Coral presents the Cheltenham Festival by numbers
Published:
David Metcalf | December 14, 2015
The Cheltenham Festival is the centrepiece of National Hunt horse racing. Over four days every March, the hottest hurdlers, most cunning cross country horses and champion chasers all compete to land some of the richest prize funds in the sport.
Coral offer full race-by-race betting coverage of the Prestbury Park showpiece every year, while our ante post markets aree already attracting flutters aplenty with the 2016 contenders already laying down markers.
In celebration of this magnificent meeting, we present to you the Cheltenham Festival by numbers:
900,000 – An estimated amount of the gamble landed by Son Of Flicka in the 2012 running of the County Hurdle.
220,000 – Average amount of pints of Guinness guzzled. That might have something to do with St Patrick’s Day sometimes falling during the Cheltenham Festival.
100,000 – The amount JP McManus’ put each-way on his own own horse Shannon Gale at 7/1 in the Pertemps Hurdle Final in 1998 with the late and legendary Scottish bookmaker “Fearless” Freddie Williams.
67,500 – The maximum capacity of Cheltenham racecourse on Gold Cup day. Just to compare, that’s more than football stadiums St James’ Park, the Etihad and Anfield.
45,000 – Burgers and hot dogs devoured by hungry racegoers over the four days. No onions in ours!
5,000 – Staff on hand to make sure there are no hitches for owners, trainers, jockeys and racegoers.
2015 – Coneygree became the first novice in 41 years to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
2009 – Kauto Star became the first horse to regain the Gold Cup, having previously triumphed in 2007.
2008 – The second day of the Cheltenham Festival was cancelled due to heavy storms. The races scheduled for that day were instead run on the third and final days of the meeting. Not even the weather can conquer Prestbury Park!
2005 – Until this particular year, the Festival had traditionally been held over the course of three days, but this changed with the introduction of a fourth day meaning there would be one championship race on each. More opportunities to have a bet, then.
2001 – Is the only year this meeting has been cancelled since the end of the Second World War due to a massive outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Here’s hoping it never cripples the British countryside again.
2,000 – The estimated number of coaches that bring racegoers to the Festival each year.
1989 – In this year, Desert Orchid became the last grey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
1983 – Trainer Michael Dickinson saddled the first five home in that year’s Gold Cup, led by Bregawn who beat Captain John, Wayward Lad, Silver Buck and Ashley House. Arguably the greatest ever achievement by any individual in the Festival’s history.
1966 – Arkle became the shortest priced winner of the Gold Cup after being sent off the 1/10 favourite. Talk about odds-on!
650 – The typical number of helicopter landings at the course during Festival week, which makes it the busiest temporary airfield in the country. We want our punters to be flying high too!
100 – The highest-priced winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Norton’s Coin in 1990, was sent off at 100/1. Now that’s what we call a long shot.
42 – Ruby Walsh has ridden the most winners in Festival history. Rock on, Ruby!
12 – Silver Fame (1951) and What A Myth (1969) share the honour of being oldest age Gold Cup winners.
7 – Most wins by a jockey at a single Cheltenham Festival, also achieved by Ruby Walsh.
6 – Quevega holds the record number of consecutive victories for a horse at the Festival.
5 – Golden Miller’s record number of Gold Cups, won consecutively in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1936.
3 – The distance in miles that all the hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches eaten at the Festival would span if laid end-to-end. We’d advise a diet if you consume all that!
1 – Dawn Run is the only horse in Cheltenham Festival history complete the Champion Hurdle (1984) and Gold Cup (1986) double.
Related
Coral will have much more in the run up to and during the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, keeping punters informed of all the latest news and betting.
