Cheltenham Festival - Day 1
One of the most highly anticipated horse racing events of the year is upon us
Last updated 14th Mar 2023
Cheltenham Festival is getting underway, with thousands of people travelling from across the UK.
For the first time, the racecourse has limited the attendance to 68,500 people a day - they say, to enhance the experience.
For the next four days the town's population is set to triple, and it's estimated that £274 million will be brought into Cheltenham's economy.
There will be 7 races each day, with an average prize fund of around £172,000 per race.
What can be expect today?
Gates at the Prestbury Park will open at 10.30am this morning with races getting underway from 1.30pm.
The first race will be the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, with a £135,000 prize fund up for grabs for the winner.
Later, at 3.30pm, we will have the race of the day, which will be the Unibet Champion Hurdle - the horse in 1st place will claim a mamoth £450,000
Entertainment will also be taking place throughout the afternoon at The Guinness Village, with performances from the likes of Laura Wright and The Wickermen.
Travel - can we expect problems?
Cheltenham Festival certainly attracts thousands of people to the town for the whole of the four day period, so we are being told to expect traffic issues.
Highways England say that people travelling on the M5 can expect slow traffic, particularly between 9.00am and 12.30pm, every day.
There is also a number of changes to traffic patterns throughout the week, including:
- A40 London Road - one way system in place
- Old Bath Road - one way system in place
- Evesham Road - closed between 10am and 8pm
- New Barn Lane - expected to be closed for up to two hours every afternoon
- Mandarin Way - no parking or waiting