Cheltenham delighted with sell-out New Year’s Day crowd

A record number of racegoers descended on Cheltenham as their New Year’s Day fixture sold out for the first time.

There were 44,151 in attendance for the track’s seven-race card, which was headlined by the Grade Two Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle.

The track does not reach its maximum capacity at meetings outside the Cheltenham Festival, where temporary structures increase the size of facilities significantly, but the bumper crowd was still able to surpass one of the quieter days at the key March meeting as last year’s Champion Chase day attendance figure was 41,949.

Cheltenham’s chief executive Guy Lavender said: “We’re delighted to have welcomed a record crowd of 44,151 for racing today, meaning the fixture has sold out for the first time.

“New Year’s Day is a meeting that has seen huge growth in recent years and, while capacity is significantly reduced compared to March due to the absence of the full-scale village, reaching that ceiling is a fantastic achievement.

“It’s wonderful to start the year on such a positive note with over 5,000 children on site alongside thousands of young people, members of the local community and our loyal racing fans. This is a truly special day, with a brilliant atmosphere that embodies everything that is great about jump racing.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to ensure there is something for everyone, from the Family Fun Zone to live music in the ever-popular Guinness Village and across the racecourse. Our new facilities have been well utilised today, and we will review all aspects of the meeting to ensure we can continue to grow this raceday in the years ahead.

“This meeting caps off a brilliant Christmas period for racing and we hope sets the tone for a positive 2026.”