Cheltenham Festival
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Got back from Cheltenham and have vowed never ever to go on Gold Cup day again..The place was absolutely rammed full of yobs.....
Could understand it in the tatts but not in club....Anyone else have the same experience or was I just unlucky
Could understand it in the tatts but not in club....Anyone else have the same experience or was I just unlucky
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For the first time ever, I couln't face going down to the ring, so stayed in the Tatts Grandstand bar, and observed from on high. All my bets were placed on Betfair in the morning, and I couldn't face making my way down to do any top up bets etc. Still a great day, and a few winners.
We went Gold Cup day last year and vowed never to go again.
Tuesday to Thursday is 90% full of knowledgable racing fans who appreciate the brilliance of the Festival, where Friday is full of eggheads in trendy suits and sunglasses who just get bevvied.
Its like the National meeting at Aintree. Thursday is a brilliant card and a good crowd - ladies day and National day are full of orange women looking for a husband and fellas who drink champagne because they're "cool"
Tuesday to Thursday is 90% full of knowledgable racing fans who appreciate the brilliance of the Festival, where Friday is full of eggheads in trendy suits and sunglasses who just get bevvied.
Its like the National meeting at Aintree. Thursday is a brilliant card and a good crowd - ladies day and National day are full of orange women looking for a husband and fellas who drink champagne because they're "cool"
well chief what a ridiculous statement ,if true that means that 90% of the so called horse fans dont go on gold cup day,was the protestor on thurs,were all the drunken not so funny paddies out in force on thurs,if there were 10,000 extra there on the 1st 3 days all days would be the same
slight over reaction , live and let live theres alawys a peaceful corner if you need one
Have to completely disagree with you
Theres a competely different atmosphere on the Friday, nothing like the first few days. I'm not saying racing fans don't go to Gold Cup day, but its the same every year - a competely different type of crowd that is not as good as the earlier days
Theres a competely different atmosphere on the Friday, nothing like the first few days. I'm not saying racing fans don't go to Gold Cup day, but its the same every year - a competely different type of crowd that is not as good as the earlier days
people were saying the crowd and atmosphere were dead for 3 days untill big bucks woke them up
what an absolute ridiculous statement its an occaision enjoyed by all see you nxt yr
……Gangs of lads hogging the bars 4 deep, only to be greeted by an untrained and unenthusiastic bar tender who took 5 mins to pour a pint of ****ss, we could not get anywhere near the stands to see the races. When we DID eventually got “camped out” somewhere the commentary was inaudible and got covered in beer by another set of yobs hogging the TV area. As for finding “a quiet corner” forget it!…We searched everywhere…No chance if you wanted to see a race and get a bet on without having to plan your expedition to the tote or bookies 30 ins in advance. Luckily I put most of my bets on BF in advance.
On top of this the train back to Paddington was ½ full of idiots swigging JD and screaming their heads off. ..They knew nothing about racing. Just there to get ratarsed..
Sorry to sound so negative but I have been racing for 25+ years and this was the only day I have not enjoyed. We (my wife and I) will be back next year but not on the Friday.
On top of this the train back to Paddington was ½ full of idiots swigging JD and screaming their heads off. ..They knew nothing about racing. Just there to get ratarsed..
Sorry to sound so negative but I have been racing for 25+ years and this was the only day I have not enjoyed. We (my wife and I) will be back next year but not on the Friday.
Totally agree with the dumbing down argument, advertise it as full of drunken t0ssers and thats what you get, bad enough tommo organising the football chanting in the centaur, big days are getting worse, and can confirm aintrees saturday, a complete waste of time and effort.
Reports in the post that they moved Lester and Peter O`sullevan in the restaurant to accomadate that slut and her entourage
It's turning into very much a drunken day out. And while thats great for the racecourse they will eventually put off the racing fans. On the wednesday driving out there were groups of drunken lads out on the lash pissing in peoples gardens and driveways and it's just not good for the sport. I don't actually blame them because they are encouraged to go and do it. And if you are going to attract what is essentially a football crowd you have to control it in that way. It doesn't bother me that much as I am younger but I feel sorry for some of the older race goers and the residents that live near the racecourse.
