Owners & Trainers - Chester Racecourse

Information

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 you may have, no matter how large or small.

An owner, partnership or syndicate with a declared runner are entitled to six Owners Badges, which includes a complimentary lunch and half a bottle of wine. Additional badges, subject to availability, may be purchased.

Badges can be collected from the Owners and Trainers Reception, which is located on the ground floor of the Leverhulme Stand.

Via the Racecourse PASS System, please provide the details of those who will be attending, no later than 4pm on the day before racing. If you do not have access to the PASS System or need any assistance, please contact the PASS Helpdesk on 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.

Syndicates are most welcome and, with a declared runner, will be entitled to six Owners Badges and lunch.

Syndicates choosing not to have lunch may elect to have up to an additional six complimentary Owners’ Badges (i.e. a total of 12). Additional badge requests will be considered subject to availability. Please contact Jeannie at ownersandtrainers@chester-races.com or on 07968 963664.

Jeannie, Lily, Sue, Sarah-Jane and Harriet are on hand to help and look after you, during your visit to the racecourse.

Reserved for Owners and Trainers, this is situated on the inside of the course, behind the Weighing Room and close to the Pre-Parade and Parade Rings.

We are pleased to offer Owners six complimentary lunches per horse in the Owners & Trainers Pavilion.

Should you require extra badges or places, please contact Jeannie at ownersandtrainers@chester-races.com and she will do her best to assist, subject to availability. For syndicates, lunches may be foregone and swapped for badges, if preferred. 

Names booked in on the PASS system will automatically be booked in for lunch.

Lunch comprises a starter, chef’s carvery, dessert and cheese with half a bottle of wine. Complimentary tea and coffee is available throughout the day.

Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free are all catered for. If you wish to express any specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to email our team on the address above.

If 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.

Chester Racecourse is located in the centre of the city. Due to road closures on racedays, if travelling by car, one can only approach the Racecourse from the west, via Sealand Road (A548).

Car

Chester is located within easy reach of the M53, M56, M6 and A41. The Owners and Trainers Car Park is located in Saddlery Way. Please follow the yellow ‘All Race Traffic’ diversion signs and then, as you near the Racecourse, the Owners signs.

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The Owners and Trainers Car Park is a short walk to the Owners and Trainers Reception, on the ground floor of the Leverhulme Stand. There is a courtesy buggy service for those wishing to ride – this will also operate after racing.

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 landing facilities are available, by prior arrangement. Please contact our designated Heliport Specialist 01202 835385 or annaliese@helipad.co.uk.

Hawarden airport is situated four miles west of the city. Prior permission is required to fly into Hawarden, which can be obtained from Air Traffic Control at Hawarden by telephoning 01244 522012. Email requests can be missed, so telephone contact is advised.

Liverpool Airport is 25 miles and Manchester Airport 34 miles, both accessible via the M56 and M53.

Please remember to complete your booking through the PASS system and let Jeannie know your arrival time so, if travelling by helicopter, we can arrange for a buggy to collect you, or if flying into Hawarden your arrival time so we can arrange to collect you. 

Click here to view the map

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.

Following your race there will be a presentation in the Parade Ring to the winning connections.

The winning, 2nd and 3rd placed connections are invited into the Entertainment Suite to watch a replay of the race and enjoy a glass of champagne.

Winning 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 connections may request a USB of their race.

Holiday Inn Express, Chester Racecourse

Located in the grounds of Chester Racecourse, our on-course hotel, the Holiday Inn Express, offers an unrivalled location and value for money, with complimentary Wi-Fi as standard. Be sure to reserve your rooms early to avoid disappointment – the hotel books up well in advance of race days.

Call 01244 327900 or click here to book.

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 02.07.2025

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.

The racecourse photographer is Alan Wright. He will be delighted to supply any images you require and can be contacted on 01695 724 504 or by e-mail offphoto@talk21.com

All images can be viewed on his website at www.officialphotographersuk.com

We value Owner and Trainer feedback and are keen to hear about your experience with us.

If you would like to provide feedback on a visit, or any part of your experience with Chester Racecourse, please do complete this link Racecourse Feedback | 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

Since it began in 2006, Chester Racecourse has been awarded the ROA Gold Standard Award for Owners’ Experience every year (apart from during the pandemic).

From 2015, alongside the Gold Standard, an award was created for the Large Racecourse and the Small Racecourse of the year. Chester has won the Large Racecourse Award in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

We value Owner and Trainer feedback and are keen to hear about your experience with us. If you would like to provide feedback on a visit, or any part of your experience with Chester Racecourse, please do complete this link Racecourse Feedback | ROA .

The racehorse is at the heart of everything we do. On every raceday there is a minimum of three specialised equine vets on site on every raceday 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