Let The Race Begin For those of us who know, The Hall of Fame Sprint, is the true opening event of each day of the Festival™. Anyone suggesting you have to wait until 1.30pm and the Skybet Supreme Novices Hurdle, has never heard the roar of our Annual Members that bravely tackle the varied terrain across Level 3 on their way to the prized seats in the Insurance Bar and beyond. There are no jumps as such, but there is a wide array of varied obstacles along the route. Those poseur tables can cause more incidents than any of the Glenfarclas Cross Country chase fences. That said, with no jumps, it’s a bumper, in the true sense of the word. As perilous as the sprint can be, for hundreds of our most loyal customers, it is a race worth competing in and it sums up the huge excitement, and of course the massive desire to watch the greatest race meeting on earth from most privileged of positions. I’ll let you into a secret. The racecourse staff, many of whom are naturally racing fans, try and do the same. I’ve often looked up in the gods of the grandstand and wondered why XYZ from the Hospitality Sales Team is standing right up there with a perfect view across the finish line as the commentator reaches crescendo. It’s a perk of the job. That said. being called to deal with a security issue in the car park at 3.25pm on Gold Cup Day is a cause for real concern. These sort of matters need dealing with very quickly, for all sorts of reasons. A point I would like to make is that the occasion is as equally exciting for our racecourse team as it is for those lining up at the turnstiles. As important as every race meeting is, these four days are what the year is about. Whilst most attendees will view success by the balance between winning and losing bets, for us it goes way beyond that. We will judge ourselves on the enjoyment our racegoers, and in particular our Annual Members have whilst soaking up the incredible atmosphere The Festival™. For those of you lining up in the Hall of Fame Sprint, best of luck. The good news is, if you lose out on Tuesday, unlike those stragglers down the field on the track, you can line up again at the start on Wednesday.
You would think it would go without saying that the residents of the Cheltenham Town would have an affinity with the trophy, and be proud of the fact that one of the greatest races on Earth has been run and won on your doorstep nearly every year since 1924. Judging by the interest being shown in the inaugural Boodles Gold Cup Community Tour, you would be absolutely correct. Literally everyone wants to get up close and personal with the Cup and putting the itinerary together ended up in the necessity to hold a ballot. Andre Klein, Cheltenham Racecourse’s Community Engagement Manager, once stood on the top of Mt Cook in New Zealand, with the Melbourne Cup trophy in the company of legendary jockey, Greg Hall who won the Australian showpiece in 1992 . Whilst the Cheltenham Gold Cup Community tour isn’t heading to those sort of heights (it might go up Cleeve Hill) the objectives of the exercise remain the same. “We want people to build an association with the Gold Cup at a different kind of level. It means so much more to people if they can see it up close and even lift it up. It’s an honour usually restricted to the race winners so in a way it is a massive privilege. I love the idea of chefs at a local pub or classes of school children lining up to have their picture taken with it. It is a memory that will last with them forever. It is the town of Cheltenham’s Gold Cup after all and the people of the town should enjoy it more than anyone!” The Boodles Gold Cup Community Tour will be become an annual event. If you wish to be part of the tour in 2023, please don’t hesitate to ask. You may have to join a long list of hopefuls in the race to secure some time in its company though!
Andre Klein On behalf of the Cheltenham Team
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