Racing Professionals

The first going update for 2020 will be available one week in advance of the first scheduled fixture.

All visiting Racing Professionals must complete the Racing Professionals registration form prior to their visit the Chester. Visiting professionals will be reminded about corresponding deadlines ahead of their forthcoming race day. The online form can be found here.

Every fixture, Every Race, Every Horse

If you have a runner in any race during the entire season you are guaranteed to leave Chester with at least £500 in prize money. If your runner wins prize money less than £500 then we will top it up to this figure, horses that do not win any prize money will receive a payment of £500. We are proud to be the first racecourse to run such a scheme on this scale.

Race Replays, USB pens and Photographs

If your horse is lucky enough to finish in the first four then you will be invited into our Entertainment Suite to watch a reply of your race and enjoy a glass of Champagne. If your horse is not placed then please take the opportunity to watch the race replays shown in the Pavilion. The owners of the first four home in a race will receive a USB pen containing a replay of the race.

Winning Connections

For all races winning connections will be invited into our Entertainment Suite to watch a reply of their race and enjoy a glass of Champagne. They will also receive a Magnum of champagne and a memento along with a Video Brochure showing the race and a USB.  A photograph of your winner will be emailed to you within 20 minutes as long as we have your e mail address and a hard copy of the photograph will then be posted to you in the week following the race meeting.

Badges

All owners will receive six complimentary badges, regardless of single or multiple ownership. Details of guests names must be provided via the Racing Professionals registration form. Additional badges can also be applied for via the Racing Professionals registration form on this website or the PASS Concierge system.

Dining in the Pavilion

Four complimentary meal vouchers, plus a half bottle of red or white wine are provided to owners with runners on racedays. The same quantity applies regardless of ownership types, be it single ownership, syndicates or partnerships. Owners must reserve a place within the Pavilion following declarations by completing the Racing Professionals registration form on this website. Places can only be guaranteed up until 5pm the day before racing. Extra places can only be allocated on the day, subject to availability at a cost of £40 per person. Please note that meal vouchers are strictly non-transferable.

Viewing

There are three areas from which to watch the races at Chester. From 2019. a new viewing area is available on the roof of the Pavilion for Owners, Trainers and Shareholders. Further viewing can be found in a section of seating (for the sole use of Owners and Trainers) and is situated in seat blocks A & B of the County Stand. In addition, the REFILL Bar roof in the Paddock Enclosure is also available as a viewing platform.

Dress Code

The dress code for Owners and Trainers for Chester racedays is the same as the racecourse’s rules for racegoers in the County Stand and Hospitality areas. Gentlemen are required to wear a suit jacket, collar and tie, ladies are required to wear smart dress. No denim or sportswear is permitted. Click here to view a copy of the 2019 Official Style Guide. 

Racecourse Owners Association

We wish to provide the best possible facilities for our Owners. Members of the ROA who are part of the ROA Owners´ Badge Scheme are allowed free entry into the course on certain race days.

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 09:30 and 19:00, 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.

Those visiting the racecourse by car should follow the temporary yellow signage in place on approach to the city of Chester to reach the racecourse. Barriers will be removed from 19:00 on the evening of a raceday to allow for normal access.

All traffic heading to the racecourse will travel in via Sealand Road. Please follow the signs in place for the Owners and Trainers Car Park.

Car Parking

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

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 John Knott 01244 304609.

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 marketing@chester-races.com no later than five days before a fixture. Please be advised that access to the media 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 email, 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 Sports 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 at Chester Racecourse 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 Media Centre, located adjacent to the Parade Ring in the Paddock Rooms facility. Free wifi 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 contact marketing@chester-races.com

Social since 1539

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.

Contact

For comment or interview requests, please email Stephanie Hughes - Head of Marketing.

Official Course Photographer

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

Chester Bookmakers – Bookmaker Badge Purchasing 2019

Bookmakers badges should be purchased in advance online using the following link:

Click here to purchase a Bookmakers Badge

The Box Office will only be able to distribute pre-purchased badges and will not be able to process any purchases on the day.

To purchase your badge:

• Follow the link above to purchase your bookmakers badge and workers badges
• Note - You will be able to use your Chester Annual Members Badge
• All pre-purchased badges will available for collection from the Box Office
• The badges will be available for collection from 11.00am
• Searches will be made on each day as part of our general entry policy

For any uncollected badges, a refund will be made to the same card as originally used to purchase the badges, this reimbursement process normally takes 2 or 3 days.

You are able to purchase your badges up to 8pm on the day before racing to ensure that your badges will be available for collection.

This process is aimed streamlining the purchase and distribution of the bookmakers badges, although the Box Office will still be available for the ‘on the day’ purchase of badges as a last resort.  The Box Office is located in the main County Stand and is generally very busy on the morning of a raceday so please expect long queues if you were to follow this method of purchasing your badge.

Your cooperation is appreciated.