The Countryside Alliance looks forward to welcoming members and supporters to Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday 13 November for a celebration of the countryside, a spectacular meet of hounds and an exciting afternoon of racing.

Countryside Day marks the opening of Cheltenham's three-day November Meeting and is always a highlight of the National Hunt calendar for many of our members and supporters.

Alongside an afternoon of racing, visitors can enjoy a wonderful programme of countryside activities, including the traditional meet of hounds in the Parade Ring. The Countryside Alliance will also be welcoming members to a new dedicated area, while our annual fundraising lunch, silent auction and Christmas card sales will provide plenty of opportunities to support our work.

To help you make the most of your visit, we've put together some useful information about the day.

Key timings for Friday 13 November

• 10.30am – Gates open: Arrive early to enjoy the atmosphere and countryside activities before racing begins.
• 11.00am – Meet of hounds: Foxhounds, beagles, basset hounds and harriers will gather in the Parade Ring, accompanied by mounted hunt staff from local packs. Please arrive in plenty of time to show your support.
• 11.25am – Drinks reception commences for guests attending the Cheltenham Countryside Race Day lunch in Marquee 3 (just beyond the Shopping Village)
• 11.25am – Strigidae gun dog display in the Parade Ring.
• 11:50am – Bobb Hogg’s dog and duck display in the Parade Ring.
• 12.30pm–1pm – Raceday preview: Live in the Parade Ring.
• 1.10pm – First race: The opening contest of the six-race card.
• 4.00pm – Final race: The conclusion of an exciting afternoon's racing, and the closing time for the Countryside Alliance silent auction.
• 4.14pm–5.15pm – Post-racing music: Round off your visit with live entertainment.

All race times are subject to change.

A warm welcome at our new members' area

This year, the Countryside Alliance is delighted to welcome members to a new dedicated area within The Retreat, which has been renamed The Rutshire Arms in honour of the late Dame Jilly Cooper.

Replacing our previous members' marquee near the Shopping Village, this new location provides a welcoming place to meet friends, take a break from the racing and catch up with the Countryside Alliance team.

The Retreat is open to all racegoers, with a dedicated Countryside Alliance members' area offering access to comfortable seating and bar facilities. We are enormously grateful to Cheltenham Racecourse for its continued generosity and support in providing this facility, and we hope members will make the most of it throughout the day.

Support our Countryside Day auction

Our annual silent auction is once again a major part of Countryside Day, raising valuable funds for the Countryside Alliance and our charity partner for 2026, World Horse Welfare.

With a fantastic selection of lots, there is something for everyone, from exclusive racing and country sports experiences to holidays, hospitality and other special opportunities.

Bidding is open online ahead of Countryside Day, with the auction closing at 4pm on Friday 13 November.

On the day, you can visit our dedicated auction information point in The Plaza, near the Best Mate Statue, behind the big screen at the bottom of the Parade Ring. Our team will be on hand to help visitors find out more about the auction and place their bids.

We will also be auctioning some very special lots in our live auction on the day at the Countryside Race Day Lunch. These items can be seen in the link below. Bids can be made in advance by contacting Sara Rutherford cheltenhamcountrysideraceday@outlook.com

VIEW AND BID ON AUCTION LOTS HERE

Christmas cards, calendars and gifts

With Christmas fast approaching, why not take the opportunity to stock up on Countryside Alliance Christmas cards and calendars? Our latest collection will be available to purchase from our stand in The Plaza.

For further information about the day's programme and to purchase tickets, visit Cheltenham Racecourse's official Countryside Day page. Please use promo code COUNTRYSIDE26 to benefit from our unique discount.