Chester Racecourse:
Autumn Finale

Date:
Saturday 25th September 2010
Time:
First Race 2.20pm

The final flutter at Chester Races in 2010!

The last time this year that you can get your friends and family to enjoy the ‘Chester Experience’, and to see the horses under starters orders.

Featuring the following races:

The Corbettsports.com Maiden Stakes (Class 3)
The Corbettsports Nursery handicap Stakes (Class 4)
The Corbettsports.com Maiden Fillies Stakes (Class 4)
The Corbettsports.com Handicap Stakes (Class 2)
The Innospec Handicap Stakes (Class 3)
The Advanced Insulation Plc Handicap Stakes (Class 4)
The Cruise Nightclub Handicap Stakes (Class 4)

Other Helpful Links:

Chester Racing | Liverpool Racing | Leeds Racing | York Racing | Newcastle Racing

Other Great Ideas for Cheshire Days Out in September

Go Ape Delamere
Gulliver’s World Warrington
Stapeley Water Gardens
Jodrell Bank
Arley Hall
Anderton Boat Lift
Red House Farm, Dunham Massey
Northwich Salt Museum
Tatton Park, Knutsford
Beeston Castle
Blue Planet Aquarium

Chester Racecourse:
Family Fun Day

Date:
Sunday 1st August 2010
Time:
First Race 2.25pm

A fantastic family day out – a full day’s racing with lots of free children’s entertainment including:

Donkey Rides
Face painters
Mr Alexander’s Travelling Circus Show
Climbing Wall
Bouncy Castles

Featuring the following races:

The M&S Money EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 4)
Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 4)
The FREEBETS.co.uk Queensferry Stakes (Listed)
Halliwell Jones BMW Mile (Class 3)
The M&S Travel Money Handicap Stakes (Class 5)
The M&S Money 25th Anniversary Handicap Stakes (Class 4)

Chester Racecourse – a bit about…

22nd May 2010 | Chester Races | Roman Day

Chester Ladies Evening and Midsummer Meeting | 25th and 26th June 2010 | Chester Races

Chester Ladies and Gents Evening and totesport Day | 9th and 10th July 2010

Chester Family Funday | 1st August | Chester Racecourse

Located just outside the Chester city walls, the Chester racecourse; often referred to as the ’Roodee’, is on the site of the original harbour which encouraged the Romans to settle in Chester in the AD70s. The waters of the River Dee flowed right up to the base of the medieval wall; on which we can now stand. However, at this time the wall was much further back than it is now.

The Roman harbour wall can be discovered with some searching from the racecourse. Much of the huge stones are now buried well under ground. Further investigations have been hampered by the dangers caused by deep waters still to be found below this level.

The harbour was eventually closed, as silting of the river made it impractical for mooring ships for delivery of goods, and ultimately the area became impassable.

The Roodee

The name Roodee is derived from ‘Rood Eye’. This has the meaning ‘The Island of the Cross’; and refers to a sandstone cross, the stump of which can be seen at the Chester Racecourse today.

The Rood (Cross) dates back to AD946, and legend has it that beneath the cross is buried a statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue was tried and found guilty of causing the death to the wife of the Governor of Hawarden. The Governor’s wife had gone to the Hawarden church to pray for rain to ease the relentless drought. There was a massive thunderstorm, the statue fell and killed Lady Trawst.

Of one legend, it is said that the statue was left on the banks of the River Dee below Hawarden Castle; as whilst the court convicted the statue by jury and condemned it to hang, because of the Holy image depicted by the statue it was felt that God should decide its fate. It is also said that this was first court case in England to be decided upon by a jury.

The statue was washed down the River Dee, finally resting in Chester where it is said to have been decided that God had chosen to ‘drown’ the statue. The residents of Chester buried the statue and it is now thought to rest beneath the Rood.

Horseracing

Chester racecourse held its first recorded horserace in 1540; prior to this the site had been used to play the famously bloody Goteddsday (Shrove Tuesday) football match which was banned because of its violence. This decision was made by the city’s mayor of the 1500s, Henry Gee –which is where the term ‘gee-gee’ is derived from.

Today, the Chester racecourse is one of only two racecourses within a city centre (the other is in York) which makes it a popular day out for many. You can even watch the spectacle for free from the city walls; with a fantastic view spanning the whole course.

The racecourse runs over a dozen racing fixtures between May and September.

Housing three stands, a fantastic day can be had by all. Whether you visit the County Stand dressed in all your finery, the Tattersalls Stand for a party day out, or the Dee Stand for a relaxing family day out.

If you want something different from the thrill of the races, Chester racecourse is also home to the British Masters Show Jumping and international British Polo Club events.

