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Queen visits Cheltenham after early snow on course

Leigh Boobyer
BBC News, Gloucestershire
Snow falls on Cheltenham Festival

Day two of the Cheltenham Festival saw early snow on the course followed by a royal visit.

The horses were exercised during a light covering of snow over parts of Gloucestershire first thing on Wednesday morning.

But by 8:30 GMT it had turned to sleet with race officials happy that the track would be ready for the action from lunchtime.

There was also a visit from the Queen who has made regular appearances at the festival.

PA Media Horses striding in the snow on Cheltenham Racecourse, with jockeys sitting on top. There are five horses and jockeys. PA Media
Horses were taken out to warm up on the grounds during the snowfall
PA Media Several jockeys are exercising their horses on a snow covered track at the Cheltenham Festival on the second day of the four day event. They are trotting between some white barriers.PA Media
Horses exercising in the snow earlier on Wednesday morning before day two of Cheltenham Festival

'Style Wednesday'

Racegoers turned up in their thousands again with some colourful outfits and hats.

The second day of the festival used to be called Ladies Day, but was renamed last year "Style Wednesday".

PA Media A large group of men wearing purple checked blazers and dark purple dickie bows and hats arrive at the course, one carrying a newspaper and one raising his hat in the air. PA Media
A group of racegoers dressed in purple suits and hats arrive at the course
PA Media A group of three women dressed in unique hats and bright red headwear at the Cheltenham Festival in front of greenery in the background.PA Media
Style Wednesday brought some incredible outfits and hats to the festival

Among the featured races on Wednesday is the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The opening day of the four day event brought surprises on the track, with the Champion Hurdle seeing a fall from the strong favourite, Constitution Hill.

The eventual winner was the 25-1 outsider Golden Ace.

PA Media Runners and riders in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase go over the fences on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.PA Media
Action from the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase

Focus on safety

Horse racing officials say they have invested £56m over 25 years to make the sport safer.

At Cheltenham, the colour of the jumps has changed from orange to white so horses notice the contrast between the track and the hurdles more easily.

The traditional brush jumps are also being replaced with padded ones.

According the charity Animal Aid a total of 76 horses have been killed as a result of racing at the festival since 2000.

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