WHY YOU SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR ROMAN SOLDIERS ON THE STREETS OF CHESTER ON TUESDAY

Chester is famous for Roman soldiers storming through the streets with a huddle of tourists following behind, but on Tuesday 26th May they will be out on a special mission.

Chester Racecourse is hosting its annual Roman Day fixture on Saturday 30th May, which is set to be an action-packed family fun day alongside the usual horse racing itinerary.

On the Tuesday in the lead up to the event, a Roman soldier will be marching the streets of Chester looking to give out free tickets for one day only.

The soldier will be on the hunt to ‘recruit’ for his army, asking the people of Chester to join him on Saturday.

He will be handing out golden tickets for 20 lucky locals to win free entry to the Tattersall enclosure on the Roman Day fixture.

And to double their luck, people will be encouraged to post a selfie with the soldier on Instagram and tag @chesterraces to be in with the chance of winning 4 tickets to the County Concourse enclosure.

The soldier can be found marching through the streets and stopping at iconic Chester landmark The Cross to hand out the golden tickets.

But fear not, families won’t be riding into battle, but watching jockeys ride worldclass racehorses, and can enjoy an action-packed day of themed activities including roman stunt shows, gladiator bootcamps, camp curiosity’s interactive outdoor learning camp, themed-crafts, Roman artefacts and activities with Chester Heritage Festival.

All activities are completely free of charge, and kids under 17 always go free at family fun days.

Outside of the family-first itinerary, Tattersall guests will enjoy the usual glamourous Chester experience, with access to the Paddock, Parade Ring and buzz of the Pavilion lawn, all while enjoying trackside views of the horse racing.

Steve Davies, chief operating officer at Chester Race Company, said:

“Roman Day is a hugely exciting date in the calendar for us. The spectacle of the Roman-themed activities really brings an added buzz to the atmosphere on a race day.

“This year we wanted to bring some of that atmosphere out into the city ahead of race day itself. Chester’s Roman heritage is such a huge part of the city’s identity, so people should keep an eye out this Tuesday because spotting one of our Roman soldiers could earn them free tickets to the races. Good luck!”

Competition winners will be announced on Thursday 28^th May 2026.

For further information on upcoming fixtures at Chester Racecourse and to book tickets, visit: 

www.chester-races.com/whats-on