Chester Racecourse
Date of Review: 19th September 2026
Address: New Crane Street, Chester CH1 2LY
Website: https://www.chester-races.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chesterraces/?locale=en_GB
Phone: 01244 304 600
Hotel Accommodation: https://www.booking.com/landmark/gb/chester-racecourse.en-gb.html
Course Information
Chester Racecourse holds only flat race meetings from May through to September. It is a left-handed, circular course of around a mile in distance and is fairly flat. The track is tight and the smallest racecourse in the country. Therefore, the horses appear to be continually on the turn during the running of the races. Due to these characteristics, it is very easy for horses to get themselves into trouble and often do, but recovering is not so easy due to the very short straight, which is less than two furlongs to the winning post after the home turn.
Aerial View of Chester Racecourse (Image credited to Google Earth)
The above makes the draw bias at the course critical, particularly in large fields. In the 5-furlong sprint races, a low draw also brings a significant advantage, as the horses are into a turn as soon as they leave the stalls. Due to this, look for horses who are prominent front-runners and have an inside draw.
When it comes to racing history, Chester Racecourse claims to be the daddy! The first ever recorded prize for a horse race, a hand-painted wooden bowl, was awarded at a horse race at Chester Fair in 1512.
Located on the banks of the River Dee, the existing course was first established in 1539 (during the reign of Henry VIII), which is cited as the year that horse racing began, and it is officially recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest racecourse in the world today that is still operational. It was in this year that the mayor of Chester, Mr Henry Gee, introduced an annual meeting on the Roodee. The racing term “gee gees” originated from his name and is now synonymous with horse racing today.
”The Roodee,” which means “The Island of the Cross”, is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon and Norse name “Rood Eye”. In the centre of the current racecourse, there are a number of raised mounds, which are known as “roods”. One of them has a stone cross in it, and legend has it that it is the burial site of a statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue fell on and killed Lady Trawst, the wife of the Governor of Hawarden, while at prayer at church. The statue was tried and subsequently found guilty of the killing by a jury of 12 men. However, as a holy relic, hanging or burning the statue would be sacrilege, so the statue was left by the banks of the river, and the tide carried it down to Chester. If the legend is true, then this is the first recorded case of a jury being used in a court. Well, we did warn you that it was the daddy!
The racecourse adjoins directly onto Chester's ancient city walls, which were once used to moor Roman trading vessels, before the course of the river changed. Spectators can watch the races for free from these walls, which offer a superb view of the whole circuit. The Grosvenor Bridge, at one time the longest single-arch bridge in the world, passes over the south-eastern corner of the course, and the Welsh border is around one mile west of the racecourse.
In 2012, Chester became the first racecourse not to offer the conventional Tote betting service and switched to its own operation called Chester Bet.
A detailed and interesting video showing the history of Chester Racecourse can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR-YUglxlbc&ab_channel=AtTheRaces
Location Map - Chester Racecourse
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Chester Racecourse:
Location & Course Access:
By Road: Chester Racecourse can be accessed from all major routes such as the M53, M56, M6 and A483. It is located immediately next to the town centre. The traffic on any day into Chester is not good. On race days, for obvious reasons, it is cranked up to another level. Therefore, our strong advice is to get there early. Do NOT use the Chester Racecourse postcode of CH1 2LY, whatever you do. The reason being that the only access road from the town centre to the racecourse is closed off on racedays. Use the postcode CH1 4LZ. This will take you via Sealand Road and Chester Retail Park (which is well signed). It is effectively a major diversion all the way around Chester, and it effectively brings you into the course the back way. The diversion is well signed, but it is lengthy, and as mentioned previously, the traffic is chronic. The same applies to leaving the racecourse after the last race. You have been warned.
By Rail: The racecourse is located in the town centre, so close to Chester railway station. It is well-connected on the Avanti West Coast line. Liverpool Station is around 45 minutes away, and Shrewsbury Station is approximately one hour away. It is around a 20-minute walk through the town centre or 6-7 minutes in a taxi.
