Cheltenham Festival Races, Format & History

A Complete History of the Cheltenham Festival

Such is the popularity of the Cheltenham Festival today, it is thought the four day meeting is worth £100m to the Gloucestershire economy. It is National Hunt racing on a truly epic scale featuring, some of the most prized races on the circuit.

Now a little over a 100 years old, how did the Festival become such an enormous hit? As we’ve come to learn, its history is as every bit as exciting and interesting as the racing it hosts.

1860 – Cheltenham Festival Origins

Although the Cheltenham Festival as we know it didn’t begin until later on, its roots date back to the creation of the National Hunt Chase. The event was part of the ‘Grand National Hunt Meeting’, initially hosted by Market Harborough but later moved from racecourse to racecourse. Cheltenham staged the event once in 1861 but it wasn’t until 1904 when it returned, two years after a new course was established as Prestbury Park.

1911 – Cheltenham Takes Control

After a series of racecourse improvements, the National Hunt Committee decided that the two-day Grand National Hunt Meeting should move to Cheltenham, from Warwick, on a permanent basis. The inaugural edition wasn’t one to remember sadly with torrential downpours rather spoiling the atmosphere and making it incredibly tough for the horses involved.

While 1911 stands as the undisputed birth year of the Festival, there are two races on its current card with histories stretching further back. The St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase, sometimes known as the amateur Gold Cup due to it being run over the same distance, began in 1904.

Even older is the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, which is in fact the oldest National Hunt chase still in existence having been inaugurated back in 1834 when named simply the Grand Annual. It had several homes in the 19th century but has lived at Cheltenham ever since 1913.

1912 – Stayers’ Hurdle Founded

A year after Cheltenham secured the rights to hold the Festival they introduced the Stayers’ Hurdle, then known as the Stayers Selling Hurdle. Part of the rules stipulated that the winning horse would be sold for £50 after the race; imagine the bargains available if that still existed! The Stayers’ Hurdle stands as the oldest Festival race still in existence that is currently a championship event.

1920 – County Handicap Hurdle Underway

One of the oldest races to feature at the Cheltenham Festival, the County Handicap Hurdle, enjoyed its first running in 1920, won by a horse named Trespasser. The 4/7 favourite saw off seven challengers that day, a tiny field compared to today’s standards. Traditionally it had been the curtain closer of the entire meeting but in 2009 it became the penultimate race on the final day.

1924 – Gold Cup Begins

Although a race by the name of the Cheltenham Gold Cup first took place in 1819, this was a flat contest, unrelated to jump racing’s Blue Riband. The Gold Cup as we know it first featured in 1924, taking place on the Old Course while largely being overshadowed the National Hunt Chase. Its prize money of £685 at the time was less than the £1,000 offered in the County Handicap Hurdle but how times have changed.

1927 – The Champion Hurdle is Born

Rolled out to Cheltenham crowd for the very first time was the Champion Hurdle, offering £365 to the winning horse, Blaris. Only four horses contested the inaugural running, although this was one more than featured in the 1932 edition of the minimum distance hurdle.

1928 – Stayers Hurdle Dropped

Organisers at Cheltenham take the decision to drop the Stayers’ Hurdle from the Festival for the first time. It returned in 1930 but found itself outed again between 1939 and 1945.

1931 – Frost Gets in the Way

March isn’t a month known for being frosty but unseasonably cold conditions froze the ground at Cheltenham in 1931. Unsafe for racing, the Festival was called off for the first time.

1936 – Miller Truly Golden

Golden Miller completes a truly unbelievable sequence of five straight Gold Cup victories. The Irish-bred horse initially won as a five year old and proceeded to win the next four renewals, all as the strong favourite. As if five Gold Cup wins wasn’t enough, Golden Miller is also the only horse to win the Cheltenham Festival’s prized race and the Grand National in the same year (1934).

1937 – Flooding an Issue

If Golden Miller’s connection had been weighing up a sixth Gold Cup title then they were out of luck. Although the horse only retired in 1939, flooding meant there was no running of the Gold Cup in 1937. Wet weather didn’t cancel the entire meeting though with other races such as the Champion Hurdle still going ahead in the mud.

1943 – War Sacrifices

During the early years of World War II the Festival largely carried on as normal but as things progressed hosting racing action proved impossible. In 1943 there was no option but to cancel the meeting, the first time non-weather factors had been responsible. The same occurred again in 1944 before action resumed the following year.

1946 – Two New Races Created

Shortly after the end of the war, Cheltenham added another race to its repertoire, the Broadway Novices’ Chase. The three mile contest underwent several name changes during the 1960s but we’ve long known it now as the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase. From fairly humble origins the steeplechase for horses aged five years and older has become one of the highlights on day two of the Festival.

