The track has warned customers that the ATMs on the site are likely to be out of action ahead of the new campaign at the home of jump racing
Punters descending on Cheltenham for the new jumps campaign can expect to find the track literally cashless.
Like the other 14 racecourses run by the Jockey Club, the home of jumping no longer takes cash for food and drink transactions. The betting ring, where the on-course bookmakers stand, is the only area on its racecourses where cash is still accepted.
But on Friday and Saturday, when Cheltenham reopens for the new jumps campaign with its Showcase fixture, there will be no cash withdrawal facilities operating at the venue.
Willie Mullins, champion trainer over jumps both in Britain and Ireland, Nicky Henderson, Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead, Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls are all set to have runners over the course.
Their runners are bound to be popular with punters but if they plan to bet with cash, they have been advised to bring it with them because the ATMs will not be working.
The only way to access cash on the track will be by using the Tote’s cashback service, which is subject to a £10 bet being placed.
Cheltenham issued advance notice of the situation in a post on social media.
It said: “For The Showcase (Friday 25th & Saturday 26th October) unfortunately there will be no cash machines available across site, we recommend you ensure you bring cash with you for betting with the bookmakers,” the notice said.
“On site cash back options are available on site via the Tote.”
The track has introduced a number of changes in the wake of the four day Cheltenham Festival to halt a decline in attendances.
Many of the initiatives to improve the customer experience, including better parking arrangements and upgraded drink and bar facilities, will be in place from Friday.
But without cash, all other transactions will have to be processed by card or mobile app.
Cheltenham said that the unavailability of the site’s four cash machines was due to “ongoing technical issues”.
A spokesperson for the racecourse said that they could not guarantee cashpoints would be working over the two days due to ongoing technical issues experienced by suppliers of their ATMs and they had therefore taken the decision to inform racegoers proactively in advance to avoid disappointment.
