We're the last stop on the

European Road to the Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby | Chelmsford City Racecourse

The Cardinal Stakes is the final stop on The European Road to the Kentucky Derby, and with £100,000 of prize money and qualification for the 150th Kentucky Derby at stake, it promises to be a thrilling spectacle.

This year’s Kentucky Derby will be the richest in the Classic’s history, with its purse raised to $5 million (£3.9m) from $3 million. The European Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of seven races in Ireland, Great Britain, and France that began in 2017. It offers a place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate to the top points finisher in the series, and on Saturday 6th April, you can join us here in Chelmsford for the dramatic conclusion to the European Road.

After racing, there’s no need to go anywhere else as we’ll be celebrating this special fixture with a live DJ set and after party in the Sports Bar until 10p.m. With great racing, food, drink, entertainment and hospitality on offer, all you need to do is make Chelmsford City Racecourse the venue for a fantastic Saturday night.

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Saturday 6 April 2024

The Cardinal Stakes

The Road to The Kentucky Derby, and the European and Japanese counterparts are points-based systems by which horses qualify for a position in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. There are only 20 positions available at the starting gate, one of these spots is reserved for the winner of the European Road, and one for the Japanese Road.

The annual Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs on Central Avenue in south Louisville Kentucky. The horse racing complex opened in 1875, and in the same year the first Kentucky Derby was run. The race is part of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing (United States).

The Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday of May and is worth an incredible $5 million dollars in prize money.

Starting in 2018 one of the positions available in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby is reserved for the winner of the separate European Road to The Kentucky Derby.

There are seven races in the European Road, with the last race, The Cardinal Condition Stakes, being held at Chelmsford City Racecourse on Saturday 6^th of April 2024.

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Is there a dress code?

Our general admission tickets in most cases provide you with access to the racecourse grounds including the Grandstand and Sports Bar. These areas allow for a casual dress code. However, the racecourse does request that standards be maintained.

We kindly request that you do not wear the following:
• Beach flip-flops or backless sandals/shoes*
• Team shirts
• Vests and bare tops
• Swimwear

*Please note that these are not recommended due to the nature of our site and health and safety. If you do wear these it will be at your own risk.

When dining in the Fairwood Restaurant, all general admission standards apply with the addition that we ask that you do not wear any form of shorts or trainers.

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Are there additional security measures?

We conduct thorough and relevant risk assessments for each and every event held at Chelmsford City Racecourse and put robust safety measures in place in line with our security policies. We follow government guidance on the number of security staff required for events.

During horseracing events, we have stewards in line with BHA (British Horseracing Authority) requirements.

For large events such as Ladies Day, we monitor the perimeter of the racecourse with robust security. With so many safety measures in place including bag searches and ID scan systems, you can enjoy your day at the racecourse confidently.

Can I book a table in the restaurant?

Our restaurants are now fully booked, general admission tickets are available and give you access to the Sports Bar where you can purchase food from the Grill Kitchen.