The other new recruit was the Kim Muir Amateur Riders’ Steeplechase, introduced by Mrs Evan Williams as a way of honouring her brother, a Calvary officer, who died during World War II. Later, in 1991, on the year of his death, the highly successfully trainer Fulke Walwyn was added to the race title.

1947 – Champion Hurdle Golden Era Begins

The Champion Hurdle may be one of the great National Hunt races but even it has its highs and lows. Shortly after World War II came to an end, fans witnessed one of the highs as three horses, National Spirit, Hatton’s Grace and Sir Ken, won eight consecutive renewals between them. Considered to be among the most talented hurdlers the sport has seen, it was pure chance they all featured across a small space of time.

1947 – Many Other Races Postponed

National Spirit only had chance to win the 1947 edition of the Champion Hurdle thanks to the hard work of the organisers. Twice the race had been postponed due to snow but the third time proved the charm. Unfortunately for many other races, there simply wasn’t space to fit them in elsewhere so the bulk of Festival races have no records for this year.

1951 – Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase Established

Cheltenham creates a new steeplechase in order to honour the 2nd Baron Mildmay of Flete who tragically died months earlier. The celebrated amateur jockey rode three Festival winners during his time and the inaugural running of the race named after him couldn’t have been any more exciting. Waterlogging delayed it by a month but it was fully worth the wait as Canford and Slender crossed the line at the same time, producing a rare dead heat.

1954 – Local Success

The Gold Cup witnessed its first locally trained winner in the form of Four Ten. Trainer John Roberts was base in the now demolished, but then very nearby Prestbury Court.

1954 – Piggott on Show

Lester Piggott’s fame came strictly over the flat but the racing legend did have a try over the obstacles earlier on in his career. This year the 11-time champion Flat jockey made his Festival debut, winning the now-defunct Birdlip Selling Hurdle on 2nd March. It’s the only Festival race Piggott ever won although he did also win the Triumph Hurdle before it moved to Cheltenham.

1957 – Herbert Denied Spotlight

As Linwell stormed home in the Gold Cup, few would have been celebrating more than Ivor Herbet. The well-known racing journalist was the trainer of the bay gelding but a conflict of interest barred him from obtaining a trainer’s licence. Charlie Mallon, head of his stable staff, therefore officially took the role as trainer and it is his name that features in the record books.

1959 – Along Comes the Champion Chase

Recognising the need for a high class minimum distance steeplechase, the then National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase enjoyed its inaugural appearance in 1959. The original title hardly rolled off the tongue but it stopped being an issue in 1980 when the race changed to its present title of the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

1964 – Famous Gold Cup Battle

The excitement levels were at fever pitch heading into this Gold Cup renewal as Mill House, representing England, took on pride of Ireland, Arkle. The two seven year olds couldn’t have been in any better shape and what a battle they produced on the New Course. Miles clear of the trailing pack, the pair entered the home stretch neck and neck before Arkle managed to pull away as they approached the line.

1966 – Arkle Completes Stunning Treble

He may not have reached the five Gold Cup wins managed by Golden Miller but Arkle’s trio was far more emphatic. His five length victory in 1964 later proved to be a close call as in 1965 and 1966 the stunning nag won by 20 and 30 lengths respectively. The latter you’ll not be surprised to learn is the largest winning distance ever recorded in the Grade 1 event. No wonder the bookies had him down at odds of 1/10!

1968 – Triumph Hurdle Joins the Festival

Founded in 1939, the Triumph Hurdle took its time before being included on the Festival schedule. Hurst Park in Surrey initially hosted the event but following its closure in 1962 the minimum distance event needed a new home. Cheltenham took up the reigns in 1965, scheduling it during its April meeting before bringing it a month forward in 1968.

1969 – Cotswold Chase Dropped

As a way of paying tribute to three-time Gold Cup winning Arkle, the Arkle Challenge Trophy replaced the Cotswold Chase. Initially it began featuring on the second day of the Festival but found itself moved to the opening day 10 years later.

1971 – Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle Begins

The name Baring Bingham may not be overly familiar to most but it was he who purchased Prestbury Park in 1898 and organised the earlier editions of the Grand National Hunt Meeting. Created in his honour was this two mile five furlong race hurdle race won by the Ruby Walsh-Willie Mullins combination on four occasions.

1972 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Merges

For decades the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which in more recent times has been the opening race of the entire Festival, was split into two or even three divisions. This came to an end in 1972 though as the Gloucestershire Hurdle as it was then known became a simple one race affair.

