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Crowds flocked to Chester Racecourse this week for the Boodles May Festival, providing an increase in ticket sales of 11% year-on-year. A fantastic three days at the Roodee, with a total crowd of 39,197, was topped off with East India Dock winning the highlight race on the card, the Ladbrokes Chester Cup, this afternoon.

For the first time, Chester Racecourse has introduced misting fans in the post-race pull-up area for horses, marking a significant investment in equine welfare. This initiative aims to help horses cool down effectively after races, especially during the warmer summer months.

Last year’s St Leger runner-up Illinos heads a select field of six for the Ladbrokes Big-Value You Can Bet On Ormonde Stakes, the £140,000 feature race on Boodles May Festival Ladies Day.

The Boodles May Festival kicks off at Chester next Wednesday until Friday (7-9 May) with highlights across the three days including the Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks, the Boodles Chester Vase, the Ladbrokes Chester Cup and the Boodles Dee Stakes. Ahead of declarations two top trainers in John Gosden and Andrew Balding, have provided an update on their running plans for the week ahead. 

With a new Clerk of the Course, Eloise Quayle, and a newly introduced role of Racing Director* for Patrick Chesters, the Racing Department looks well-placed to bring in the new season at Chester Racecourse during next week’s Boodles May Festival. 

Hugo Palmer is set to line up defending hero Zoffee in next month’s Ladbrokes Chester Cup, which takes place on Friday 9th May. The gelding, who is now nine, won the £170,000 race last year for local trainer Palmer, who is based at Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables. 

Chester Racecourse gave racegoers an extra surprise with the unveiling of a stunning VE Day-themed fascinator at Boodles May Festival Ladies Day today (Thursday 8 May).

Chester Racecourse is charging into the new racing season with a powerful line-up of renewed and new commercial partnerships, reinforcing its reputation as a premium platform for brand alignment and customer engagement.

Chester Racecourse has teamed up with official Style Partner of the Boodles May Festival, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, to launch a fresh new style guide for 2025, providing racegoers with inspiration, and an opportunity to win coveted prizes.

Cheltenham Festival thirds East India Dock and Liam Swagger head a team of six possible runners for rising star James Owen in the £170,000 Ladbrokes Chester Cup, entries for which closed today.

A talented milliner from Liverpool is set to help Chester Racecourse to set the world record for the largest ever fascinator to be made, ahead of the upcoming Boodles May Festival.

Oh no, they didn’t! Oh yes, they did! Chester Racecourse has today (1 April 2025) announced the launch of the Global Pantomime Horse Racing Authority (GPHRA).