Cheltenham seems determined to turf out the true jumping fans

Cheltenham racecourse will be outlining their future development plans to the media this Thursday. And you can be certain that
the destruction of the Queen Mother stand will be at the core of their briefing.


The ethos under the current regime at Prestbury Park appears to be that making money is everything. That was certainly the impression of box holders at this year’s Festival, who were told they had to purchase additional passes for guests who wished to drop in.
No doubt because whilst in a box, those individuals would not be spending their money in the public bars. But the destruction of the Queen Mother stand is a money grab on an altogether greater scale.
One can sense the Cheltenham bean counters wondering whether the country’s Number One National Hunt fan has been dead long enough for them to get away with sending the bulldozers in to flatten 'her’ stand. And they clearly believe they can now crack on.
Their issue appears to be that the current occupants of this venerable old stand aren’t particularly big spenders. They may have been Cheltenham members for the last sixty-odd years, and they may have supported the course through thick and thin, but as far as the current management is concerned, they are clearly the past, not the future: a mixture of 'old money’ that doesn’t spend and 'no money’ that cannot.
Although these tweed-clad fossils have been the soul of the racecourse for decades, the racecourse would dearly like to clear them out. The way would then be open to pour more concrete and embrace yet more corporate chequebooks, irrespective of whether they belong to libor fixers or money launderers. What does Cheltenham care? They just want the money.

They are, of course, forgetting or are totally oblivious to the fact that it is the very eclectic mix of the crowd at Cheltenham that makes it such a great sporting venue. Old guard and all. They seem oblivious of the gentle balance that creates the magic.
Even Roy Keane was able to spot that there’s a price to pay for totally selling out to the 'prawn sandwich’ brigade. There hasn’t been a proper atmosphere at Old Trafford since they flooded the place with suits, at the expense of fans.
And that is what will happen ten years down the road at the home of jump racing. The place will resemble a morgue on their less fashionable days once the loyal fans have been seen off.

It is true that the quirky, iconic old stand may need a facelift. But it is all that is left of the spiritual heart of the course. The only refuge for the ghosts of the past. The only idiosyncrasy that makes Cheltenham different.
It should be remembered that just because the Jockey Club is a not for profit organisation, it is not a given that, as custodians of National Hunt racing, they are above criticism. It should not be taken for granted that their employees will always make the right call.

I don't buy all this 'if you want to witness history you have to accept it' stuff. It's just PR speak aimed at getting punters to continue paying more for less. At least if you go you can avoid the sentimental 'sentinel of Cleeve Hill' twaddle that Channel 4 regurgitate every year.
Cheltenham is a commercial success alright but, a bit like Disney Corporation, the magic went some years ago.

I have to say, I had plenty of room Tuesday to Thursday, however on Friday the Pub was heaving and had to wait at times 2/3 minutes for a drink. The free Supper was spot on though.