By Air: The nearest airport to Chester Racecourse is Liverpool (LPL) Airport, which is 10 miles away. Other nearby airports include Manchester (MAN), about 29 miles away. Rating: 6/10.
Parking: Car parking is available on the Open Course, which is situated in the centre of the racecourse. The downside is the car park charges. It is £5.00 booked in advance or £10.00 on the day. Which we feel is somewhat excessive. We are not impressed by any racecourse that charges for parking, as we feel it is nothing but a rip-off. The other issue is that even if you book and pay for your parking in advance, it does not guarantee you a parking space. It is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, which we feel is unacceptable. The course knows exactly how many racegoers have booked their parking in advance; therefore, it should allocate a guaranteed space for them. Chester Racecourse, sadly, like others, has gone down the cashless / card-only payment route, so please be aware of this before you arrive, as cash will not be accepted. Because of the issues raised, we deducted points from this rating. Rating: 6/10.
Pricing: Our visit was to “The Season Finale" meeting, which was a seven-race card consisting of five Class 4 races and two Class 5 races. So nothing to write home about regarding the quality of the horses running. In our opinion, the pricing for such low-level racing is eye-wateringly expensive when compared against many other racecourses we have visited. There were a number of different enclosures and ticket options on the day, with the prices being as follows:
A ticket into the Roodee Enclosure was £20.00 on the day of our visit. It was, however, virtually deserted, with little or no facilities to write about whatsoever. In all seriousness, you might as well watch the races for free, like a lot of people do, from the pavement of Nun’s Road, above the city walls, which directly overlook the racecourse. The view from here is also much better, as you can see virtually all of the racecourse.
Entrance to the Tattersalls Enclosure was £50.00; this gives you access to the Parade Ring and winning post, with some catering facilities but no seating.
The County Concourse Stand, the enclosure we purchased tickets for, was £68.00 each. For what you get, or don’t get, that isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination. It gives you access to the finishing post and all other areas of the racecourse, including the parade ring and winners' enclosure, which are situated in the centre of the course, close to “the Village.” What it doesn’t give you is a seat. Yes, that is correct. £68.00, and you don’t even get a seat. The seats in the County Concourse Stand are only for the people who have paid £85.00 per ticket for access to the County Long Room enclosure. In our opinion, that is nothing short of scandalous and is nothing more than exploitation of customers and racegoers. Due to the village being built and situated slap bang in the middle of the racecourse, the viewing of the races from the County or County Long Room enclosures is shockingly bad. However, we cover this later in the review. The good news is that Chester Racecourse has recently revised its dress code, so a tie is no longer required and shorts are only allowed in the Roodee Enclosure.
We recommend buying a ticket for the Tattersalls Enclosure for £50.00 on the day. This is adjacent to the County Enclosure, and this gives you access to the Village on the inside of the course, the parade ring, and all other areas of the course, with the exception of the finishing post.
The Village and parade ring are accessible from all areas via an underground tunnel that takes you underneath and across the racecourse.
If you want to upgrade to a premium ticket, you have several options. The Winning Post Enclosure is £145.00 per ticket on the day and is for adults only. It sits inside the running rail, within the paddock area, and is the site of the former winning post. It has partially covered seating, live music, and private bars. The downside is that it is actually way past and nowhere near the current winning post. If high poseur tables and bar stools, along with TV screens and heaters, are your thing when you go racing, then this enclosure is the one for you.
If you want to go one step further, the Edinburgh Gin Garden, at only £175.00 a ticket on the day, is a must. For this, you get a “posing till closing’ atmosphere, high tables and bar stools, live DJs knocking out a set of chilled vibes, and several G&T and champagne bars. It is marketed as an “alfresco setting,” so a garden-type area with plenty of floral arrangements and private cabanas. However, there is virtually no cover or shelter from the elements at all. You do get “unbeatable views over the paddock and the parade ring,” but unfortunately, no view whatsoever of the racecourse. There are a number of large TV screens and bookmakers situated at various points, so you can watch the races and actually remember why you are there in the first place. This area of the racecourse is also claimed to be “one of the most Instagrammable”, so popular with the fake tan, trout pout, sockless, diamante-earring brigade, which racecourses seem to go out of their way to attract these days. However, you pay your money, and you take your chances. At least you have been warned…
Unfortunately, we also have to report one of the most blatant rip-offs we have ever seen at a British racecourse, and we have seen a few. This is the Chester Racecourse “Fast Track” entry option into the County Enclosure.
