Horse racing fans are set to gather in their droves next year to attend a special preview evening in honour of the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.The event will take place at the Elland Road Football Stadium in Leeds on 4th March 2015, six days before the festivities begin at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Last year’s event was the first of its kind for the 155-year-old festival, but went down a huge success with more than 700 in attendance. The evening was attended by a panel of horse racing pundits including world class jockey Jason Maguire, Sky Sports news expert Alex Hammond and Racing UK’s Mark Howard, Donn McClean and Niall Hannity.
“The preview evening this March was a huge success and all parties were very keen to get the date in the diary again,” said Sky Bet Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners. “We’ll be confirming the panel in the build-up but it will be another great night for any racing fan, or someone who likes a bet at the Cheltenham Festival.”
Indeed, the betting element of the evening will be one of its biggest attractions – with more than £250 million expected to be spent at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Added to that, the evening will also feature an extensive preview of each day of racing at the three-day festival, as well as video interviews with racing trainers and a buffet supper.
Having taken place since 1860, the Cheltenham Festival brings together some of the most prestigious racers from around the world, culminating in the famed Cheltenham Gold Cup race, which takes place next year on 13th March. Friday 13th may be unlucky for some, but for the winning jockey, there is a huge £550,000 prize at stake.
One jockey who will be gunning for the prize is Ruby Walsh, who has had outstanding success at the events in previous years. This famed star has won the coveted ‘top jockey’ prize – one which is awarded to the jockey with the most wins over the course of the festival – eight times in the last century.
Other exciting moments that spectators will be keen to keep an eye out for will be the performance of Balthazar King, as trained by PJ Hobbs. The 10-year-old Bay Gelding is already hitting headlines with his upcoming performance at the Cheltenham Open, and given his experience at the course in Prestbury Park, should impress once again in March.
The Cheltenham Festival may be five months away, but with a preview evening to get fans even more excited, the 155th anniversary could just be the best festival yet.