The Christmas Meeting: Two Days of Festivities at the Home of Jump Racing

There is a certain alchemy to December in the Cotswolds, when the days shorten and the countryside seems to draw its winter cloak a little tighter. Frost gathers on hedgerows like a whispered promise, and chimneys send up their first lively curls of smoke. And right at the heart of this seasonal tapestry sits The Christmas Meeting at Cheltenham on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December, a weekend that, to many, is the true beginning of Christmas and a curtain-raiser to the festivities ahead.

Many arrive dressed for the occasion, proudly sporting Christmas jumpers, hats and festive finery, ready to embrace the season in style. For many businesses near and far, it is the perfect setting for a Christmas party with a difference.

On the track, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase remains the highlight on the course on the Friday, with horses and riders tackling Cheltenham’s famous banks and ditches. 

Saturday unfolds with Grade 2 and Grade 3 contests, including fiercely competitive Cheltenham Festival trials. The JCB Triumph Hurdle trial and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle trial promise glimpses of potential Cheltenham Festival chances come March.

Across both days, festive touches add charm to every corner. The photobooth at the Vestey Bar captures memories and smiles, while the Festive Dress Competition encourages Christmas jumpers, antlers, hats, and all manner of seasonal flair. Prizes await the most spirited ensembles.

With under 18s admitted free, families can enjoy the spectacle together, and the whole racecourse feels like a great gathering of winter spirits, untied by horse racing and festive spirit.

For all the information and tickets, please click HERE.