Chester Racing Today: Racecards, Results and Fixtures

No races today.

This page has today's Chester race card, live Chester racing results, the 2026 fixtures and our Chester racing tips, along with a full guide to the oldest racecourse in the world still in use.

The Roodee sits on the banks of the River Dee, right beside the city's Roman walls, and racing has been held here since 1539. It's a tight, left-handed Flat track of just over a mile, with a very short home straight and one of the strongest draw biases in Britain.

The season runs from the three-day Boodles May Festival to a finale in September, and with themed days, big crowds and huge Ladies Day turnouts, a day at the races is one of the most popular days out in the North West.

Chester Racecards for Today

The Chester race card today shows every runner and rider, the draw, recent form, the latest odds and race times. It updates from final declarations right up to the off, so non-runners, jockey changes and going updates appear as soon as they're announced. Tomorrow's Chester race card is added once declarations close.

Chester racing results and today's winners are added as each race is settled, with starting prices and payouts. Results from earlier meetings stay on the page so you can check course form.

Chester Races 2026 Dates and Fixtures

Chester raced on 15 days in 2026, from the Boodles May Festival in early May to the Season Finale on 19 September. Here are the Chester races 2026 dates:

The 2026 season is over. Chester races 2027 will start with the Boodles May Festival in early May, and the full 2027 fixture list will be published on the racecourse's website.

Chester Racing Tips

If you're looking for Chester racing tips for today, here are some general tips to keep in mind for the track:

• Take the draw seriously: A low draw is a major advantage at Chester, even over middle distances and especially in big fields. Horses drawn wide often have to use up energy to get a position, or lose ground on the constant left-handed turn.
• Favour prominent racers: The course is on the turn almost all the way round, and the home straight is only 239 yards. Horses that race close to the pace have a big edge, because there's little time to recover from trouble in running.
• Back nimble, handy types: Long-striding gallopers often struggle on the tight bends, while compact horses that handle the camber well thrive. Previous course form is a strong guide at Chester.
• Follow Andrew Balding: Andrew Balding has 133 winners at Chester at 21%, and 36 winners from 150 runners (24%) over the last three years. Aidan O'Brien has won 12 of his 23 runners (52%) in the last three years, mostly at the May Festival.
• Note Ryan Moore and Oisin Murphy: Ryan Moore has a 34% strike rate at Chester, with 13 winners from 24 rides over the last three years. Oisin Murphy has 16 winners at 28% in the same period, and Richard Kingscote has the most winners overall, with 78.
• Be selective with favourites in handicaps: Favourites win around 42% of non-handicaps but only 29% of handicaps at Chester. The draw can make a big difference, so look for value among well-drawn horses.

Chester Race Course Guide

The Chester race course, known as the Roodee, is a flat, left-handed circuit of just over a mile, covering 65 acres beside the River Dee. It's one of the tightest courses in British Flat racing, with runners on the turn almost the whole way round. The home straight is only 239 yards long, so races are often decided before the field straightens up.

The city walls run along the east side of the course and give a free view of the whole circuit, while the Grosvenor Bridge crosses the south-eastern corner. The name Roodee comes from "Rood Eye", meaning the Island of the Cross, after a small cross on a mound in the infield.

Draw and Going at Chester

The draw is crucial at Chester. Low-drawn horses can sit on or near the inside rail and save ground on the constant left-hand turn, while horses drawn high often have to race wide or drop in behind. The bias is strongest over sprint and mile distances in big fields, but it's still a factor over longer trips.

Chester races in the spring and summer, so the going is usually good or good to firm. Heavy rain can make the ground loose, though. In May 2022, a meeting was abandoned after four races because horses were slipping, and jockeys raised concerns about dangerous conditions. Check the going report and any inspection news before racing.

The Boodles May Festival

The three-day Boodles May Festival is the highlight of the Chester season and one of the best-known early-season meetings in Flat racing. It features several trials for the Derby and Oaks.

Trials Day

The opening day features the Chester Vase (Group 3) and the Cheshire Oaks, both important trials for the Epsom Classics.

Ladies Day

The Thursday is Ladies Day, one of the busiest and most fashionable days of the year, so it's worth booking early. Past May Festival winners include Shergar, Enable and St Nicholas Abbey.

Chester Cup Day

Friday's Ladbrokes Chester Cup is a famous long-distance handicap over about two and a quarter miles, worth £170,000 to the winner in 2026. It went to A Piece of Heaven (7/1) for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, from a record 86 entries. The Huxley Stakes (Group 2) is also run on Chester Cup Day.

