What Should You Wear to the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival?

If you’ve ever dreamed of dressing up in your finest clothing to head to a major sporting event, then the Cheltenham Festival could be your chance to do just that. This is one of the UK’s biggest sporting events and a great chance to dress up in style, but what do you need to know about the fashion rules?

Full Details of the Cheltenham Festival

This festival was first held in the mid-19th century, although it’s not always been held at the current venue of Cheltenham Racecourse in the years since then. Traditionally held in March, it consists of four days of races including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Champion Hurdle. The 2024 version takes place between March 14 and 17.

You can find the latest Cheltenham odds for these races online and see who the favourites are currently, with Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow having the shortest odds in the Gold Cup at the time of writing. Another option is to look at odds for the top jockey or the top trainer at the event. Paul Townend is the favourite to be the best jockey just now, while Willie Mullins is leading the top trainer odds.

This is one of the most atmospheric and exciting sports events in the UK, with huge crowds going every day to enjoy the action. The 2022 version of the festival drew crowds totalling over 240,000, with a sell-out crowd of 68,500 packing out the racecourse for the last day of action. For 2024, the maximum attendance remains at 68,500 each day.

It’s not just regular horse racing fans who visit this event, as it’s popular among people from all walks of life just looking for a good day out and the chance to wager. Looking for Cheltenham tips becomes popular among many Brits in the run-up to the first day, as non-experts can find out about the different horses running and get a feel for the event. Experts like Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey provide their opinions to help others understand the betting options.

What to Wear

There are no fixed dress code rules here, as confirmed here by The Jockey Club. However, they point out that it’s a great opportunity to dress up and they even organised a Racing & Fashion Preview ahead of the 2024 event. Unlike Royal Ascot and some other top horse racing festivals, you don’t need to worry about wearing a hat or the length of your shorts - the only rule is that you shouldn’t wear anything “offensive or ostentatious”.

But remember the venue is often cold and muddy so wearing something practical is often a sensible choice for making the most of the day without any worries. Despite this, many spectators decide to wear fancy dress to Cheltenham. You’ll be allowed to enter wearing a colourful and fun outfit but you might find that you’re not admitted if you’re wearing a vulgar outfit or something potentially offensive. This article in The Standard last year confirms that spectators should dress in a way that makes them feel comfortable and confident.