New Year's Day Racing at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse races on New Year's Day, and the next meeting is on Friday 1 January 2027. It is a single afternoon of seven jump races at the course under Cleeve Hill on the edge of Cheltenham.

What happens

In 2026 the gates opened at 10.30am, the first race was at 12.15pm and the last was listed at 3.45pm; the racecourse says the 2027 times will follow. The feature races on the 2026 card were a premier handicap chase, the Relkeel Hurdle, a Grade 2 race over 2 miles 4½ furlongs (about 4km), and a listed bumper for younger horses. The Family Fun zone is open to Club and Tattersalls ticket holders.

Tickets and children

General admission starts at £13.50 booked online, and hospitality from £119. Under-18s race free with an adult, but book their tickets with the adult's: each adult aged 21 or over, or a parent, can bring up to three. It is a good first race day for a family, with the racing done by mid-afternoon and the light going not long after.

Getting there and parking

The course is on Evesham Road, GL50 4SH. Parking is free at this meeting, and on racedays a bus runs from Cheltenham Spa station to the course; Stagecoach's D also runs from the town every 10 minutes in the daytime. Dogs other than guide dogs are not allowed in the enclosures, and the course is cashless apart from the bookmakers.

The rest of the season

The November Meeting opens the big winter fixtures, and the Cheltenham Festival closes them in March. For a walk before the racing, Cleeve Common climbs the hill above the course, and the Cleeve Hill Hotel is the nearest place we list to stay.