See all you need to know about the Chester May Festival which gets underway next week with a full race schedule and running order for the track’s biggest meeting of the season.
Chester May Festival Date & Full Race Schedule 2026
The Chester May Festival is one of the biggest meetings of the year for plenty of reasons, including that a couple of their races are key trials for Epsom in June.
It takes place from Wednesday 6th May to Friday 8th May with three days of spectacular action.
Last season, Aidan O’Brien filly Minnie Hauk was winner of the Cheshire Oaks and went on to win the Epsom Oaks the following month.
And also hailing from Ballydoyle, Lambourn took home the Chester Vase and went on to win the Epsom Derby – so there’s plenty at stake.
WATCH: Lambourn Wins Chester Vase En Route To Epsom
Another favourite comes in! 🔥
Lambourn wins the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @ChesterRaces pic.twitter.com/iVr6059GDH
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 7, 2025
This year’s festival will also see the start of a new partnership between Chester and the New York Racing Association.
The winner of the Ormonde Stakes will qualify for a place in the Belmont Gold Cup in New York, which also serves as a direct route for the Melbourne Cup.
And the Huxley Stakes winner will be given the chance to run in the $1million Manhattan Stakes – also offering a shot at the Melbourne Cup.
Full Race Schedule For Chester May Festival 2026
Three days of top class racing take place at Chester from Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th May.
Wednesday 6th May – Trials Day
- 1:30 – CAA Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes (Class 2, 5f)
- 2:05 – Join Ladbrokes Bet 5 Get 30 Earl Grosvenor Handicap (Class 2, 7 1/2f)
- 2:35 – Weatherbys Cheshire Oaks (Listed Race, 1m3 1/2f)
- 3:05 – Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3, 1m4 1/2f)
- 3:40 – American Holidays Handicap (Class 3. 6f)
- 4:10 – TMT Group Maiden Stakes (Class 3, 1m2 1/2f)
- 4:45 – Roodee Handicap (Class 3, 7f)
Thursday 7th May – Ladies Day
- 1:30 – CAA Stellar Handicap (Class 2, 5f)
- 2:05 – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 2, 5 1/2f)
- 2:35 – Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes (Listed Race, 1m2 1/2f)
- 3:05 – Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes (Group 3, 1m5 1/2f)
- 3:40 – Xenon Workplace Handicap (Class 2, 7 1/2f)
- 4:10 – Halliwell Jones Handicap (Class 3, 1m2 1/2f)
- 4:45 – Chester Handicap (Class 3, 1m4 1/2f)
Friday 8th May – Chester Cup Day
- 1:30 – CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap (Class 2, 7 1/2f)
- 2:05 – Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 2, 1m4 1/2f)
- 2:35 – Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Byt Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2, 1m2 1/2f)
- 3:05 – Ladbrokes Chester Cup (Class 2, 2m2 1/2f)
- 3:40 – Precision Facades Handicap (Class 2, 1m2 1/2f)
- 4:10 – Xenon Workplace Apprentice Handicap (Class 4, 1m4 1/2f)
- 4:45 – Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Chester Plate Handicap (Class 2, 2m2 1/2f)
How To Watch Chester May Festival 2026?
Luckily the Chester May Festival will be live on the ITV Racing schedule for Trials Day on Wednesday 6th May.
The other two days will be shown on Sky Sports Racing (they will also show Wednesday) – but that is free to air with most broadcast packages.
Wednesday’s opening FIVE races will be shown on ITV Racing, with the remaining two on Sky Sports.
