Beginners Guide
Be prepared; the more you know about it, the more fun you'll have!
Before you arrive
You can't beat the spectacle and colour of seeing horses and jockeys close up, the bustle around the betting ring and adrenalin rush of the race itself. At Chester, the social side is important too.
The more you know about it, the more fun you'll have!
What to takeRead more
You will need cash for the bookmakers, some but not all may take a minimum bet of £5 some take a minimum of £2
Arriving
The start of the first race will vary from meeting to meeting. The closer the start, the busier the traffic, so aim to arrive about an hour and a half beforehand. This will give you time to understand the racecourse layout and check out facilities. For more information for those coming by public transport, please see General Information.
The PaddockRead more
The paddock is the overall name for the area containing the Parade Rings and the "Weighing Room" - racing-speak for the officials' and jockeys' building.
The run up to the raceRead more
About five minutes before the race, the horses leave the parade ring to canter down to the start. They will take a few minutes to be loaded into the starting stalls.
The prize givingRead more
The race result is not official until you have heard the announcement "Weighed In." Until then, you cannot collect winning bets. There is no need to fret; winning tickets can be redeemed any time that day.
Going home
Inevitably, with everyone trying to go home at once, queuing in car parks will occur. Please be patient while the ground staff safely filters the traffic off the site.
