racing_news/

Surge in on-line boookings for Chester's May Festival
19/04/05

ONE in every four tickets for Chester Racecourse's May Festival is now being sold online.

There is still availability in the County Stand on Wednesday and in Tattersalls on both Wednesday and Friday. And there is plenty of room on all three days in the Dee Stand and the Open Course.

The racecourse's top two enclosures, the County Stand and Tattersalls, have now sold out on Ladies' Day - Thursday 5 May - the middle day of the three-day meeting. And the County Stand is full for the finale - City Day - on the Friday.

A modern-day attendance record for the May Festival of more than 60,000 visitors was created in 2004. With advance ticket sales at similar levels this year, all the signs are for another overall bumper attendance, so the racecourse advised racing fans to "book their tickets soon to avoid possible disappointment".

In special offers to customers who book on Chester's new-look web site (www.chester-races.com) and who arrive at the racecourse early on their chosen day of racing, discounted glasses of Champagne and cold beer are available courtesy of the racecourse's new caterers Heathcotes Outside.

Richard Thomas, chief executive of the Chester Race Company, said: "The switch from a Tuesday-to-Thursday May Festival to a Wednesday-to-Friday one proved a success last year. Our number of visitors evened out over the three days, which improved the general comfort for everyone. With our latest investments in the facilities of the County and Tattersalls Stands, even more room has been created this year but we are not raising the capacity."

The racing highlight of the opening day on Wednesday 4 May is the totesport Chester Cup; on Thursday, it's the MBNA Europe Bank Chester Vase; and on Friday the spotlight falls on the Blue Square Ormonde Stakes.

The May Festival at Chester Racecourse takes place between Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 May. Admission: County Stand £36; Tattersalls £21; Dee Stands £8; Open Course £6. Car parking is £6. Early booking is strongly advised. As well as via the web site (www.chester-races.com), badges can be bought on the racecourse's credit card hotline on 01244 304610 which is open between 8am and 5.45pm Mondays to Fridays. General email inquiries to sales@chester-races.com