Cheltenham Racecourse and Festival
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Recommendation added: 28/03/2007 21:35
By: mirrired (YSUK rating +80)mirrired has been thanked 1 times for this contribution
"Arguably, and it arguably, many horse lovers flock to this event which is held in the middle of March every year.
Equally many horse lovers also avoid this event, especially as 13 horse were killed at this event in 2006.
However, if you want to see the best national hunt racehorses doing what they do best you need to go to the Cheltenham Festival.
There are 6 races each day of the 4 day festival. Only four of them are televised on free view channel four. If you want to catch the less popular amateur, cross-country and bumper races you will have to subscribe to Racing UK. But if you go to Cheltenham Racecourse you will see all six races, be able to see the magnificent horses in the paddock and find "the perfect spot" to watch them racing at full stretch and leaping as only they can.
As a day out on it's own without the horses, it's hard to beat the atmosphere. It's not like Derby Day or Royal Ascot.
This event is all about much older horses, that have been nurtured and looked after by their owners, trainers and "lads" for years. There is no dress code as you will be mixing with people who are really and truly horse people. So wellies, waterproofs, tweeds and pints are the order of the day!
A lot of Irish people come over for the festival, so pints of guiness flow. Many of them are taking their annual holiday, so a party atmosphere is hard to avoid. Being of Irish origin myself I feel happy to say, nobody parties like the Irish on holiday!
You can of course just go for a betting event, but I wouldn't recommend it. On the first three days this year the bookies made a killing as the red hot favourites all fell early. Well Chief and Black Jack Ketchum spring to mind. However if you follow National Hunt Racing, Kauto Star stuffed them in the Gold Cup.
It's hard to describe the excitement that is the Cheltenham Festival unless you've been there, but if you fancy it next year here are the details.
GENERAL ENQURIES
Tel 01242 513 014
Fax 01242 224 227
cheltenham@jockeyclubracecourses.com
TICKET SALES
Tel 01242 226 226
cheltenhamboxoffice@jockeyclubracecourses.com"
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