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Lots of reasons cost of living, train strikes rip off hotels, but for me its the number of irish horses trained by Willie youknowwho. anything up to 10 in a single race like Aiden O fgs on the big flat meetings. Found myself cheering when the Henry De Broomhandle had a winner.Maybe it is time to restrict the number of horses trained /owned by the same person. What do the panel think? not looking for an argument.
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Can’t go on just one year, if this trend persists over the next couple of years then you might look at making changes but i would look at making the day cheaper and more comfortable for the people attending rather than reducing the field sizes and competitiveness of the racing
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Surprised there's still as many. Still a pull for some less than avid racing fans but other meetings this year even Saturday's will be well down imo.
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The Mullins bit is nonsense this is meant to be the championship of national hunt racing therefore we want the best horses if Mullins has the best horses then I’m glad he runs so many.
The reason is cost and hassle on the Friday night of this years Dublin festival you would have thought the English rugby team was playing there were so many English there ,the one thing everyone I spoke to agreed was it’s far more value travelling over to Ireland and much less hassle than it is going to Cheltenham. The hoteliers of Cheltenham really need to be spoken to ,I realise it’s a free market but really who can pay those prices? |
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Early nineties the crowd was around 25,000 proper national hunt fans and it was a pleasure to go. It’s much more commercial now and the quality of racing has been diluted with too many second rate events. Honeysuckle got more attention than Constitution Hill after winning an inferior race. The Open golf is similar - people are willing to pay more for a poorer, more crowded experience.
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What were the figures for the 4 days?
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and of course the trains to cheltenham also cynically ramped up their prices whilst blaming it on capacity.
These days you can watch every race for free on phone and tablet and that must be a factor too. Looking at tv screens there is no way i would endure a day there in packed out crowds with 30 minutes drinks and toilet queues and expensive bars. added to that i bet they prevented accessing betfair exchnage on course so they could rip punters off with huge over rounds. yes, plenty of reasons for reduced crowds. |
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https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/cheltenham-festival/police-arrest-two-guinness-village-bar-staff-employees-on-suspicion-of-fraud-at-cheltenham-festival-asIU55Q9DFdl/
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I went to the April meeting last year (first visit to the course) and really enjoyed it. So much so we are booked in for next month.
Much smaller attendance, our hotel is £240 for two nights B&B (£60 each). The racing is decent as well.  |
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Done over 40 festivals did not go this year did i miss it that much NO.
Did not miss the 2k expenses will i be back next year. 2/9 no 4/1 yes Ronnie. |
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I was there Tuesday and Wednesday, it was noticeably quieter, didn't have to queue for a drink once.
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2023 Cheltenham crowd figures
2022 number in brackets Tuesday: 60,284 (68,567) Wednesday: 50,387 (64,431) Thursday: 62,429 (73,754) Friday figure? Attendance capped at 68k a day*  |
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A big factor in me not going this year was the accommodation price. The place I've stayed for years put up the price 70% and went from pay on the day to pay at the time of booking. No thanks. There's not a lot the course can do about accommodation prices in the town, but they are hurting them.
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Thanks Leif.
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I was a full member for 30 years and always enjoyed the April meeting the most. They said they were sold out for all days so how come the attendances were not the same?
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Looks a BIG drop .
Ronnie. |
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Usually go cc day
Went to trials day instead And i live a mile from the course  |
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Can't see why anyone who actually still goes to see the horses wouldn't be rejoicing.
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Down 15% attendance wise over meeting
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A friend of mine has a cashless restaurant but got defrauded out of 5% of his takings. He employed a new bar manager who managed to hack into his computer and divert every 20th payment into his own account. Entertained by HRH now.
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My belief is that many a "cashless" restaurant / take away and the like are defrauding HMRC by way of cooking the books.
Additionally, how many people carry cash these days? |
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Was there 4 days and had no problem accessing Betfair all days using Jockey club wifi.
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Back when I was a member I bought an extra ticket by post and stuck it in a drawer for a friend who had never been before. Imagine the disappointment when we presented the badge to be told that it was from the previous year so I had to fork out another £60. I did make strong representations to Edward Gillespie and got a refund a few weeks later but it spoiled the day. I suspect that someone charged with sending out the badges had a stash of the previous years ones to post out and sold the current ones to a tout. Pre computer tickets of course.
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Peppers a popular pub in town centre,charged 7.40 a pint. 10p cheaper than course,
They have to look at themselves in the mirror |
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Capping the crowd to 68k - The cost of food/Drinks- The cost of staying somewhere nearby and half decent.
If you attract a 'better' sort they will tend to spend more on accommodation/food/drinks etc so no need to attract the great unwashed? "A better experience" doesn't necessarily indicate it is intended for the riff-raff  - au contraireLocal Hotel prices will increase not decrease if the above is indicative of which way the wind is blowing. The major pish take out of this year's staging has to be the container con wherein the proletariat who'd observed headbangers renting metal tins in Dubai in order they could attend the World Cup games, were being hoodwinked into spending 4 days in a tin can at an exorbitant cost. However, Cheltenham in March isn't exactly Dubai, following your National side with people willing to sell their family silver for the cause. Don't expect a reversion. |
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Scottish lad we were wiv paid £7 for a hot chocolate and quick wittingly said which bun he cud pick
 hal paid £3 for a can of fanta for me burger n chips £15 - bit of bacon a bargain extra at £16 |
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i would not go for a £1000
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Benidorm and Tenerife bristling with Brits and paddys (no offence) this week in search of sun, sea and sticky vicky
 2 bags for a mangy hotel in the chelter's vicinity or a week in the sun? Ironic though that even the Tenerife lot want to attract a 'better clientele' going forward [as the corporate lot say]. 1.50 a pint a plenty if you want cheap and cheerful [will always be available] and you can have a bet to boot. Would recommend the Hops and Grapes /Puerto Colon among many on the island. |
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i d id pre covid Beni when Goshen wuda skinted the winning post bar
some experience when he fell  |
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Jesus those prices for food and drink are disgusting.
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if its meant to be championship of racing why is mullins running a 100,300 to 1 shots in triumph hurdle he must no they were furlongs behind his top 4 in betting,purely running them to give them experience
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I watched from the coach park by the Best Mate this year for FREE!!!!.....excellent view of the racing and no pushing and shoving i highly recommend it!!!!!..........
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Perhaps the owners wanted a runner in the triumph hurdle,in fact one of those no hopers beat blood destiny,
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they*
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The Wednesday attendance is an odd one. The weather wasn't good but it was better than the Wednesday last year.
I expect the solution to falling attendances will be to add an extra day |
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Some observations.
I live a mile from the course. Stop going to Festival 4/5 years ago. It had become a thoroughly unpleasant experience for which at the time I was paying £50 a day. (difference Annual Membership - AM ex Festival /4). Not regretted it one iota. TV coverage excellent, coffee and biscuits much cheaper at home. I rarely drink alcohol on course so £7.50 a pint doesn't affect me. What was noticeable to me from the TV pictures were the sizeable gaps on the terraces at the pre parade and parade rings. A friend who went for one day got their with partner early, got their seat and stayed in situ all day. Fair enough, that's their choice. However if more of the attendees are doing that and not actually going to see the horses and doing the traditional (paddock, betting ring, steppings) route. That perhaps reinforces my view that many are there as the Festival is an "event". Not there for the racing at all. If that's the case will (have) those customers be less "sticky" and vote with their pocket as disposable income reduces? |
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if your paying 2 grand a night for a room suggests disposable incomes aint a worry for you
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