Cheltenham Racecourse achieved an unprecedented milestone on New Year's Day when the fixture was completely sold out for the first time.
The venue saw 44,151 racegoers for the occasion.
The attendance shattered the previous record for the annual event, which stood at 38,374 following the 2023 gathering.
Remarkably, Thursday's crowd also exceeded the 41,949 spectators who attended the Wednesday session of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
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The seven-race programme drew visitors despite the course operating at reduced capacity compared to the March Festival, when temporary infrastructure is erected to accommodate larger numbers.
The feature contest on the card, the Relkeel Hurdle, saw the well-backed favourite Kabral Du Mathan deliver a commanding performance under jockey Harry Skelton.
The partnership proved too strong for their rivals, crossing the line five-and-a-half lengths clear of runner-up Jingko Blue.
The victory provided a fitting centrepiece to what proved an historic afternoon at Prestbury Park.
Cheltenham Racecourse achieved an unprecedented milestone on New Year's Day when the fixture was completely sold out for the first time
|GETTY
The festive period has been described as excellent for British racing, with courses across the country reporting strong attendances throughout the Christmas programme.
Guy Lavender, the racecourse's chief executive, hailed the achievement as a significant moment for the venue: "New Year's Day is a meeting that has seen huge growth in recent years and, while capacity is significantly reduced compared to March due to the absence of the full-scale village, reaching that ceiling is a fantastic achievement.
"It's wonderful to start the year on such a positive note with over 5,000 children on site alongside thousands of young people, members of the local community and our loyal racing fans.
"This meeting caps off a brilliant Christmas period for racing and we hope sets the tone for a positive 2026."
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The venue saw 44,151 racegoers for the occasion
|GETTY
The transformation of the New Year's Day fixture represents one of British racing's notable success stories of recent times.
Just 3,000 hardy souls braved snowy conditions to attend the meeting 12 years ago, prompting serious discussions about its future.
The racecourse committee was reported to be evenly divided between those advocating for the fixture's abolition and those pushing for greater investment.
The decision to back the event has been thoroughly vindicated, with Thursday's sell-out crowd demonstrating how dramatically fortunes have changed.
The Relkeel Hurdle saw the well-backed favourite Kabral Du Mathan deliver a commanding performance under jockey Harry Skelton
|GETTY
The growth from a sparsely attended winter meeting to a flagship occasion underscores the venue's appeal beyond its famous March Festival.
One reason for the surge in attendance could be down to the lack of Premier League football fixtures on Boxing Day, leaving sports lovers looking elsewhere for festive days out.
Only one Premier League fixture took place on Boxing Day this season, with Manchester United beating Newcastle 1-0.
The Premier League has, however, confirmed that next season there will be more matches on Boxing Day, as the date falls on a Saturday.
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