1974 – George Duller Handicap Hurdle Drops Out

The Festival waves goodbye to the George Duller Handicap Hurdle and says hello to the Coral Golden Hurdle Final. For much of its early history the race went by this name but in 1992 it changed to the more familiar Pertemps Final. The contest is the culmination of eight qualifying races taking place across the country earlier in the season and in 2018 it went from a Listed to a Grade 3 event.

1978 – Snow Disruption

Winter continued a little longer this year as it covered Cheltenham racecourse with plenty of snow. The adverse weather didn’t complete ruin the meet but not all races managed to feature. One of these to miss out was the Gold Cup but fortunately a date was found in April to run the showpiece event.

1980 – A Year of Banned Substances

Tied Cottage storms home in the Gold Cup, reaching the line eight lengths clear of Master Smudge in second. The 12 year old led from start to finish but after the race, officials found traces of the prohibited substance theobromine in a urine sample. Accidental contamination of food stuffs was blamed but as unintentional as it was, disqualification had to follow.

There was disqualification in the Champion Chase too, this time Chinrullah the victim after securing an unbelievable 25 length victory. After the Mick O’Toole trained horse took the unfortunate crown as the only horse to suffer two disqualifications at the Festival as he also featured in the Gold Cup the following day. Like with Tied Cottage, theobromine was the issue.

1981 – Age No Barrier for Wumpkins

When winning the Pertemps Final as an 11 year old in 1979, few were expecting more success in the race for Willie Wumpkins. Not only did he win again the following year though, he completed the event’s only hat-trick in 1981 at the ripe age of 13, much to the delight of the crowd. Incredibly this final victory came eight years after the fan favourite first tasted Cheltenham Festival success, making for a true comeback tale.

1983 – Badsworth Boy Claims a Hat-Trick

A third consecutive win for Badsworth Boy makes him the first horse to win the Champion Chase on more than two occasions. The son of Bold Ruler was trained by a combination of Michael, Tony and Monica Dickinson. Michael had been officially noted as the trainer for the first two wins while Monica took the plaudits for the third.

Although Michael wasn’t credited with Champion Chase success this year, he did find his way into the history books very shortly after via another means. The Yorkshireman completed the extraordinary feat of training the first five finishers of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Dickinson Famous Five, as it was called at the time, were as follows: 1st: Bregawn, 2nd: Captain John, 3rd: Wayward Lad, 4th: Silver Buck, and 5th: Ashley House.

1987 – Armytage First Female Success

At just 21 years old, Gee Armytage became the first female jockey to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. She did so in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup on an 11 year old horse called The Ellier. Not willing to stop there, the daughter of successful trainer Roddy Armytage then scored another winner the following day on the aptly named Gee-A.

1990 – Huge Gold Cup Upset

Fully expecting Desert Orchid to retain his Gold Cup crown, punters heaped money on Dessie who set off at an odds-on price. Seeing him finish behind 8/1 shot Toby Tobias was surprising enough but nobody in their wildest dreams thought he would wind up behind the shock winner Norton’s Coin. Despite a complete lack of form, the obscurely bred gelding won at a huge 100/1 price, the longest in Gold Cup history.

1992 – Festival Bumper Added

Unable to think of a more inspired name, the Festival Bumper emerged as the latest race to take place at Cheltenham’s historic meeting. Now known as the Champion Bumper, it became the first, and remains the only, flat race to take place during the entire Festival. The name change in 1997 represents its status as the most prestigious bumper race taking place on the National Hunt calendar.

The first horse to feature on the winners’ list of the Champion Bumper, Montelado, returned the following year to win the Supreme Novice Hurdle. The 1997 champion, Florida Pearl, became the next to win over the obstacles on his Festival return when scoring gold in the RSA Chase.

1993 – Coral Cup Established

Coral becomes the latest sponsor looking to get in on the Festival act. The popular bookie sponsored a new handicap, initially run over a distance of two miles and five furlongs. Olympian, who had won the Imperial Cup the previous weekend at Sandown, claimed glory in the inaugural renewal. For this double he scooped his connections a bonus prize of £50,000 courtesy of Coral.

1994 – Avro Anson Denied

A brilliant battle in the Stayers’ Hurdle saw Avro Anson edge out Martin Pipe’s joint favourite Balasani. The result was switched however when the stewards penalised the initial winner for causing interference.

2000 – Istabraq Shows His Prowess

Although not quite able to match Golden Miller’s run of five Festival victories, Istabraq did make it four on the turn of the new millennium. The Aidan O’Brien trained hurdler initially won the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle before securing triple success in the elite Champion Hurdle.

