We are nearing the time of year when thousands of people will descend on the Cheltenham area and hotels and bed and breakfast will be packed with guests as they all seek to find somewhere to stay ready for Gold Cup Week. If you are lucky enough to live in the area you will have a much easier commute to the event. If you are looking for a property it is worth looking at http://www.meandyouestateagents.co.uk/ who are Estate Agents Cheltenham. This is one of the most lucrative events to take place in Cheltenham each year and draws in visitors from all over the world. The local economy is boosted, and all eyes are drawn to the Cheltenham racecourse for the week. This year the event program consists of:
Tuesday 12th March – Champions Day
Wednesday 13th March – Ladies Day
Thursday 14th March – St Patrick’s Thursday
Friday 15th March – Gold Cup Day
Here are a few facts about the Gold Cup for you to have a read through:
- The first Gold Cup was held in Cheltenham in 1819 and was a flat race (no jumps) that covered a distance of three-miles. The modern set up of a jumps-based race at the Cheltenham location was first held in 1924 with the prize money for the winner being £685.
- Over the entire Cheltenham Festival this year it has been reported by William Hill Plc that all of the prize money added together will amount to well over £4.5 million. The money for the Gold Cup race alone is thought to be around £625,000.
- The capacity of the racecourse is around 67,500 and each year this amount is reached with tickets selling out for the Gold Cup event well in advance. It is thought that over 10,000 of these are Irish racing fans who travel over to Cheltenham specially for the race. Over the four days around 260,000 people will attend one or more of the races.
- The festival consists of a number of different races throughout the week with the longest race being the National Hunt Chase in which the riders cover a total of 21,120 feet. There are in fact 27 different hunt races across the four days. During the Gold Cup race a total of 22 fences are jumped by the horses and riders.
- The first horse to win both the Gold Cup race and the Grand National was Golden Miller back in 1934 and this horse went on to win 5 consecutive Gold Cup races. The jockey with the most wins in one year, at the festival was Ruby Walsh with a total of 7 wins.