I was the only person not drinking in my carriage on the 9.15am train from London Paddington. Explains alot. Most of the passengers were completely wasted by the time they turned up.
Vowed 2 years ago never to go on friday again, tues-thurs were brilliant. My pals stayed on til friday but said never again
Way foward is to go Tues to Thurs then retire to a pub back home or some where in the Cotswolds been told JohnJoe does something near Jackdaws Castle....been going to the festival for 15years have been to the gold cup before but as many have said swerve the big day now.....Thursday this year was also a tad similar had a ciuple of Pints of the black stuff in the guiness village more than half the people not even watching the screen when the race was going...however people pay their money their choice ......Best day is Tues lighter crowd day quality racing Supreme Champion Hurdle and Arkle......
Can only echo most of the comments here. Did all 4 days last year and said we would do only Tue - Thu this year. However we decided to do all 4 again. Within minutes of getting there remembered why we said we would give it a miss this year. Too busy and too many poeple pissed up and not there for the racing. Ultimately if you go its your choice and I'm glad I saw that Gold Cup but 100% will not change my mind this time round
Same here go on Tuesday to Thursday, vowed never to go on Gold Cup day again 2 years ago
Go to aintree much better atmosphere + you get to see the greatest race of them all.
Football culture is invading all sports. Cricket,Boxing .. it will be Tennis next.
It's all because of the media imo who in their own way glamourise the behavviour. It started with Sky Sports a long time ago.
It's all because of the media imo who in their own way glamourise the behavviour. It started with Sky Sports a long time ago.
To describe the GN as the best race of all is a hilarious statement!!
And tbf football culture was started in racing last year by RFC when they started with scarves for only 2 horses!!
i do love the GN, but all the biggies at chelt too, and kempton at xmas, welsh national, and ascot in the summer
No its this country and the lack of respect for anyone and anything,nothing wrong in having a drink and a good time, ive been to York and not seen a horse, because its been that sort of day. Would have loved to have been there but the prices, queing for toilet, will get to some mid week meetings instead.
Only Tuesday to Thursday for me also. As many have said Gold Cup day is a nightmare. Thursday's card has grown on me as initially I was sceptical - maybe its Big Bucks but the Ryanair is very watchable even though I accept it does detract from the 2 1/2 miler at Aintree.
I like the idea of popping to a boozer in the Cotswolds on the Friday. The Plough at Ford is the one at the bottom of Jonjo's gallops alluded to above.
When I read Saturday's Post and came across the article mentioning Peter and Lester being moved to accommodate Price et al my heart truly sank - absolutely nothing is sacresanct in the eyes of Gillespie and Co. When it goes Wed to Sat it will just be the two days for me and no renewal of the annual members badge. (By the way the Plumpton Refugee line on another thread in response to the incoming chairman's idea of a 3 1/2 mile Grand National trial being run was genius! Mind you he probably has one at Pau already lined up for his son to ride in the race.
I like the idea of popping to a boozer in the Cotswolds on the Friday. The Plough at Ford is the one at the bottom of Jonjo's gallops alluded to above.
When I read Saturday's Post and came across the article mentioning Peter and Lester being moved to accommodate Price et al my heart truly sank - absolutely nothing is sacresanct in the eyes of Gillespie and Co. When it goes Wed to Sat it will just be the two days for me and no renewal of the annual members badge. (By the way the Plumpton Refugee line on another thread in response to the incoming chairman's idea of a 3 1/2 mile Grand National trial being run was genius! Mind you he probably has one at Pau already lined up for his son to ride in the race.
The 'crowding' aspect in Club wasn't so bad this year on the Friday, probably because it wasn't raining and therefore not everyone was diving for cover in the stands.
It tends to thin out after the Gold Cup (the part-timers who have come for the big race and those that are terminally wasted by 3.30 and need to be carried away), which makes the last 3 races quite enjoyable.
