Owners & Trainers

Chester Racecourse is located in the heart of the historic city and is easily accessible by the rail network and road and is sign-posted from all major routes. We recommend you allow plenty of time to make your journey and arriving early to take advantage of the full raceday experience.

Chester Racecourse having been working in collaboration with Cheshire Police and Cheshire West and Chester Council to address issues of health and safety around Chester racedays.

Racedays attract thousands each raceday and the safety of the racegoers and members of the public is of utmost importance. In order to protect those visiting the racecourse, it is necessary to impart measures that safeguard against any potential threat to safety.

Having collectively reviewed existing measures, it was felt that additional sanctions should be brought into place for the 2018 season, namely concerning road closures around the racecourse.

Between the hours of 09:00 and 21:00, road closures will be in place on New Crane Street, Watergate Street and Nuns Road. Safety barriers will enforce the closures, providing additional security to members of the public.

Barriers will be removed from 21:00 on the evening of a raceday to allow for normal access.

Car Parking

At the 5-day entry stage, all owners will be sent a car park label.

For those choosing to travel by road, Chester is located within easy reach of major roads such as the M53, M56, M6 and A41. The Owners and Trainers Car Park is located in Saddlery Way (CH1 4LZ – what three words butter.mutual.chest.). Please be aware due to road closures on racedays, you can only approach the Racecourse from a westerly direction via Sealand Road, please follow the yellow diversion signage with the black diamond on and around the city. There will be further Owners and Trainers and Horsebox Park signage as you near the racecourse.

The Owners and Trainers Car Park is only a short walk to the Owners and Trainers Reception, located in the Leverhulme Stand. There is a courtesy buggy service for those wishing to ride. This service will also operate after racing.

If you require assistance with transport, we will happily assist with transfers from local airports and train stations – this should be done in advance of the day by emailing or calling Jeannie Chantler on 07968 963664.

Helicopters

Helicopter landing facilities are available on racedays by prior arrangement. Please contact Helicopter & Aviation Services Ltd. to make the necessary arrangements: 01427 718800 |  info@helipad.co.uk

In the event of any difficulties contacting the above please contact Neil Farmer: 01244 304 679

By Taxi

Planning on travelling to the racecourse by taxi? We’ve partnered with KingKabs to offer you a great discount. Download the App today www.kingkabs.co.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. T&Cs apply.

By Train

Chester Racecourse is located in the heart of the historic city and is easily accessible by the rail network with trains running frequently to Chester Train station. The railway station is a six-minute taxi ride to the racecourse, or a 20-minute walk.

This section aims to provide a guide for media wishing to attend and work on a race day at Chester. Within this section you will find a guide to applying for accreditation, how to find media information as well as who to contact to assist you with your visit.

Media Accreditation

Application criteria

For racing media, an RCA media accreditation press pass and car park label permits access into the racecourse for all fixtures in the racing calendar. For members of the media who do not hold an RCA media accreditation pass, course access requests should be made in writing to the marketing department no later than five days before a fixture. Please be advised that access to the Press Room facilities at Chester Racecourse are reserved for RCA media accredited personnel only. Adhoc requests to access wifi and hot desk facilities will be reviewed on a case by case basis and granted on a first come, first served basis.

Access requests for accreditation are not granted to agency photographers as Chester Racecourse have an Official Course Photographer. When applying for accreditation via e-mail, you will need to provide supporting evidence of the publication or media outlet you are working for, or if a freelance, a letter from a commissioning editor.  If you are a photographer, differing levels of access will be granted as access to the course is limited to photographers with racing experience.  Full instructions regarding permitted areas of access will be provided upon successful application. Photographers without RCA accreditation status will not be granted access to the track, Parade Ring or Winners Enclosure.

Broadcast media

For broadcast media, accreditation requests need to be fielded by the rights holders, Sky Sport Racing, before access can be granted. Upon application, full details of the nature of the broadcast will need to be outlined. Please email Sky Sports Racing and the marketing department for further information.

Media facilities

For all race meetings at Chester, media filing copy or images on the day of racing, RCA media accredited members of the press can access the Press Room, which will be communicated with press prior to the day. Free Wi-Fi is provided.

Media assets

All press releases issued by Chester Racecourse can be found within the news section of this website. For rights free media images, please email the marketing department here.

Official Social Media channels

Make sure you follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like our Facebook page to keep up to date with our latest news and ensure you make the most of your visit to Chester Racecourse.

Contact

For media comment or interview requests, please email Stewart Hudson, shudson@chester-races.com

Official Course Photographer

Chester’s Official Racecourse Photographer is Alan Wright – please contact him via phone on 01695 724 504 or via email.

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

Who can become a new owner?

Anyone over 16 years of age (applicants aged 16 or 17 require a personal guarantee from a currently registered owner) can apply. Event applicant will be subject to identity and credit checks and have to be approved by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Register as an owner. Owners can register to be an owner online via the BHA website here.

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 all members of the Partnership are registered owners 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 isn’t necessary for members of the Syndicate to register as owners.)

–   Racing Club (A subscription to experience racehorse ownership. It isn’t 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>.

Chester Bookmakers – Bookmaker Badge Purchasing 2024

Bookmakers badges should be purchased in advance online. Click here to purchase your bookmakers badge.

To purchase your badge:

• Click here to purchase your bookmakers badge and workers badges.
• All pre-purchased badges will be distributed as e-tickets to the individual completing the booking
• These e-tickets can be presented and scanned upon entry to the racecourse on a race day
• Searches will be made on each day as part of our general entry policy
• Annual members badges will be checked on the day to prevent fraud

You are able to purchase your badges up to 5pm on the day before racing.

Anyone with annual members badges, please continue to contact the Box Office at enquiries@chester-races.com to make payment for your badges.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

ROA Gold Standard Award for Owners Experience

The Gold Standard began in 2006 – Chester Racecourse has been awarded the Gold Standard for every year since it’s inception (apart from when no standard was issued during the pandemic).

From 2015 an award for Large Racecourse and Small Racecourse of the year was introduced alongside the Gold Standard.

Chester won the Large Racecourse Award in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

For all stabling queries, please email stables@chester-races.com before 12pm the day before a raceday.

Chester Race Company has a proactive attitude to catering for racegoers with accessibility needs. Chester Racecourse is DDI compliant, however, owing to the age of the racecourse (we’ve been racing since 1539!), suitability does vary across the racecourse. 

To assist racegoers with accessibility or mobility restrictions we have a number of policies and services in place to help make the racing experience at Chester an enjoyable event.

The services we provide on race days include a complimentary companion pass, a dedicated team based at the Accessibility Reception, viewing platforms and blue badge parking zones. A full breakdown of accessibility information can be viewed online in our Accessibility Guide here – Accessibility Guide

For more information on Equine Welfare and Life After Racing, please visit our dedicated page here – Equine Welfare & Life After Racing