16 March 2011Last updated at 12:04

In pictures: Facts about the Cheltenham Festival

Action at Cheltenham Racecourse on Centenary Day (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

Day one of The Festival saw the highest opening day crowd since 2004 as 53,318 people flocked to the Cheltenham Racecourse, a 4.6% increase on the first day last year, to be part of the Centenary Day action.

Racegoers at Cheltenham racecourse (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images)

About 220,000 spectators are expected to attend the four days of the Festival with estimated gate receipts totalling around £7m.

A bookmaker is seen holding money during the Cheltenham Festival (Photo by Reuters/Eddie Keogh)

More than half a billion pounds will be staked on the outcome of the 27 races and over 250 bookmakers will be part of the scene at the racecourse where at least a million pounds changes hands on each race in the betting ring.

Two spent bottles of champagne at the end of the first days racing at Cheltenham (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images)

Where there are people, there is catering, and the race-goers demand for food and drink is huge. More than 20,000 bottles of champagne are served, along with 30,000 bottles of wine, 240,000 bottles of beer, 220,000 pints of Guinness and 10,000 gallons of tea and coffee.

Quevega enjoys a drink after winning the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Race at Cheltenham (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

In fact if the pile of burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches eaten at the festival were laid end to end, the line would stretch almost three miles.

Racegoers celebrate as they watch Ruby Walsh and Quevega win the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Race during Centenary Day at Cheltenham Racecourse (Photo by Tim Ireland/PA Wire)

On top of public transport, about 30,000 cars, 2,000 coaches and 50 stretch limos bring people to the races with up to 650 helicopter landings during the meeting. It makes the racecourse the busiest temporary airfield anywhere in the country including Silverstone on British Grand Prix day.

Gloucestershire

In pictures: Facts about the Cheltenham Festival

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