Owners & Trainers - Chester Racecourse

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Owners & Trainers

We’re really grateful for the amazing support from the Owners and Trainers who choose to bring their horses to Chester. Here’s your handy guide to everything you need to know about our racecourse and making the most of having a runner with us.

ROA Gold Standard Award

Badges

Travel

Trainers League 2025

Useful Information

ROA Gold Standard Award for Owners Experience

The Gold Standard began in 2008 – Chester Racecourse has been awarded the Gold Standard for every year since it’s inception 2008 – 2024 included (No standards issued during Pandemic 2020 and 2021.)

From 2015 an award for Large Racecourse and Small Racecourse of the year was introduced alongside the Gold Standard. In 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 won the Large Racecourse Award.

Badges

If you are an owner, partnership or syndicate with a declared runner, you will get six Owners Badges, which come with a complimentary lunch and half a bottle of wine. Extra badges can be bought, subject to availability – contact Jeannie on 07968 963664 or ownersandtrainers@chester-races.com. You can pick up your badges at the Owners and Trainers Reception on the ground floor of the Leverhulme Stand.

If syndicates with a declared runner prefer not to have lunch, you can forego the lunches and have 12 complimentary Owners’ Badges. If you require further badges for syndicate members or their guests, please contact contact Jeannie on 07968 963664 or ownersandtrainers@chester-races.com. Subject to availability.

Make sure to give the details of who’s attending through the Racecourse PASS System by 4pm the day before the race. If you need help with PASS System or don’t have access to it, contact the PASS Helpdesk at 01933 270333 or pass@weatherbys.co.uk

Jockeys Guest Badge

This is for Guests of Jockeys who have already used their lanyard PASS. This badge gains access to the same areas as the County Concourse Badge. No access to the Owners and Trainers Pavilion or to the Parade Ring.

Travel

Car

Chester is easy to get to from the M53, M56, M6, and A41. The Owners and Trainers Car Park is on Saddlery Way. Just follow the yellow ‘All Race Traffic’ signs and then look for the Owners and Trainers signs as you get closer to the Racecourse.

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The car park is a short walk to the Owners & Trainers Reception, located on the ground floor of the Leverhulme Stand, If you prefer, there’s a courtesy buggy service available throughout the day.

Download Racecourse Map Here

Taxi

We’ve partnered with KingKabs to offer you a great discount. Download the App today kk-app.uk and save 20% with the code RACE20. This promotion can be accessed in all areas KingKabs operates within and applies to your first journey. Additionally, you can call directly on 01244 343434. T&Cs apply

Train

There are direct trains from London Euston (2 hr 10 min), or via Crewe. The train station is a taxi journey, or a 25-minute walk, to the racecourse.

By Air

Helicopter landings are available by prior arrangement. Contact our Heliport Specialist at 01202 835385 or annaliese@helipad.co.uk.

Hawarden Airport is 4 miles west of the city. Prior permission is required—call Air Traffic Control on 01244 522012 (email requests may be missed).

Liverpool Airport (25 miles) and Manchester Airport (34 miles) are accessible via the M56 and M53.

Trainers League 2025

The leading Trainer will receive the Bobby McAlpine Trophy and a case of champagne, with £10,000 going to the yard of the season’s leading trainer.

This perpetual trophy commemorates Mr Bobby McAlpine, who was at the heart of Chester Race Company for thirty 30 years. Serving as Chairman for twenty years and Honorary President until the time of his passing in 2021. He was instrumental in the expansion of Chester Race Company, bringing it to where it is today.

The table will run throughout the season, with points being awarded, as follows: 1st place – 10 points, 2nd place – 7 points, 3rd place – 4 points and 4th place – 2 points.

Updated 05.08.2025

Useful Information

Looking for more details on owners and trainers? Our easy-to-use guide has you covered!

