Racing Professionals

The Official Going for the first fixture in 2021 will be made available the week prior.

Before your visit

The allocation of badges per horse is six per ownership for this meeting. You must provide us with the details of those who will be attending by no later than 4pm on the day before the race meeting. Please use the Racecourse PASS System to do this, via www.rcapass.com. If you do not have access to the PASS System or need any assistance in its use, please contact the PASS Helpdesk on 01933 270333 or pass@weatherbys.co.uk. You are also required to complete the COVID-19 online learning module.

You do not need to book with us separately.

Your Journey and Car Parking

For those travelling by road, please use the racecourse’s main entrance off New Crane Street. Please be aware that on racedays, Nuns Road will be closed to both traffic and pedestrians. Please note, this is not the normal Owners and Trainer’s Car Park.

Arrival

Gates will be open from 12noon.  Once you have parked, please make your way to the Owners’ Reception in the Car Park Area.. Please be prepared to have your temperature taken and be asked several health-related questions and to provide photo ID, either passport or driving licence.

Dining and Viewing

In one of the two designated Restaurants you will enjoy an arrival cocktail, followed by a three-course meal. The table will be yours for the whole afternoon Tables will be allocated and booked for the number of guests per horse booked on a particular horse, be it for 6,5 4,3,2 or 1.

When it is time for your race, you will have access to the parade ring area. You can enjoy the race from either the parade ring area, County Stand seats or at the comfort of your table or the roof terrace if dining in Restaurant 1539 or the roof terrace adjacent to the track if dining in The White Horse.. Post-race, there will be designated debrief areas which will be clearly marked, along with a presentation to winning owners which will take place close to the Parade Ring..

Dress Code

Please dress smart casual for dining in either restaurant.

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 shughes@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 2021

Bookmakers badges should be purchased in advance online. Once available, the link to buy will be published here.

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.