The Fast Track Entry Lane at the County Concourse Enclosure – Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse has the option of a £10 “Fast Track” lane for entry into the racecourse. It’s a similar system to ‘speedy boarding’ with Ryanair at airports. Basically, a surcharge to get to the front of the queue. Our question is, why is this necessary? The racecourse knows exactly how many tickets it has sold and for which enclosures. They also have history and data on how many potential walk-up customers might attend on the day, depending on the weather and other factors. Therefore, the resources needed to ensure racegoers (paying customers) can enter quickly and efficiently should be in place. It is scandalous, and we are calling it out for what it is: a blatant rip-off! We are pleased to say we did not see a single person use this entry option, and we hung around for thirty minutes or so after the gates first opened.
Disappointingly, the rip-offs don’t stop there at Chester Racecourse. They also charge a £1.25 transaction fee when you buy tickets online. This fee is applied to each transaction, not each booking. We booked tickets and a car park, so two £1.25 charges were applied and added to the total. Again, we find this completely unjustifiable and unnecessary. Other racecourses (ARC-owned tracks) have recently removed their booking fees and transaction charges due to customer pressure and resistance, and we are asking Chester Racecourse to do the same.
Also, please note that tickets ordered online at Chester are digital. They must be kept on your phone in the Chester Racecourse App or saved to your Apple or Google Wallet. You cannot print them out like you can with virtually every other racecourse that we have encountered. So you need a smartphone, which a lot of older people don’t have. If you want ‘print at home’ tickets, you have to email the ticket office after purchasing them, and they will send them to you. Why not allow you to print the downloaded tickets in the first place? We are all for keeping up with the times, and we know we live in a wired world, but in our opinion, it is just an unnecessary hassle when there is no need.
While standing outside the entrance to the County Concourse, we noticed a good number of police and a drug-sniffing dog. As any regular racegoer will tell you, drugs are a big and growing problem at racecourses these days, so anything to clamp down on it and stop it is welcomed by us. The sniffer dog was having a beano! It collared at least a dozen people queuing to gain entry in around 20 minutes, who were then taken aside to be questioned and searched. So if you do like a toot or two of the Colombian marching powder, then be aware…
And with Chester being Chester, there are no pricing concessions for OAP’s. Disappointing once again, but hardly surprising.
Racecard: The racecard at Chester was £5.00. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive we have encountered on our travels so far.
It is, however, a fairly grand affair. It has a welcome page, which is always nice and somewhat rare these days. It also includes a detailed racecourse map and the locations of all facilities and concessions on site. It also has a racecourse map (albeit postage-stamp-sized) and some interesting information on the trainers' and jockeys' form. The race lists also offer up some good information, data, and tips from Timeform. It also had the racecards for the big races at York and Sandown on the same day, which was very good. Including the inside front and rear covers, it was 49 pages, with 23 (47%) being advertisements. To be fair, as far as racecards go, it was one of the best we have seen, but, as also mentioned previously, one of the most expensive.
To briefly summarise, the ticket prices at Chester Racecourse are very high. Fact. Then you have the additional charges of car parking, transaction fees, and, if you are silly enough, the Fast Track entrance fees. It all adds up quickly, and there are no concessions for OAPs, let’s not forget. We feel racegoers at this course are being exploited and, in some instances, blatantly ripped off. For these reasons, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for us to even remotely begin to justify the ticket prices at Chester Racecourse. Therefore, we have marked this category accordingly. Rating: 5/10.