The Team

Meet the team! Jeannie, Lily, Sue, Sarah-Jane, and Harriet will be on hand to help and look after you, ensuring you have the best experience at our racecourse. Your dedicated point of contact is Jeannie Chantler, who can be contacted at ownersandtrainers@chester-races.com or on 07968 963664. Jeannie will be pleased to answer any query – no matter how big or small!

The Owners & Trainers Pavilion

This area is for Owners and Trainers, located inside the course, behind the Weighing Room, and near the Pre-Parade and Parade Rings. Owners get six complimentary lunches per horse and if you’ve booked on the PASS system, you’re automatically booked for lunch.

Lunch includes a starter, chef’s carvery, dessert, cheese, and half a bottle of wine. Complimentary tea and coffee are available all day. We cater to Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free diets. If you have specific concerns, please ownerandtrainers@chester-races.com

Accessibility

f you have reduced mobility or a disability, or require additional assistance on raceday, please contact Jeannie at ownersandtrainers@chester-races.com

The Owners and Trainers Pavilion and the Winning Connections Room are both accessible by wheelchair.

Hearing Loops are available at the Owners and Entrance and also at the Owners and Trainers Bar areas.

Viewing

There are a number of reserved areas – The Weighing Room roof, accessed by the staircase on the end of the Weighing Room, close to The Owners & Trainers Pavilion. Roof viewing is also available above The Refill Bar, alongside the track, which can be accessed by exiting the Parade Ring on the opposite side from the Weighing Room. 

There are also reserved seats in the County Stand.

Winning Connections

Following your race, there will be a presentation in the Parade Ring to the winning connections. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placed connections are invited into the Entertainment Suite to watch a replay of the race and enjoy a glass of champagne. Winner connections will receive a magnum of champagne, a memento, a photograph of their winning horse and a video brochure of the race. 2nd and 3rd placed may request a USB of their race.

Accommodation

Stay at Chester Racecourse with our Holiday Inn Express. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and unbeatable value for money. Rooms fill up fast on racedays, so make sure to book early to secure your spot!

To book call 01244 327900 or click here

Dress Code

There is no specific Dress Code for Owners and Trainers, however we do ask that you wear a smart casual attire.

Polo Shirt
Collared shirt
Smart Jeans (not ripped)
Smart Trousers
Chinos
Smart dress/skirt

Not allowed: Round necked T shirts, Shorts, Denim, Trainers, Sportswear or Fancy Dress.

Raceday photographer

Our racecourse photographer, Alan Wright, would be thrilled to provide any images you need! You can reach him at 01695 724 504 or by email at offphoto@talk21.com.

You can also check out all his photos on his website: www.officialphotographersuk.com

Owner Feedback

We love hearing from our Owners and Trainers! Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, and we’re eager to learn about your experiences at Chester Racecourse.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on a visit of any part of your experience, please follow this link: Racecourse Feedback | ROA

Racehorse Owners Association (ROA)

The Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) has produced a useful handbook – A Guide to Racehorse Ownership. This is free, comprehensive and designed for existing and potential racehorse owners and covers a broad range of subjects, designed to demystify racehorse ownership and make it more accessible to a wider audience.

Types of Racehorse Ownership:

– Sole ownership (An individual has 100% share in the horse)

– Company (A company can register as an Owner, owning horses 100%)

– Partnership (Two or more people, who are members of the Partnership, are registered as owners and share a percentage of the horse)

– Syndicate (A share in a percentage of a horse that is managed and administered by the Syndicator/s. It is not necessary for members of the Syndicate to register as owners.)

– Racing Club (A subscription to experience racehorse ownership. It is not necessary for members of the Syndicate to register as owners.)

– Leasing (Ownership of a racehorse for a set period of time)

Information as supplied by the ROA, for more information please click here > Getting Started | ROA

Horse Care & Veterinary Provision

The racehorse is at the heart of everything we do. On every race day there is a minimum of three specialised equine vets on site on every race day to attend to any horses that may require treatment.

There is also a specialist horse ambulance in attendance on the day.

HORSE PWR – SAFETY AND WELFARE IN HORSERACING