The Cheltenham Festival opens this week with the sport's leadership in disarray, but the meeting remains a key barometer of racing's health. The British Horseracing Authority has been left rudderless after Charles Allen stepped down as chair after just six months, prompting talk of division among major racecourses, including Cheltenham, which are demanding a greater say in decision-making.
While off-course interest remains strong, with all 28 festival races now featuring in the top 35 races by betting turnover, attendance has fallen for three consecutive years. The 2022 festival attracted a record 280,627 spectators, but last year's total of 218,839 was down 4.9% on 2024 and 22% below the peak. The first three days have lost a quarter of their live audience over the same period.
However, attendances at Cheltenham's other meetings have been at record levels, including 44,151 on New Year's Day, which surpassed the 41,949 who attended the Wednesday of last year's festival. Chief executive Guy Lavender, in his first full year in the role, has introduced measures to improve the customer experience, including lifting the ban on alcohol on the lawns, a covered food court, cheaper beer, upgraded car parks and a scheme to reduce local accommodation costs.
The daily attendance figures will be closely scrutinised for signs of a revival. On the track, Irish-trained runners have dominated the Prestbury Cup, leading 175-101 over the past decade. The closest home challenge came in 2019, when the honours finished level at 14-14.