Viewing: There are three main viewing enclosures at Chester Racecourse (shown below): The County Stand. Tattersalls Enclosure and the Roodee Enclosure
The main viewing areas: The County Enclosure (top). Tattersalls Enclosure (middle). The City Walls (bottom)
On the day of our visit, unfortunately, the viewing experience at Chester Racecourse can only be described as extremely poor, and we don’t say that lightly. Perversely, it seems that the more you pay for a ticket at Chester Racecourse, the worse the view.
This is because the village is set up in the middle of the racecourse. From the County Enclosure, you only see the horses as they round the final turn, some 2 furlongs from home, and for a short while, as the horses approach the turn after the winning post, in the longer races. The rest of the course is totally hidden from view by marquees and stands. A large, fixed TV screen sits near the winning post, and another large mobile TV screen sits on the final turn. These really are needed.
As previously stated, a ticket into the County Enclosure does not get you a seat. This also means it does not give you any cover or shelter from the elements. If you stand on the raked, concrete terraces in front of the seats, then you have very little, if any, cover whatsoever. For the prices charged, this, in our opinion, is poor.
The obscured & poor view of the racecourse from the County Stand – Chester Racecourse
The Tattersalls Enclosure offers a much better view of the overall racecourse. It is, however, further away from the finishing post, so somewhat of a trade-off. However, from here, you will see approximately 80% of the race when in running.
There is also a well-situated disabled viewing stand in this area, approximately 100 yards from the finishing line. Once again, there is little or no cover whatsoever from the elements.
The much improved overall view of the racecourse from the Tattersalls Enclosure – Chester Racecourse
If you then walk through the Tattersalls and down to the Roodee Enclosure, you can see almost 100% of the horses when racing. You are, however, nowhere near the winning post. You are, though, right on the front of the bend at the home turn as the horses make their way into the straight. Unfortunately, you will be on your own, as this area of the course is completely deserted with no facilities, amenities, or cover of any description. As stated previously, you can get just as good a view for free from the road above. It is, however, worth a walk down to have a look and watch the horses straighten up for the cavalry charge home to the winning post.
The view of the racecourse from the Roodee Enclosure – Chester Racecourse
In our opinion, the overall viewing experience at Chester is poor. For these reasons, we have no choice but to mark this category accordingly. Rating: 5/10.
Parade Ring / Winners Enclosure: The winners' enclosure, parade ring, and pre-parade ring are located in the centre of the course and accessed via the tunnel. The parade ring really is superb. It is huge! Full, unrestricted access is available around the perimeter, which is good. It is beautifully manicured, has raised seating and has three flights of concrete terracing along both sides.
The Parade Ring, Winners Enclosure & Pre-Parade Ring – Chester Racecourse
It is surrounded by a hedge and rail all the way around, and the viewing is excellent. The winners' enclosure is a separate area at the front of the parade ring. Again, it is large, with very good viewing. The pre-parade ring is hidden behind a couple of bars to the right of the main ring. You will need to seek it out if you want to see it as it is not obvious at first sight.
For us, this is the jewel in the crown at Chester Racecourse. We have seen a lot of parade rings while on our travels, and this one is up there with the best of them. Rating: 10/10.
Bookmakers / Betting Facilities: There is no shortage of bookmakers calling the odds at Chester in all of the enclosures and the paddock area in the centre of the course. More than ample, so there are no issues whatsoever with placing a bet and collecting.
Bookmakers in the County Stand. Tattersalls Enclosure. The Paddock & a Chester Bet Concession – Chester Racecourse
Chester and Bangor (owned by the same company) are the only racecourses without a Tote betting facility on course. In 2012, following the sale of the Tote by the government, they became the first (and to date only) courses to run their own on-course betting operations. It is very similar to the Tote operation. However, it’s wise to check the odds, as by law they can pay out 10% of the official bookmaker’s starting prices. So effectively, a 10% skim off you, the paying customer. Our advice: bet with the bookmakers. Rating: 9/10.
