A day at the races If you’re looking for a special occasion with fun and thrills, the chance to get dressed up and even the opportunity to win thousands of pounds, look no further than a day out at Chester Races
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Something for everyone
stablished in 1539, Chester is the oldest racecourse still in operation in the world. But during the Roman occupation of Britain, most of the current 65-acre site wasn’t even dry land; it was an important harbour on the River Dee, which supplied the Roman garrison of Deva (now the city centre of Chester) – some of the anchor stones used at the port can still be seen at the current racecourse. Following several centuries of river action, “Chester stages 15 days a build-up of silt resulted an island forming of competitive in the river, where a stone and quality cross was built. The racing every alternative name for the racecourse – the Roodee season” – is a mixture of the Norse and Saxon meaning “the island of the cross”. By the early Middle Ages, the construction of a weir system on the river caused much larger quantities of silt to be deposited, and the original Roodee was converted into a riverside meadow, laying the foundation for the area to be eventually turned into a racecourse.
Glory days
Chester is renowned for several achievements in the era of modern horse racing. It’s where the first prize being given to a horse racer was recorded, at a Chester fair in 1512, and the place where Henry Gee, who became mayor of Chester in 1539,
See racing at the Roodee
Still to come this season...
The Autumn Festival, 10th & 11th September Make the most of the remainder of the season with a well-deserved long weekend of racing. This is the perfect opportunity to show off your best suits and dresses. Cheshire Day, 25th September The penultimate fixture of the season is a day to dress up and enjoy the best that Chester Racecourse has to offer. There is no better place to enjoy the last of the lighter days and warmer weather! Budweiser Brewing Group Season Finale, 2nd October The culmination of this year’s triumphant return to racing promises to be unlike any other. The races will be more hotly anticipated than ever and the crowd on the absolute edges of their seats. For more information on these events, visit www.chester-races.com
introduced an annual horse race meeting. The mayor’s name became so synonymous with racehorses, they’re often still called “gee-gees”. By 1817, the vast crowds at the races made it economically viable to build a grandstand. This proved an unqualified success, enabling racegoers to enjoy every facet of the action. In recent years, Chester has extended its racing programme, staging 15 days of competitive and quality racing. In recent years, the Roodee has grown to encompass many purpose-built facilities where you can enjoy raceday, accompanied by mouthwatering dishes and an extensive selection of wines and champagnes. This “Chester experience” is what the course is now famed for. Whatever the result of the race, jockeys, trainers and race-goers all return home with smiles on their faces.
30 SHIRE MAGAZINE | September/October 2021
Chester Races SeptOct 2021 FINAL.indd 1
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