I amguessing that if it does go to a Wed-Sat or 5 day fesival including Saturday, then they will run the Gold Cup on a Saturday, at which point I'll be off with many others and the drunks will have won.
It tends to thin out after the Gold Cup (the part-timers who have come for the big race and those that are terminally wasted by 3.30 and need to be carried away), which makes the last 3 races quite enjoyable.
I amguessing that if it does go to a Wed-Sat or 5 day fesival including Saturday, then they will run the Gold Cup on a Saturday, at which point I'll be off with many others and the drunks will have won.
'When I read Saturday's Post and came across the article mentioning Peter and Lester being moved to accommodate Price et al my heart truly sank'
Is that story defo 100% kosher? I 'm waiting to read that it wasn't actually true....can't be true, can it? Please.
Is that story defo 100% kosher? I 'm waiting to read that it wasn't actually true....can't be true, can it? Please.
[i]AS a Cheltenham regular for 75 years, one might expect Sir Peter O’Sullevan to have taken exception.
After all, he was due to sit down for lunch at the course with legend Lester Piggott, when the two old friends found their table had been allocated to Katie Price, better known as pneumatic former glamour model Jordan.
A gentleman to his fingertips, Sir Peter, 93, declines to criticise either the management or Miss Price.
He tells me: ‘For the life of me I didn’t know who Jordan was. The only Jordan I know is Eddie, the Formula One racing man.’ Jordan had complained that passers-by could see her at her original table.
‘That is how she ended up at our table,’ says Sir Peter. ‘Lester and I arrived late and as I was anxious to see the start of the first race in which I had a substantial bet, I only stayed for a glass of wine and the first course.
'We were told afterwards about Jordan and I think[/i]
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1368232/The-girl-love-life-Bryan.htm...
After all, he was due to sit down for lunch at the course with legend Lester Piggott, when the two old friends found their table had been allocated to Katie Price, better known as pneumatic former glamour model Jordan.
A gentleman to his fingertips, Sir Peter, 93, declines to criticise either the management or Miss Price.
He tells me: ‘For the life of me I didn’t know who Jordan was. The only Jordan I know is Eddie, the Formula One racing man.’ Jordan had complained that passers-by could see her at her original table.
‘That is how she ended up at our table,’ says Sir Peter. ‘Lester and I arrived late and as I was anxious to see the start of the first race in which I had a substantial bet, I only stayed for a glass of wine and the first course.
'We were told afterwards about Jordan and I think[/i]
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1368232/The-girl-love-life-Bryan.htm...
The article in the Post didn't mention the bit about "passers-by being able to see her at her original table". I think that makes it even worse!!
i think it should say passers by couldnt see her at her original table
I think it should say 'passers by were in danger of being irradiated by the gormless great orange self-publicist'
No, i did not notice any yobs at all. You get a few who are there on a social but no more than anywhere else.
Incidentally, Tinkler, I assume you are joking about the Aintre crowd? I go annually for the racing and whilst the Thursday crowd is largely ok, the Friday crowd has too many drunks i'm afraid. Somebody tried to steal my binoculars a few years ago, even when they were still over my shoulder. When I snatched them back from the yob he became angry that i had the temerity to want to preserve my (£1250) private property! Too many people are allowed to drink on the enclosures. I do not mind peole drinking at the track but people should not be allowed to drink on the roof. I've seen so many drinks spilled over innocent race-goers at Aintree. The executive are to blame, pushing the drinks angle as far as they can. Too many day-trippers too, making it impossible to get to the ring easily, to the paddock easily, to the winners enclosre, onto the roof. At the end of the day, when most people have won or lost but drank too much, the atmosphere is actually quite threatening. The queues for the cubicles in the facilities are enormous even before the first race - i can only imagine why.