Catering: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we enjoy doing “racecourse reviews” and not restaurant reviews. Nor do we pretend to be food critics. We aim to give you an overall idea of what is available regarding the culinary options and prices at the track on racedays. One thing is for sure: you are not going to go hungry or thirsty at Chester Racecourse. On the day of our visit, the food and drink options were more than plentiful. We are not going to cover all of them; otherwise, this would just become a food blog and a boring one at that. As we were in the County Stand, we started with the County Stand bar. This is located immediately on the left as you enter the racecourse. It is much smaller than it looks from the outside.
The County Bar – Chester Racecourse
It has a few tables and chairs, but not many. It gets very busy, very quickly, and in no time, it was four deep at the bar and a good ten minutes to get served. As with everything at Chester Racecourse, it is expensive. A pint of draught Guinness, Camden Pale Ale, or via Roma lager was £7.50 a pint. A pint of Becks was £6.95. A 330ml can of Corona or Balfour Cider was priced at £6.65. A low-alcohol bottle of Lucky Saint lager was a more reasonable £3.25. A Vodka & Red Bull was £8.80. The wines were reasonably priced at £5.550 per (small) glass. A shot of vodka, gin, or pink gin was £6.30. And Jack Daniel's or a spiced rum was £5.50 for a 25 ml measure. The fizz was a mere £95.00 for a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Brut NV, and the same, but a Cuvée Rosé, would hit your back pocket for £115.00 a bottle. Those prices are right up there with the major festivals at Ascot and Cheltenham. However, Chester isn’t anywhere near an Ascot or a Cheltenham and never will be.
Next up was the County Long Room, which is located within the main grandstand at the racecourse. Once you reach the top of the stairs, you will find The Walls Bar to your left-hand side and the County Long Room to your right.
The County Long Room Bar – Chester Racecourse
A few street food vendors are in the Tattersalls Enclosure, but most are in the centre of the racecourse, accessed via the underground tunnel. We did indulge in a hog roast from the Fordhall BBQ for £10.50. It was a combo of pulled pork, stuffing, and apple sauce on a soft brioche bun. The problem is that the soft brioche bun literally fell apart when you picked it up, making it almost impossible to eat. A common and widely known characteristic of soft brioche buns, unfortunately. They were also serving a classic burger for £10.45 (why £10.45, we ask?) and a vegan burger for £10.50, and a serving of chunky chips for £4.80.
Street Food Vendors – Chester Racecourse
Across the course and onto the paddock, near the parade ring, is where the racecourse comes alive regarding food and drink.
The Tunnel Access Area to the Paddock, Parade Ring & Bars – Chester Racecourse
There were many, notably The Great North Pie Company, which was knocking out pies such as the “Chester Pye” of pork, ham hock, sage, and spiced apple. A fourteen-hour braised beef & Weetwood ale with redcurrant jelly and a white Cheshire cheese & onion pie with potatoes and roast onion puree for £10.50. Add a red wine gravy for an additional £1.00.
More of the Catering Facilities – Chester Racecourse
“Frenchie’s Hotdogs” were doing a brisk trade, selling a plain or chilli & cheese hotdog for £9.00. Or variants with nachos’ chilli & cheese for £10.50, or a pulled pork version with sour cream, onion, and peppers for £12.00. Seasoned, skin-on fries were £4.90; a serving or portion of nachos with chilli and cheese was £6.50. There were also concessions selling Indian food, Asian salt & pepper dishes, and fried chicken food. Overall, a very good choice to suit all tastes.
The Edinburgh Gin Bar & The Private Boxes – Chester Racecourse
If stand-up nosh is not your scene and you want the full corporate hospitality blowout, then, for you, it’s got to be the 1539 Restaurant & Bar. It is located in an elevated position at the back of the Tattersalls Enclosure. It has “breathtaking panoramic views of the whole of the Racecourse.” It’s a mere bagatelle at £182.40 each (depending on the fixture) for a table for four people. But don’t forget to add on the £18.24 booking fee that you will also be charged. Well, this is Chester… For that, you get admission into the racecourse, a glass of house Champagne on arrival (1 glass per person), a table reserved throughout the day, a five-course à la carte menu, coffee and chocolates along with a cash bar and extensive wine list, panoramic / television viewing (depending on the location booked), a racecard, complimentary parking, and even a floral decoration on your table.