Chester Races Ladies Day, Family Days and Music Events

Chester has two Ladies Days each year. The first is on the Thursday of the May Festival, and the second is in August, held on 22 August in 2026 with a Best Dressed competition and a DJ set after racing.

Chester also has a busy calendar of family days. Roman Day in late May, held on 30 May in 2026, has Roman soldiers, stunt shows and archery, while the Family Fun Day in early August has character appearances, inflatables and craft activities. Under-18s go free with a paying adult.

Music has become a big part of the summer at the Roodee. The Ibiza Classics evening and the Music Weekend Saturday combine racing with live music. On 14 August 2026, Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers & CHIC played the venue's biggest concert yet, to more than 17,000 people.

Chester Races Dress Code

The Chester races dress code depends on where you're watching from:

• Hospitality and members' areas: Formal dress is required in the Winning Post, County Long Room and similar areas: suits or blazers with smart trousers, shirts and ties for men, and dresses or equivalent for women. Denim is not allowed.
• Tattersalls and County Concourse: Smart casual. Smart, untorn jeans are fine outside the May Festival.
• The Roodee: Relaxed dress, including jeans.

Ladies Days are the most dressed-up days of the year, and the May Festival generally calls for smarter outfits across all enclosures.

History of Chester Racecourse

Guinness World Records recognises Chester as the oldest racecourse still in operation, with racing dating from 1539. The first recorded race was held with the consent of the mayor, Henry Gee, whose name is linked to the term "gee-gee" for horses. Racing replaced a violent football match that the city had banned in 1533, and early winners received the Chester Bells.

The May Festival dates back to 1766, and the Tradesmen's Cup, the forerunner of the Chester Cup, was first run in 1824. The first grandstand opened in 1817, and its replacement was destroyed by fire in 1985. The course is owned by the Chester Race Company, which also runs Bangor-on-Dee.

Top Trainers and Jockeys at Chester

Here are the leading trainers at Chester:

• Richard Fahey: 135 winners from 1,151 runners (11%).
• Andrew Balding: 133 winners at 21%.
• Mark Johnston: 91 winners at 15%.
• Tom Dascombe: 81 winners at 12%.
• Tim Easterby: 53 winners at 10%.

Richard Kingscote leads the jockeys with 78 winners, and Ryan Moore has the best strike rate among the leading riders, 34% from 179 rides. Franny Norton and David Probert also have long records of success at Chester.

Visiting Chester Racecourse

Chester Racecourse is on New Crane Street, just a few minutes' walk from the city centre. Chester railway station is within walking distance, and the train is a good option, since city-centre traffic gets busy on race days. There's limited on-course car parking in the middle of the track, at £10 per car, sold on the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

Admission starts from about £10, but the cheapest tickets are limited, so book early, especially for the May Festival and Ladies Days. Under-18s go free with a paying adult. The racecourse has its own 1539 restaurant and The White Horse pub, and there are plenty of hotels within walking distance in the city centre.

Watch Chester Racing Live

Chester racing is shown live on Sky Sports Racing, and ITV Racing covers the main meetings, including the May Festival. Most UK bookmakers also offer free live streaming of Chester races to customers who have a funded account or have placed a bet on the race.

Best Bookmakers for Chester Racing

The May Festival and the big Saturday cards attract plenty of betting interest, and Chester's draw bias makes the market especially interesting. Best Odds Guaranteed means you get the starting price if it's bigger than the price you took. Extra place offers are common on the Chester Cup and the big handicaps. Compare the latest offers from UK bookmakers before you bet.

Chester Races FAQs

When are the Chester races in 2027?

Chester's 2027 season will start with the Boodles May Festival in early May. The full 2027 fixture list will be published on the racecourse's website.

When was Chester races Ladies Day 2026?

Chester held two Ladies Days in 2026: Thursday 7 May at the Boodles May Festival, and Saturday 22 August.

What is the dress code at Chester races?

It depends on the enclosure. Formal dress is required in hospitality and members' areas, smart casual in Tattersalls and the County Concourse, and relaxed dress, including jeans, in the Roodee.

Is Chester the oldest racecourse?

Yes. Guinness World Records recognises Chester as the oldest racecourse still in operation, with racing dating from 1539.

What happened at Chester when jockeys complained about the ground?

In May 2022, racing was abandoned after four races because horses were slipping on the ground, and jockeys and officials agreed the conditions were unsafe.

Did Tom Jones play at Chester Racecourse?

Yes. Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers & CHIC played at Chester Racecourse on 14 August 2026, in front of more than 17,000 people.

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