The atmosphere is awful. You would not notice that the tapes had gone up (even for the first race!) because people carry on screaming, shouting, talking about anything other than the racing. When the tapes go up at the festival, after the cheer, you have virtual silence because evertyone is watching te racing. At Aintree, most in the enclosures do not even know the race has commenced. On a different thread, someone mentioned that they heard a cheers when Sunnyhill boy fell in the william hill last week. I did not hear that, and whilst i find it hard to believe/comprehend, it quite a common occurence at Aintree. It is an absolute rarity at Cheltenham. Absolute rarity. I've seen fights in the queue for the train, after racing too. Aintree has improved yr on yr in terms of quality of racing and facilities, but the atmosphere is generally awful. It has all the worst elements of a mid-summer friday night flat meeting, and few of the best elements of a deep mid-winter NH meeting sadly.
Incidentally, Tinkler, I assume you are joking about the Aintre crowd? I go annually for the racing and whilst the Thursday crowd is largely ok, the Friday crowd has too many drunks i'm afraid. Somebody tried to steal my binoculars a few years ago, even when they were still over my shoulder. When I snatched them back from the yob he became angry that i had the temerity to want to preserve my (£1250) private property! Too many people are allowed to drink on the enclosures. I do not mind peole drinking at the track but people should not be allowed to drink on the roof. I've seen so many drinks spilled over innocent race-goers at Aintree. The executive are to blame, pushing the drinks angle as far as they can. Too many day-trippers too, making it impossible to get to the ring easily, to the paddock easily, to the winners enclosre, onto the roof. At the end of the day, when most people have won or lost but drank too much, the atmosphere is actually quite threatening. The queues for the cubicles in the facilities are enormous even before the first race - i can only imagine why.
The atmosphere is awful. You would not notice that the tapes had gone up (even for the first race!) because people carry on screaming, shouting, talking about anything other than the racing. When the tapes go up at the festival, after the cheer, you have virtual silence because evertyone is watching te racing. At Aintree, most in the enclosures do not even know the race has commenced. On a different thread, someone mentioned that they heard a cheers when Sunnyhill boy fell in the william hill last week. I did not hear that, and whilst i find it hard to believe/comprehend, it quite a common occurence at Aintree. It is an absolute rarity at Cheltenham. Absolute rarity. I've seen fights in the queue for the train, after racing too. Aintree has improved yr on yr in terms of quality of racing and facilities, but the atmosphere is generally awful. It has all the worst elements of a mid-summer friday night flat meeting, and few of the best elements of a deep mid-winter NH meeting sadly.
Do not get me started on the Saturday crowd which is eaxctly teh same as the Friday crowd but magnified.
All of that said, you do get lots of decent sorts, enthusiasts who go, who are fine.
All of that said, you do get lots of decent sorts, enthusiasts who go, who are fine.
sintonian
Football culture is invading all sports. Cricket,Boxing .. it will be Tennis next.
It's all because of the media imo who in their own way glamourise the behavviour. It started with Sky Sports a long time ago.
You're to pinpoint the glamourising of getting drunk but it's not so much Sky Sports to blame but the whole 'laddie' culture. As much as I loved Loaded magazine back in 1994-96 I look back at that as the first mag that legitimised my own drunken antics. Not that I caused trouble but admittedly I'd be up for chanting football songs on trains etc. All good natured but behaviour that would annoy me if done by others now. Had the culture been to frown on such behaviour in the way society does now with drunk driving (generally) I probably wouldn't have been so keen to get drunk.
Football culture is invading all sports. Cricket,Boxing .. it will be Tennis next.
It's all because of the media imo who in their own way glamourise the behavviour. It started with Sky Sports a long time ago.
You're to pinpoint the glamourising of getting drunk but it's not so much Sky Sports to blame but the whole 'laddie' culture. As much as I loved Loaded magazine back in 1994-96 I look back at that as the first mag that legitimised my own drunken antics. Not that I caused trouble but admittedly I'd be up for chanting football songs on trains etc. All good natured but behaviour that would annoy me if done by others now. Had the culture been to frown on such behaviour in the way society does now with drunk driving (generally) I probably wouldn't have been so keen to get drunk.
