; opposite the Princess Royal Stand by the running rail and outside the Mandarin Foyer.

Viewing areas in Tattersalls can be found by the running rails opposite the Tattersalls Sales Arena as well as the Level 2 Terrace outside the Winged Ox Bar.

The Best Mate disabled viewing platform can be found on level 2 in the middle of the Best Mate Stand.

View Full accessibility details

View our racecourse map

It is not permitted to smoke or vape on the public steppings and seated public balconies of the grandstand, to include the likes of Insurance seats, Guinness Grandstand etc. Smoking and vaping is permitted in other outdoor areas.

Our postcode is GL50 4SH for use with GPS equipment. However on a raceday customers are strongly advised to follow the yellow, temporary signs when entering Cheltenham and the local area and not the brown permanent signs.

View Further Directions

We do not take responsibility for any lost or forgotten tickets. You may be required to re-purchase your ticket if you do not have sufficient evidence of your initial purchase. 

You will be asked for ID and for the card you purchased your tickets with. You will also be asked a series of questions relating to your order. 

National Express our exclusive bus and coach partner will be operating special charter coach services from many locations across the UK, for all four days of The Festival™ in March. All services will operate right to the racecourse entrance, arriving with plenty of time to spare before the races start, with time to celebrate winnings afterwards! Customers can purchase coach travel by clicking here.

Stagecoach service D runs every 10 minutes during the day and between 10 minutes and every hour from Monday to Saturday evenings (The service runs hourly on Sundays). Further details can be found here. Service 527 provides a regular service from Cheltenham Centre to Bishop’s Cleeve and Gotherington via the Racecourse Roundabout. For local Stagecoach information please call 0870 6082 608. At The Festival up to 70 buses will be operating, picking up at Cheltenham Spa Railway Station and outside WH Smith in the centre of town before dropping off at the Racecourse. Return buses pick up from the Racecourse with stops at Pittville Street and then the Station.

VIEW MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BUS FACILITIES

There are three enclosures at Cheltenham Racecourse – Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate. Each enclosure offers racegoers a unique experience. 

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Hospitality can be purchased via our website or by calling the hospitality team on 01242 537653.

VIEW HOSPITALITY

First Aid staff will be on duty at every meeting. At The November Meeting and The Festival™, a pharmacy is available above the Winner’s Enclosure.

Yes, you have the option to upgrade your ticket already purchased for fixtures at Cheltenham Racecourse. There will be an option to do so on the day. Please be aware that there may be a charge for this. 

If you want to upgrade your tickets for The Festival™, please contact the racecourse in advance. 

It is not possible to camp, but you are welcome to park a Caravan in the Caravan Club site, if you are a Caravan Club Member, for the April and May fixtures.

more information 

Regrettably, dogs other than guide dogs are not allowed within the enclosures. Outside of racedays, dog walkers are able to apply for a dog walking pass, click here for more information. 

For the dress code at Cheltenham please view our racing style section. 

We strongly advise that tickets are purchased in advance. Early bird discounts are in place to ensure that you get the best possible price when booking in advance.

Discounts end midnight the day before racing. Tickets can be purchased on the day at each of the entrances with the exception of Gold Cup Day. This is subject to availability on each day of racing.

Children under the age of 18 accompanied by a full paying adult will gain free admission to all racedays expect Cheltenham Festival, where a full-priced ticket will need to be purchased for children ages 5 and over.  Young persons under 18 are not permitted entry unless accompanied by a responsible adult (over 18).  You are responsible for each young person that you bring onto the Racecourse and should ensure each young person complies with these Conditions. Each accompanying adult (over 18) should be responsible for no more than two children under 18 years of age.

We do not allow anyone to stay overnight in any of the Racecourse carparks.

We do have the Caravan Club in the Best Mate enclosure at certain times of the year. Click here for more information. 

Parking is free at all of our meetings except Saturday of The November Meeting and all four days of Cheltenham Festival.

There are plenty of parking spaces at Cheltenham, although we would advise you to arrive early.

VIEW MORE PARKING INFORMATION

There are 52 secure bicycle parks next to The Centaur and Best Mate enclosure entrances.

We kindly ask that you do not bring your own food or drink into the Club and Tatts enclosure at the racecourse. There are mobile catering units operating throughout the day in all enclosures, which do change from meeting to meeting. Typically offering food such as fish and chips, hog roasts, burgers and hot dogs, sandwiches, teas and coffees and doughnuts. Food is also available from a variety of our bars. Hip flasks are not permitted.

Food for individual consumption is now permitted in the Best Mate enclosure only, with the exception of the Cheltenham Festival. No liquids are permitted, and there will be bag searches in place. 

