There’s nowhere quite like Cheltenham during Festival week. From incredible horses and record-breaking achievements to helicopters filling the skies, the Festival creates an atmosphere unlike any other.
Here are 10 facts about Cheltenham that might surprise you.
1. Cheltenham becomes an airport
During Festival week, Cheltenham Racecourse registers as an airport due to the number of helicopter flights. On Gold Cup Day, there can be around 100 helicopter movements – more than Bristol Airport.
2. Desert Orchid is the only grey Gold Cup winner
Only one grey horse has ever won the Cheltenham Gold Cup: the legendary Desert Orchid in 1989.
3. The oldest Gold Cup winners were 12
Silver Fame (1951) and What A Myth (1969) were both 12 years old when they won the Gold Cup, making them the oldest winners in the race's history.
4. Coneygree ended a 41-year wait
In 2015, Coneygree became the first novice to win the Gold Cup since Captain Christy in 1974.
5. Extra flights are added for the Festival ✈️
Ryanair adds around 30 extra flights to its Dublin–Birmingham route during Festival week, with approximately 20,000 customers travelling with the airline.
6. Cheltenham Spa Station gets busy 🚆
Around 134,600 people use Cheltenham Spa Station across the four days of the Festival.
7. Golden Miller made history 🏆
Only two horses have won both the Gold Cup and Grand National, but Golden Miller is the only horse to win both in the same season, achieving the feat in 1934.
8. Quevega dominated the Mares' Hurdle
Quevega holds the record for consecutive Festival wins, winning the Mares' Hurdle six times in a row from 2009 to 2014.
9. The Gold Cup has some exclusive hands
The winning jockey and their team are the only people allowed to touch the Gold Cup without gloves – a fitting tradition for one of racing's most iconic trophies.
10. Dawn Run achieved a unique double
Dawn Run is the only horse to have won both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, winning the Champion Hurdle in 1984 before taking the Gold Cup in 1986.
How many of these did you know?