Outside of the horseracing season, the Roodee has excellent conference facilities for any occasion.

 Chester Racecourse

Chester Races May Festival 2010

Chester Races Roman Day 2010

Chester Races Ladies Evening 2010

Chester Races Midsummer Meeting 2010

Chester Races Ladies and Gents Evening 2010

Chester Races totesport Day 2010

Chester Races Family Fun Day 2010

Alongside the horse racing free entertainment is laid on for a full day of excitement and pleasure. 

Chester Racecourse Online Ticket Office

Check the Chester Weather before you leave home!

More
Horseracing:

YorkHorseracing| Leeds Horseracing| Liverpool Horseracing | Chester Horseracing | Newcastle Horseracing

 

Friday 25th June – Chester Races Ladies Evening

The first evening event of the Chester Racecourse calendar has been such a success in its previous two years that it is here again for us to enjoy.

Racing starts at 6.45pm  with the last race being run at 9.15pm.

But Chester Ladies Evening is about more than the horseracing! There is the coveted ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’ at around 8.20pm.

We await further information regarding sponsors and prizes for this event.

Chester Racecourse Online Ticket Office

Saturday 26th June – Chester Races Midsummer Meeting

This year’s Chester Midsummer meeting will be sponsored by the Trafford Centre Manchester and held on Saturday 26th June 2010.

Racing starts at 2.10pm with the last race being run at 5.30pm.

Visit the Trafford Centre on 4th June 2010 for a fantastic Race Ahead Fashion Show, with great ideas for your raceday outfit, for the chance to win tickets to Saturday 26th June Midsummer Meeting.

Chester Racecourse Online Ticket Office

Check the Chester Weather before you leave home!

More Horseracing:  

York Horseracing | Leeds Horseracing | Liverpool Horseracing | Chester Horseracing | Newcastle Horseracing

Friday 9th July 2010 – Chester Ladies and Gents Evening

Ladies and Gents Evening at Chester Racecourse is another fashion extravaganza on the Chester calendar. Chester Racecourse visitors mix with local celebraties with highlight of the evening for many being the ‘Best Dressed Couple’ Competition which is open to all to enter.

Racing starts at 6.40pm and the last race will be run at 9.20pm.

Chester Racecourse Online Ticket Office

Check the Chester Weather before you leave home!

More
Horseracing:

YorkHorseracing| Leeds Horseracing| Liverpool Horseracing | Chester Horseracing | Newcastle Horseracing

 

Directory of Chester for Local Businesses and Local Events

Gates open at 11am for a brilliant day of racing and a great family day out.

The first race starts at 2.30pm and the last at 5.50pm.

Chester Racecourse Online Ticket Office

Check the Chester Weather before you leave home!

Chester Racecourse

Chester Races May Festival 2010

Chester Races Roman Day 2010

Chester Races Ladies Evening 2010

Chester Races Midsummer Meeting 2010

Chester Races Ladies and Gents Evening 2010

Chester Races totesport Day 2010

Chester Races Family Fun Day 2010

More Horseracing:  

York Horseracing | Leeds Horseracing | Liverpool Horseracing | Chester Horseracing | Newcastle Horseracing

 

If you would like to see your event here email support@directoryofchester.net

 

 

 

The May Festival brings excitement and glamour to the Chester Racecourse with the promise of all that the summer months will hold for racers and visitors alike.

The May Festival starts the Chester horseracing season with totesport Cup Day and the famous Lily Agnes Stakes and the Chester Cup later in the day.

Thursday plays host to Boodles Ladies Day when the fashion stakes certainly rise whilst visitors gather to watch the Epsom Derby trial race – the Chester Vase.

The Chester Vase has been held at Chester Racecourse since 1907 and is recognised across the racing community as one of two races held at The Roodee to be one of nine Epsom Derby trial races in the UK. Shergar famously won the Chester Vase in 1981 with Chester Cup’s biggest ever lead of twelve lengths and then went on to conquer the Epsom Derby

Friday is Boodles City Day with the race of the day being the Adleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at 2.15pm.

The Dee Stakes, named in honour of the River Dee, is the second of the Chester races considered to be a trial for the Epsom Derby.

Opening Times and Admission Prices

Gates open at 11am on all three days of the Chester May Festival event with the first races of the day being run at 1.45pm and the last races between 4.35pm and 5.10pm.

Prices vary at Chester Racecourse depending on which area you wish to attend.

Range from £7 for Open Course up to £42 for the County Stand with other options in between for you to choose from.

Chester Racecourse Online Ticket Office

If you want to make the most of Chester this weekend why not visit the Pat Collins Chester Fun Fair

Check the Chester Weather before you leave home!