GALLERY: Crowds enjoy Chester Races May Festival final day

After missing out on 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions, tens of thousands of people have been descending on the racecourse for the three-day event, which concluded today (Friday, May 6).

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture big crowds at today's Roodee races. Picture: Simon Warburton.

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

The final day of racing saw the TOTE Chester Cup Day taking place with a number of feature races.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture Ladies having fun. Picture: Simon Warburton.

The Huxley Stakes, with £125k prize money, saw Solid Stone taking the victory, while Bellatrixsa took the spoils in the Chester Plate Handicap.

In the feature race of the festival, The Chester Cup with £150k prize money, Cleveland was the winner.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture former Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes. Picture: Simon Warburton.

Chester Racecourse has also been 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 Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture Kate Horton and collegues from KJG. Picture: 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.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture Rebecca Duff, Howard Foster and Danielle Goddard. Picture: Simon Warburton.

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.

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.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture The first race, The ICM Stellar Sports Earl Grosvenor Handicap Stakes (Class 2) looking from the spectators. Picture: Simon Warburton.

"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 Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture Rory Hughes with Ava Johnston. Picture: 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 Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture Andrew Dewis and Sophy Gladstone. Picture: Simon Warburton.

Carl Critchlow, BID manager, said: "Chester Races is a fundamental part of our city’s identity with a heritage we are rightly proud of. It brings in thousands of visitors to Chester each year which is vital for our visitor economy.

"Working with the racecourse, we aim to make sure our city businesses and residents have a positive race day experience.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture No 1 Falcon Eight jockey Frankie Dettori. Picture: Simon Warburton.

"As ever with large gatherings, some of the less positive behaviours are often remembered more, so we will reinforce messages to encourage responsible behaviour, and seek to strengthen the relationships between city and racecourse."

Chester Races returns to the Roodee on Saturday, May 28, with Roman Day, followed by Summer Saturday on June 11.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Picture ITV racing commentator Luke Harvey. Picture: Simon Warburton.

The racing season will run until the Season Finale on September 24.

Chester Racecourse, Boodles May Festival Tote Chester Cup Day. Pictured is Daniel Windsor. Picture: Simon Warburton.