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The Cheltenham Festival could undergo its biggest change since a fourth day was added 20 years ago after it emerged early consideration is being given to running jump racing's showpiece fixture from Wednesday to Saturday.
There has yet to be any stakeholder discussion around what Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender stresses is still nothing more than "a concept", yet the mere acknowledgement thought is being given to such a significant development is sure to stimulate debate.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/cheltenham-festival/cheltenham-festival-could-be-held-from-wednesday-to-saturday-as-course-begins-to-consider-radical-move-aPDhW4I3tyuO/
There has yet to be any stakeholder discussion around what Cheltenham chief executive Guy Lavender stresses is still nothing more than "a concept", yet the mere acknowledgement thought is being given to such a significant development is sure to stimulate debate.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/cheltenham-festival/cheltenham-festival-could-be-held-from-wednesday-to-saturday-as-course-begins-to-consider-radical-move-aPDhW4I3tyuO/
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Replies: 78
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Racegoers left during covid and many won't return, either dead or fed up of being ripped-off.
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Pack the place out on a Saturday with more non-racing fans, ruining it for the genuine racing ran, to make a few more quid.
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The blind leading the blind
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The cost of staying there is ridiculous compared to the same Hotels when the Festival is not on.
Like "Wall Street" where greed is good. I hope they go to the wall |
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Met Lavendar on Wednesday
He didint mention this at ALL Probably using his mcc experience to spool up the costs of the FESTIVAL  |
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I think you may be right Swifty.
Just get the students in to buy food and overpriced pishwater. They'll be betting on their phones. |
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Didn't the third day used to be a Saturday ?
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I only remember it as Wednesday - Friday but possibly in the 60's/70's. Wed - Sat is a terrible idea as the racing would have to be switched to ITV4 on the Sat due to clash with the 6 Nations rugby. Won't happen. BHA need to lay down the law here. Racecourses far too much power.
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It was Tuesday to Thursday until about 20 years ago.
Strangely the 1964 Gold Cup……Arkle v Mill House was run on a Saturday. |
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Quite incredible that in 1964 the bbc requested the fixture to be Thursday Friday Saturday so they could show arkle v mill house the racecourse delivered there request.
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I don’t remember Wednesday to Friday coneygree only Tuesday to Thursday.
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I really do hope it stays Tuesday to Friday as at the moment 75% of the fixture is a pleasant experience if they went Wednesday Saturday then only 50% would be pleasant
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Saturday,Uttoxeter National clash,they wont be happy.
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No they won’t Penzance and rightly so kempton also has races that day for horses who didn’t get in at Cheltenham although that’s no history or tradition behind it.
From a tv point of view competing with the 6 nations is futile l |
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They can't squeeze enough out of the meeting.
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Sounds like a good idea to me.
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Absolutely Penzance which surprises me because I can’t see a full house on Saturday with much less hospitality having a bigger all round turnover than the Tuesday .
From my point of view the only plus is a better journey home Saturday |
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Yes I remember watching Mill House v Arkle on what must have been a Sat as otherwise I doubt I would have had an excuse to bunk off school.
Actually I think in that case the racecourse were right to give in to the BBC but I might be biased of course  |
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they need it banged out all 4 days
not 40k on a weds ie day 2 |
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Not sure which days it took place on when it first started, but 1964 the only Saturday in more recent times.
It wouldn't bother me which day it was on. It's more of a question for those who still attend. The Derby moved to a Saturday so it's probably a surprise the Festival has stayed in place for so long. Never understood the fuss over the Six Nations. |
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"We can't be traditional forever"
No, and when you diluted it by stretching it out over 4 days, adding meaningless races which left trainers with too many options, ya royally f4ck3d it up. With the prospect of less NH horses entering the scene (Blakey has expressed his concerns recently) in years to come, we'll see how the 4 day regime pans out be it Tues/Fri or the ground-breaking weds/Sat. good luck. |
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Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday would be more welcome tbh…..imo….
Fodder cash always in their thoughts…. |
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saturday gold cup ? great idea . i mean, look how well it went for the derby . hmmm......
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If they do change it then have all the Handicaps on A Saturday and and just have 6 top grade races a day on the other three.
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Probably the Gold cup should be run at
UTTOXER After the Midlands Grand NATIONAL |
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How many on here actually go to Festival ? Normally lots of negativity and excuses why you wouldn’t bother as it’s the worst place in world.
Not big issue if they move Weds - Sat to be honest as long as they keep reduced crowd sizes as they are. I’ll be there all week as long as I can. |
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What's the upside meant to be? GC day is the one that there's no problems filling anyway.
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what a poor idea, look what happened to attendances at the Derby when they moved it from a wednesday to the saturday.
should move the festival back to the 3 days on tue, wed and thur |
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Most of the reasons why the festival appears to be in decline can't be easily reversed. WM domination, nope. Overkill, nope. It won't be slimmed down and there won't be less racing on the telly.
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Most purists would prefer it revert to a better quality 3 day meeting.
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won't happen. perhaps something radical like 7 day final decs for graded races. at least would allow for proper previews. trainers and jockeys would hate it obs
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Met the Lavendar guy Wednesday
His all new proposals ALL relate to the NEW punters(on phone) ergo-Club 18-30 MOB Anyone over 35 is NOT considered worth talking too  |
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Shambolic starting procedures.
Artificial round preparation. False going reports. Inflated over-rounds. Multiple single horse entries. Handicap system from two different countries. Highly dubious SP system. The gentle art of deception .... Lets start addressing the real reasons for once. |
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Excellent post Nocturnal
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Yes, good reminder, getting the starts right should be the top priority for any changes. Not heard anything on how that is going to be achieved.
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How did it go when the Derby was moved .? Disastrous. Why would this be any different?
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Exactly Nocturnal , the multiple entries fiasco is worse every year , force them to choose and pay big bucks for a supplementation .
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If they do change it then have all the Handicaps on A Saturday and and just have 6 top grade races a day on the other three.
This is 100% correct. They tell us that we all want the extra handicaps so what could be better than putting them all on the Saturday. Be a proper 3 days of racing Wed-Fri then. |
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Should revert back to 3 days only, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
And move back the Derby to midweek. |