If money is no object, a private box in either the County or Leverhulme Stands is the way to go. The boxes provide “spectacular views of the Final Furlong, Winning Post and the Paddock.” All of the private boxes are decorated to the highest standard, and each has a private viewing balcony. For a box of 10 people, it will set you back £378 each (depending on the fixture), and yes, the obligatory booking fee for this extravaganza is a snip at £94.50.
For this, you get: admission into the course, exclusive use of your private suite, a four-course plated menu or luxury grazing buffet, along with an all-inclusive bar that includes House Champagne, Edinburgh G&Ts, premium mixers, spirits & soft drinks, sommelier-selected white, red, & rosé wines, and a premium beer selection. To finish, we'll serve homemade cream teas with handcrafted patisserie and freshly baked scones. You even get a free racecard, betting facilities, television viewing, signage, free parking, and, of course, a nice floral decoration to boot. However, please note that in such locations, a dress code is required: Gentlemen must wear a well-tailored suit or a blazer with smart trousers, with a shirt, collar, and tie. Ladies must wear a smart dress. No denim jeans of any colour, no trainers, no shorts, no sportswear, and no fancy dress will be permitted.
Overall, there is a huge spectrum of offerings to suit all tastes and all pockets. Rating: 10/10.
Guinness Standard: Draught Guinness was available, but only in the County Bar. The reason, as we were told, is that Guinness is being phased out and replaced with Camden Stout. For us, not good. It was £7.50 a pint, so right up there with the most expensive pint of Guinness we have come across during our visits to racecourses across the length and breadth of the country. Rating: 6/10.
Friendliness of Course Staff: A warm welcome was given by the numerous course staff who were available if required. All of the staff during the day were friendly and helpful. Rating: 10/10.
Pros & Cons: Chester is a lovely racecourse, in a lovely location, and has a great history. However, we couldn’t help but feel it takes itself a little too seriously, and its main objective is to part the paying racegoer from their money as quickly and effortlessly as possible. In our opinion, the ticket prices are very high for a racecourse of this size and stature, with average to low-grade races. Then there are the sneaky transaction and booking fees that are applied at every conceivable opportunity, not to mention the laughable rip-off of the £10.00 “Fast Track” entry lane fee into the County Enclosure, and let’s not forget the car park charges, along with no concessions for OAPs.
The catering is very good, with a lot of options to suit all tastes and budgets. However, drink prices are very high compared with other racecourses. The parade ring is gorgeous and definitely worth a look if you ever do visit this track.
On the day of our visit, the viewing of the horses when racing was very poor from the County Concourse. To charge £68.00 for a ticket, then not get a seat or suitable cover, and only see the horses for the final 2 furlongs is, in our opinion, totally unacceptable.
The on-course bookmakers are plentiful, but be aware of the Chester Bet prices and payouts. All of the staff we encountered on the day were very polite and very helpful.
As always, the question is: would we return? The answer is simply no. We likened Chester Racecourse to Cartmel Racecourse. A nice day out, where you don’t see a lot of horse racing, and basically, a social function and fun day out, with the horses as the excuse to go. Rating: 6/10
Wi-Fi / Internet Connection: Absolutely no problem with the on-course wi-fi on the day of our visit. Excellent reception and coverage across the course.
Overall Racecourse Advisor Rating: 7.3/10.
The full day's racing results can be found here:
https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/2024-06-14/chester/105167
Facilities & location layout of Chester Racecourse: (Image: acknowledged & credited to Chester Race Company Ltd.)
Disclaimer: The reviews contained in the content of this website are just the opinions of the authors. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to any other group or individual. Any content or opinion provided in our reviews is not intended to malign any party, group, club, organisation, company, individual or anyone or anything whatsoever on any matter.
