The SUPPORT TEAM

Recognising Cheltenham Festival’s biggest cheerleaders who play a part in bringing racehorses to the track

Known as the Olympics of horseracing, it is no surprise that it ‘takes a village’ to get the equine athletes to the start line during Cheltenham Festival. From 14-17 March, more than 150 horses will perform on one of sport's greatest stages.

The thrill of horseracing has long captured our nation, in fact it’s our second biggest spectator sport. Cheltenham Festival itself hosts some of racing’s most talented animals and one of jump racing’s most famed races, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which dates back to 1924. It is made clear by the racegoer’s legendary ‘Cheltenham roar’ when a horse crosses the winning line what an exhilarating and heart-warming sport horseracing is.

But the high-octane thrill of the raceday is a far cry from the calmer day-to-day life of these spectacular athletes. Whether it’s a morning run on the gallops, taking a restorative swim in a state-of-the-art equine swimming pool or a physiotherapy session to ease away any aching muscles, there’s a huge team involved in keeping a racehorse fit and healthy.

Like all athletes, racehorses have tailored training programmes to suit their individual needs and it takes an extraordinary partnership between a racehorse and those that support it to understand what works best.

Typically, a racehorse will have a team of at least six core people involved in the 365 days of care and raceday preparation. The core team is made up of a trainer, yard sta , work rider, farrier, vet and physio not to mention the wider dedicated team members such as the secretary, jockey, nutritionist, chiropractor, travelling team and equine dentist.

Yard sta spend the most time with the horse and have a vital role to play in a racehorse’s day-to-day care that contributes to their performance on a raceday. Each horse will be tended to by a member of yard sta who will feed them, wash them down after exercise, ensure the horse is the right temperature and often travel with the horse when racing for familiarity. It is also their duty to make sure the space in and around the yard is well-kept to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere each day. As well as the current equine stars of the sport, Cheltenham Festival hosts parades from former racehorses who have gone on to new careers in dressage, show jumping or eventing, as well as those who have turned their foot to a slower pace of life.

Cheltenham Festival Facts

• 12,320 yards of running rails surround the track;

• 5,000 bundles of birch are used every season to make the jumps;

• Racecourses across Britain, including Cheltenham, have changed jump fences from orange to white to improve equine vision and safety;

• There are 28 jump races run during Cheltenham Festival;

• 22 fences are jumped during the Cheltenham Gold Cup;

• The Gold Cup dates back to 1924 when Red Splash ridden by Dick Rees won;

• The shortest distance raced is two miles;

• On average 65,000 people attend the festival each day.

Visit greatbritishracing.com to find out more. Cheltenham Festival will air live on ITV Racing 14-17 March

Fri 14th

Sat 15th

Sun 16th featuring GILSON LAVIS with special guests PAULINE BLACK and ARTHUR ‘Gaps’ HENDRICKSON from THE SELECTER and guest vocalists RUBY TURNER, LOUISE MARSHALL & SUMUDU

– 16 July 2023

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