Horse racing fans kicked off 2026 with an electrifying start as Cheltenham Racecourse shattered attendance records on New Year's Day, drawing an unprecedented crowd of 44,151 enthusiastic spectators.

The landmark event surpassed last year's attendance record of 38,374, signaling a remarkable surge of excitement in the racing world. This impressive turnout even exceeded the Wednesday attendance of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport.

Headlining the day's seven-race card was the thrilling Relkeel Hurdle, where favorite Kabral Du Mathan, expertly ridden by Harry Skelton, dominated the competition. Skelton's masterful performance saw him triumph over Jingko Blue by an impressive five-and-a-half-length margin, electrifying the massive crowd.

Cheltenham's chief executive, Guy Lavender, expressed profound enthusiasm about the day's success. 'New Year's Day is a meeting that has seen huge growth in recent years,' Lavender noted, emphasizing that while the venue's capacity is reduced compared to the March festival, reaching maximum attendance was a remarkable achievement.

The event was particularly notable for its diverse audience, with over 5,000 children joining thousands of young people, local community members, and dedicated racing fans. This inclusive atmosphere underscored the event's ability to bring people together and celebrate a beloved sporting tradition.

Lavender further highlighted the significance of the day, describing it as a capstone to a brilliant Christmas racing period and expressing optimism that it would set a positive tone for the entire year of 2026. The record-breaking attendance signals not just a successful day of racing, but potentially a renaissance for the sport's popularity and community engagement.

As the first major racing event of the year, Cheltenham's New Year's Day meeting demonstrated the enduring appeal of horse racing and its capacity to create shared moments of excitement and joy for people of all ages.