2001 – Foot-and-Mouth Crisis

An outbreak of food-and-mouth disease in 2001 not only caused a crisis in the British agriculture and tourism sectors but it had a huge impact on horse racing too. Organisers had hoped to reschedule the Cheltenham Festival to later in the spring but a confirmed case of the disease located just five miles from Prestbury Park sunk the plans. Unable to host the Festival due to the racecourse being in the exclusion zone, Cheltenham had to refund almost 150,000 badges in what was a devastating blow.

To some extent, contingency plans spared the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle. Sandown hosted these races under a different guise during April’s Whitbread Gold Cup meeting. The four events carried Grade One status and featured over similar distances as normal but they can’t truly count as genuine renewals of the big Cheltenham races.

2005 – The Festival Grows

To the delight of the many people who subscribe to the ‘I wish it could be Cheltenham everyday’ ethos, an extra day was added to the Festival. Traditionally the action spanned three days but the inclusion of day four allowed a championship race to feature on every day of the meeting.

The extra day of racing created a need for an additional four races to ensure each day had an even six in total. The new recruits were the Festival Trophy (Ryanair Chase), Spa Novices’ Hurdle, Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase, Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. Those of you paying attention will see that five races are mentioned above, that’s because the Cathcart Challenge Cup, a previous Festival feature, was scrapped.

2007 – Kauto Star Wins Big

A Betfair initiative rolled out in 2005 offered a bonus of £1m to any horse able to win the Betfair Chase, the King George VI and the Gold Cup, also known as the Stayers Chase Triple Crown. Kauto Star had already won the first two prior to lining up for the 2007 edition of the Gold Cup and he duly complete the clean sweep, pocketing his connections a huge jackpot in the process. By the end of his career Clive Smith’s horse netted £3.7m in earnings.

2008 – Another Race Added in a Stormy Edition

Just three years after increasing the number of races by four, Cheltenham adds another event, the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle. Named after the hugely successful jockey and trainer, it is available to all fillies and mares over the age of three. It would become the first of four races joining the Festival over the next eight years. Its first running coincided with some truly awful conditions at Cheltenham however, so bad in fact that day two of the meeting had to be cancelled.

High winds were to blame for the disruption on the morning of the Festival’s second day. Gusts on the course has been so strong that an unspecified structure had blown down. With a selection of temporary buildings present by the track, the risk of something else falling was simply too great and the day’s action was abandoned. Fortunately things calmed down on Thursday and Friday and the cancelled races simply took place on these days.

2009 – Martin Pipe Honoured

Martin Pipe joins Fulke Walwyn, Vincent O’Brien, Fred Winter and David Nicholson as the next person who has a race named after him at the Festival. Appropriately, a handicap was chosen for what many viewed as a long-overdue honour. A humbled Pipe, who retired in 2006, predicted at the time that his son David would no doubt maintain a keen interest in the race but as of 2019 he’s yet to win it.

2011 – Golder Miller Novices’ Chase Added

With organisers at Cheltenham keen on increasing another day to seven races, they added the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase. The name may not ring a bell but that’s because it’s always ran under a sponsored title, initially called the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase and then the JLT Novices’ Chase. It slotted in on day three of the Festival and in 2014 enjoyed promotion to Grade 1.

2012 – Big Buck’s Makes it Four

For the fourth time, Big Buck’s gets himself first past the post in the Stayers’ Hurdle, breaking his own record as the race’s most successful horse. Ruby Walsh had to push him hard in the final stages but the French-foaled horse had enough to see off Voler La Vedette. Already a true legend of the sport, Big Buck’s attempted to make it five in 2013 but could only managed a fourth place finish.

2014 – Quevega Proves Unbeatable

Usually one festival win is impressive enough but a solitary taste of success was not enough for the French-bred Quevega. The Willie Mullins trained mare somehow made it six wins in a row in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, or rather the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle as it is called for sponsorship reasons. By securing her sixth win she ended up breaking the record for the most wins at the Festival set by Golden Miller, who triumphed in the Gold Cup on five consecutive occasions in the 1930s.

2016 – One Final Race Added

Bringing the total number of races up to 28 at the Festival, making it seven races on each day, is the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Nicky Henderson was quick to praise the addition calling it an “enormous boost to the National Hunt breeding fraternity”. On its inaugural running the two mile, one furlong hurdle offered £75,000 in prize money.

2018 – Mullins Continues to Bump

After a four year drought, Willie Mullins gets back on top in the Champion Bumper by claiming his ninth win in the prestigious flat race. With this latest win, courtesy of the five year old Envoi Allen, Irish trainer became responsible for more than a third of all winners in the race.

2019 – Record Breaking Attendance

Despite the presence of stormy weather threatening to delay the start of the Festival, droves of spectators came in their numbers to view the action live. Undeterred by the poor weather, a record breaking crowd of 67,934 attended the opening day of the Festival.