I found it very friendly in tats this year,yes you have to plan your route from stand to bookie and back but you know that its going to be packed.last year in club couldnt get near the stand after putting bet on,suppose the rain didnt help and all the brollys made viewing difficult.Not any yobs in our area,just good sorts having a great day.Will be back for more of the same 2011.see you there.
Club seemed far more packed than Tatts this year. We had ****ss Grandstand tickets which are a god send although it would make everything a lot quicker if they had a load of pints poured in the ****ss Village rather than just pouring them one at a time
Don't get me started about the Saturday at Aintree. At the Numbersixvalverde GN, some scouse cnut threaten to shoot me for having the temerity of having his "woman" ask me about which horse I fancied as I put a bet one.
It's a God awful hell hole, far worse than Chelters, even though that is heading in the same direction.
That said they have a fair amount of ground to make up before they get even close to the horror that is a summer Haydock meet.
It's a God awful hell hole, far worse than Chelters, even though that is heading in the same direction.
That said they have a fair amount of ground to make up before they get even close to the horror that is a summer Haydock meet.
That said they have a fair amount of ground to make up before they get even close to the horror that is a summer Haydock meet - 
could not have put it better!
could not have put it better!
Don't get me started about the Saturday at Aintree. At the Numbersixvalverde GN, some scouse cnut threaten to shoot me for having the temerity of having his "woman" ask me about which horse I fancied as I put a bet one.
For everyone that wondered what it was:
te·mer·i·ty
n.
Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness
[;)][;)]
For everyone that wondered what it was:
te·mer·i·ty
n.
Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness
[;)][;)]
I travel every year from Ireland for all four days and I have to agree that the Friday is just not a pleasent experience any more. They let too many people in which means for me if I want to get a decent view of the Gold Cup I have to go into the stand long before the first race and stay there till the big race is run. I think if they moved to GC on a Saturday or a five day festival I would go back home on Friday evening.
Aussi_is_back Joined: 16 Dec 10
Replies: 941 23 Mar 11 16:38
Don't get me started about the Saturday at Aintree. At the Numbersixvalverde GN, some scouse cnut threaten to shoot me for having the temerity of having his "woman" ask me about which horse I fancied as I put a bet one.
It's a God awful hell hole, far worse than Chelters, even though that is heading in the same direction.
That said they have a fair amount of ground to make up before they get even close to the horror that is a summer Haydock meet.
Do you ever post about anything that isn't anti Liverpool. Grow up you snivelling little turd.
Replies: 941 23 Mar 11 16:38
Don't get me started about the Saturday at Aintree. At the Numbersixvalverde GN, some scouse cnut threaten to shoot me for having the temerity of having his "woman" ask me about which horse I fancied as I put a bet one.
It's a God awful hell hole, far worse than Chelters, even though that is heading in the same direction.
That said they have a fair amount of ground to make up before they get even close to the horror that is a summer Haydock meet.
Do you ever post about anything that isn't anti Liverpool. Grow up you snivelling little turd.
Went to the GN for years never had a problem, had a great night around Liverpool too.
Gold Cup day 2010 was horrendous because of the weather.
Interesting that Tue-Thur houses around 53k people and Fri there around another 15k people, no wonder everything is hard work.
I cam home Thur night and spent Fri in the pub, but we had Grandstand tickets (near win line) for Thur, someone in here mentioned them and at £75 I thought I'd take a chance and they were well worth the money, even if they're £100 for Fri I think they'd be a good invenstment.
Having your own seat, dedicated bar, eatery, toilets and smoking patio all within 25 yards is priceless, there are tote kiosks and a Corals shop so everything is catered for IMO
Interesting that Tue-Thur houses around 53k people and Fri there around another 15k people, no wonder everything is hard work.
I cam home Thur night and spent Fri in the pub, but we had Grandstand tickets (near win line) for Thur, someone in here mentioned them and at £75 I thought I'd take a chance and they were well worth the money, even if they're £100 for Fri I think they'd be a good invenstment.
Having your own seat, dedicated bar, eatery, toilets and smoking patio all within 25 yards is priceless, there are tote kiosks and a Corals shop so everything is catered for IMO
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