A Piece Of Heaven, ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, crosses the finish line to claim the Chester Cup.
Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
A Piece Of Heaven’s 7-1 victory in the Chester Cup, the most storied and popular race at the world’s oldest racecourse, provided a fitting conclusion to the May festival on Friday. This came just a day after the event teetered on the brink of an expensive and embarrassing disaster, as concerns over track safety threatened to derail the middle day of the meeting.
On Thursday afternoon, with around 15,000 spectators gathered for Ladies’ Day, the prospect of abandoning the card seemed increasingly likely. A group of jockeys and trainers inspected the turf on the home turn after several riders reported slipping during the opening race. Maureen Haggas, assistant to her husband William at a major Newmarket stable, withdrew Morshdi, the second favorite, from the Dee Stakes, citing jockey Tom Marquand’s assessment that the ground was “dangerous.” Marquand initially stood himself down for the remainder of the day.
Thanks to the frantic efforts of Chester’s ground staff, the remaining six races were eventually staged, albeit with a delay of over an hour. Marquand even reversed his earlier decision and rode in the final two contests. An abandonment on Thursday would have been a severe financial and reputational blow for a venue still recovering from pandemic disruptions. The May festival’s attendance has dropped significantly, from 53,000 in 2019 to an average of 34,500 since full crowds returned in 2022—a 34% decline, and 44% below the 62,000 who packed the stands 15 years ago.
Crowds are gradually recovering, with chief executive Louise Stewart expecting a 6% increase this year, building on a 10% rise in 2025. She expressed relief that no refunds were needed on Thursday. “We’ve got a brilliant clerk and grounds team at Chester, some of them have been here for over 45 years, and their fathers before them,” Stewart said. “They know every blade of grass on the track and how to prepare it for the May festival. The delay was unprecedented, and I’m proud of what the team delivered and the response.”
One positive from Thursday’s drama was the roar of approval from the crowd when racing was confirmed to continue. “People are here for the racing and for a good time,” Stewart added. “Chester manages that balance really well.”
A view of the runners and riders at Chester on Thursday.
Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
Chester’s unique atmosphere, with its tight, turning course and short home straight beneath Roman walls where hundreds watch for free, sets it apart from any other major track. Officially dating to 1539, it holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest still-operational racecourse. As Stewart notes, changes to the course’s licensing are reducing…
