GALLERY: Crowds return for Chester Racecourse May Festival

After missing out on 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions, tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on the racecourse over the three-day event, which runs until Friday.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Robert Matthews, Ellis Thompson and Stephen Howells. Pictures by Simon Warburton.

As part of the events, Nuns Road will be closed off to traffic, with Lower Watergate Street also closed on race days up to the Holiday Inn. Diversions will be in place.

The opening day of the festival on Wednesday, May 4, City Day, has feature races Lily Agnes Stakes and the Cheshire Oaks & Chester Vase, with £100k prize money at stake.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Bridgeford Countrywide Estate Agents. Pictures by Simon Warburton.

Thursday sees the highlight of the meeting for all of the ladies with Ladies Day and the Dee Stakes and Ormonde Stakes, again with a £100k prize fund.

And on the final day, Friday, May 6, the TOTE Chester Cup Day takes place with feature races; Huxley Stakes, with £125k prize money, Chester Plate and The Chester Cup – the feature race of the festival with £150k prize money.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Hayley Smith, Georgia Powell and Stephanie Kilshaw. Pictures by Simon Warburton.

Chester Racecourse is also teaming up with Chester BID to focus on strengthening the positive outcomes of the city’s popular race festivals - both for businesses and residents of the city centre.

The new ‘Chester loves racegoers’ media campaign, launched by Chester Racecourse and Chester BID, seeks to remind racegoers of the positive impacts they can have on the city centre. This messaging will include behaviour expectations, and the campaign will feature across social media, pre-race day communications and on outdoor advertising sites, including a billboard at Chester Railway Station.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Chris Lees, Lin McCaffery, Barbara Dutton. Pictures by Simon Warburton.

In addition, Chester Racecourse is increasing the number of welcome ushers on the streets of the city on race days from the racecourse up to Watergate Street, placed to guide pedestrian traffic and assist with queries from businesses and residents. Cleaning will also be conducted on the city streets post-races, including jet washing outside the racecourse including Nuns Road and Watergate Street.

To add some of the May Festival flavour to the city centre, there will be pink floral displays and window vinyls dotted across empty shop units, for Instagram selfie moments as well as photo frames situated on city centre benches.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Callum and Laura Wright. Pictures by Simon Warburton.

Louise Stewart, chief executive officer at Chester Racecourse, said: "As racing returns to Chester in the coming weeks, we will see the return of thousands of racegoers and visitors to the city. This brings with it numerous benefits, boosting the visitor economy and showcasing the city to a worldwide audience. However, we do acknowledge that large gatherings can result in less positive behaviour.

"We are working closely with Chester BID to encourage racegoers to respect the city, residents and businesses.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Joe Armstronge and Rachael Mellor. Pictures by Simon Warburton.

"This is not just about a media campaign but tangible action that city partners will benefit from on race days; increased stewarding, more street cleaning and additional CCTV throughout the city. We are confident that the campaign and additional clean up activity will help to achieve the positive benefits for Chester and minimise the negative."

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival City Day. Picture Lauren Simms, Saskia Quirk, Ray Craig. Pictures by Simon Warburton.