This Saturday, Chester racecourse are kicking off the beginning of the half term holidays with their first family themed fixture of the 2019. MBNA Roman Day is showcasing the heritage of Chester Racecourse as it celebrates it’s record 480th year as an operational racecourse.
This Saturday’s fixture will acknowledge the racecourse and it’s longstanding connection with the city centre and local community. This year the racecourse has linked up with the Chester Heritage Festival who will stage a special launch event on Saturday, ahead of their festival programme 21 – 29 June.
The day begins with a special gladiatorial procession from Chester’s Mid-summer Watch Parade including a cast of romans, puppets and volunteers who will march from Watergate Street to the racecourse at 12:30pm. The parade will then make it’s way through the enclosure culminating at the Parade Ring, where Chester’s Town Crier will declare the raceday open and the Chester Heritage Festival launch underway.
The Gates open from 11:30am with racegoers being treated to plenty of extra entertainment on the Open course, as well as across the course. The racing starts at 1:45pm with seven races for the crowds to enjoy.
The day will be littered with free activities for children including face painting, a huge colouring-in wall, roman helmet making and mosaics, archery, giant games, petting zoo, giant slide, inflatable wrecking ball, handling roman artefacts and trying on armoury. More than enough to keep the kids entertained between races!
Racegoers will be welcomed with live music at the entrance of the course and also on the fabulous re-vamped Pavilion Lawn. Open to Tattersalls ticket holders and above, this area will have a selection of pop-up bars and live music throughout the day.
Ticket are still available for most enclosures and there are limited number of hospitality places remaining. Tickets can be bought online and even collected on the day.
With prices starting at only £12 for adults on the open course and all children under the age of 18 able to attend for free, this is the perfect location to host a roman themed picnic and family get-together. Seize the day and make Chester Races your destination this weekend.
Discover more of what’s on in Chester here.
