The Cost of the Cheltenham Festival – What Bet do you Need to Land to Return in Profit?

The cost of a trip to the Cheltenham Festival is a topic raised every year that March comes around. As the pinnacle for British and Irish jumps racing, the prestige should be priced into the ticket, but is the cost of the day as a whole putting punters off more every year?

Let’s say you are a prompt planner and someone who gets these things done far in advance. You’re travelling from London and you find the following prices available for tickets and essentials as of the 29th January:

• Cheltenham Tattersalls Enclosure Ticket: £71.10 (for the Tuesday)
• Hotel Room for 1 on booking.com: £241 (within 2 miles of the course)
• Return Train Ticket from Paddington Station: £93

That is £376 down already. Now it is a one-off, you have already booked the time off work and racing does not get any better. It is a beautiful part of the world and you will be there to enjoy yourself.

But hang on, how are you getting to the course from Cheltenham Spa Station, and then to your hotel afterwards?

• 2x Taxis: £30

That may be being generous too. Nevertheless, you want to keep your energy high and the juices flowing, and that extends to when you’re at the course. Sustenance is vital, especially of the liquid kind, so let’s say a conservative estimate of two pints of Guinness are required, plus a classic staple of sports adjacent grub:

• 2x Pints of Guinness: £15.60
• 1x Burger: £11

We are now up close to the £450 mark, and we are not even including dinner at the pub later on. Plus, everyone loves a gamble at the races and what if your luck is out?

• 6x Losing £10 Bets: £60

Altogether, this day out is now costing you £521.70. With your seventh £10 bet on the day, you would have to find a 50/1 winner to even get close to breaking even. For an equivalent cost, you could instead purchase the following:

• An All Inclusive 5-Night Stay in Tenerife: £605
• A Brand New PlayStation 5: £461
• 15x Cheltenham Town FC Matchdays: £452 (£30.20 each for a ticket, pie and 2 pints)

Food for thought then for racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival. Maybe your luck will be in, but the price of the Greatest Show on Turf goes far beyond the ticket.