If you need to bring food on site for a medical reason, then please do email us at cheltenham.reception@thejockeyclub.co.uk

For more information about the food and drink options, click here. 

Please remember, there will be bag searches in place at all race meetings. 

Please go to our Refunds page for more information on our refund policy.

View refund policy

If you are unable to attend Cheltenham Racecourse for one of our racedays, you can watch it on TV.

Upcoming ITV Racing Schedule 

Racing TV

Full refunds for tickets will be given if racing is abandoned before the first race. A 50% refund will be given if racing is abandoned before the third race or feature race.

Regrettably, no cash refunds can be given on the day.

Customers are requested to apply for refunds by post within one month of the fixture except for tickets purchased in advance, for which refunds will be processed automatically.

View refund policy

It is possible to get a message put in the racecard, please email cheltenham.racecard@thejockeyclub.co.uk at least three days in advance of the raceday.

It is not possible to have a message read out over the loud speaker or the big screens.

Yes, there are cash points situated around the Racecourse. These are located in The Centaur entrance, in the Best Mate Enclosure and in the Hall of Fame. Additional cash points are installed during larger meetings in temporary locations.

Racegoers are encouraged to leave their luggage and any other large items at home or in your hotel and not to bring a bag into the racecourse. All bags will be searched upon entry which may delay your entry into the racecourse. Please allow time for your bag to be searched.

Handbags and backpacks (of an appropriate size for a day out) will be allowed into the enclosures. Large bags such as suitcases, holdalls, and larger rucksacks will not be granted entry and racegoers will be invited to use the Left Luggage facilities which are located external to the enclosures before the bag search locations.

An exception will be made for essential medical items by contacting us prior to the raceday via email at Cheltenham.Reception@thejockeyclub.co.uk. You will require a letter issued by our team to show proof of correspondence before such items are granted entry into the racecourse.

Limited left luggage service is provided within temporary facilities external to the enclosures (North and Centaur entrances). There is also a left luggage facility external to the Best Mate entrance at The November Meeting and The Festival. However, we do recommend that you leave luggage and other items at home, if at all possible. Any items wishing to be left may be subject to rummage searches.

If you lose or find something please visit the main reception in the Hall Of Fame.

'The Going' is a description of the ground conditions underfoot on the racecourse.

The Jockey Club reports the Going as: Heavy – Soft – Good to Soft – Good – Good to Firm – Firm – Hard.

Each of these terms may be combined to provide a more accurate description: Soft (Good to Soft in places), Soft (Heavy in places) etc. If a 'Going map' is available, it will show any variance in the conditions around the course. The Going report may also provide additional information such as 'watering' on dry days. This is when the Clerk of the Course gives the order to water the course to make the Going softer.

We have a designated place in the centre of the course for the scattering of ashes, which is passed by all three courses. We ask that a donation of around £100 is made to the Injured Jockeys Fund for the scattering of ashes. We offer for ashes to be scattered during workdays, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am to 4pm, with the build up to Race Days we are unable to offer the scattering of ashes in the 3 days prior to racing, or in the 3 weeks prior the Cheltenham Festival. Please email Jennifer Dewhurst Jennifer.Dewhurst@thejockeyclub.co.uk to arrange the scattering of ashes.

Currently the app is able to import tickets that are Print at Home. To import the tickets, either scan the QR code on the ticket pdf or enter the bookers email and order confirmation.

We will look to add further ticket types in 2024.

Cracked screens can prevent the ticket scanners from reading the mobile ticket. We suggest that you access your tickets using a friend’s phone, or print your ticket at home.

Your eTickets are attached as a PDF to the booking confirmation email. If you prefer to use paper, simply print the PDF.

When processing your booking you will choose the delivery method of your tickets. If you select Email or Print at home, these will be able to be imported into the app.

Once you have imported your tickets to the app, you will be able to view them by tapping My Visit and then Tickets. To view the ticket QR code, select a ticket and it will open. You will need the QR code for our ticket scanners.

If you have booked tickets for a group, we recommend, sending each individual their printed ticket and then they can download the app and import via the tickets QR code.

Firstly on the map select your enclosure and then use either the search or filter bar to find what you are you looking for.

You can download the app from the Apple App store or Google Play, simply search for the racecourse and click download.

The app can be downloaded on IOS and Android devices.

You will need to be using IOS 14 and above and on Android 5 as the minimum operating versions.

You can view the privacy policy for the app here

It is possible to use the app offline, all the functionality will still work but you will not receive any updates – all our racecourses offer free wi-fi on course.

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