Cheltenham Racecourse stands at Prestbury Park, just outside the spa town of Cheltenham, with the Cotswold hills forming one of the most recognisable backdrops in British racing. Known as the Home of Jump Racing, it has built its reputation on demanding races, passionate crowds and a sense of occasion that few sporting venues can match.

The course is best known for National Hunt racing, where horses compete over hurdles and fences. Its layout is a true test of stamina, balance and courage, with undulating ground, sharp changes of rhythm and a famous uphill finish that can turn a race in the closing strides. Cheltenham uses several course configurations, including the Old Course, the New Course and the Cross Country course, giving the venue a variety and character that sets it apart.

The highlight of the calendar is the Cheltenham Festival, staged every March and regarded as the pinnacle of the jump racing season. Across four days, the finest horses, jockeys and trainers from Britain, Ireland and beyond compete in races that define careers. The Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle are among the course’s most prestigious contests, each with its own history and place in racing folklore.

Racing in Cheltenham dates back to the early nineteenth century, but Prestbury Park became the sport’s great stage over time. Today, the racecourse is admired not only for the quality of its racing, but for the atmosphere around it. The famous “Cheltenham roar” at the start of the Festival captures what makes the place special: anticipation, tradition and shared excitement.

Cheltenham is more than a racecourse. It is a venue shaped by history, drama and the challenge of the final hill, where the best in jump racing come to prove themselves.