Dean Kennedy 
Cheltenham Festival is set to see a number of changes implemented ahead of 2025’s edition.
The organisers оf Cheltenham, The Jockey Club, have stated that the changes are being made tо provide «more competitive racing and a better experience and value for all visitors tо the Home оf Jump Racing.”
Next year’s event will take place between 11 March and 14 March and will see some significant changes tо some races and their structures, which has also seen overall prize money increase tо £4.93m ($6.59m).
The Turners Novices’ Chase will be replaced by a Grade Two limited novice handicap chase over two and a half miles, the National Hunt Chase will become a novice handicap chase for horses rated 0-145, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase will revert to handicap status, the penalty structure has been removed for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle, the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle will offer a guaranteed place to all winners of series qualifiers (provided they are in the weights brackets at declaration stage) and the number of qualifying runs for non-novice handicaps has been increased to four for chases and five for hurdles.
Improvements For Racegoers
There have also been measures implemented to improve the experience for those attending the festival with course-side drinking restrictions partially lifted in the Tattersalls and Best Mate enclosures, while improvements have been made for car parking and coach areas.
In response to total attendance falling in 2024 owing to what many said was rising costs, ticket prices for 2025 will be the same as they were this year and racegoers who purchase a ticket for any day of the meeting will be able to take advantage of a 20% discount on other days, excluding Gold Cup day tickets. Also, regarding tickets, groups of six people can save 10% on tickets when they book together.
In other horseracing news last week, CopyBet revealed its inaugural venture into event sponsorship within the sport, partnering with Ascot Racecourse for the CopyBet November Racing Weekend.
