cheltenham | accessibility
Although blind since birth, PETER FREEMAN hasn’t let his disability stop him from enjoying a 60-year love affair with Cheltenham DECADES OF DEVOTION
A Racecourse since visiting as a 19-year-old with his family. Peter, who has been blind since birth, has always had a strong passion for racing. He turns 80 in the summer of 2020 and he took time to talk us through his experience as a racegoer at Cheltenham for over six decades. Cheltenham is an important part of Peter’s life, and as he reminisced over his Festival highlights, he told of unforgettable moments such as the 1961 Cheltenham Gold Cup when his hero Fred Winter completed the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double – hailing it one of the most brilliantly ridden Gold Cups of all time. He was there for the famous Arkle and Mill House clash and, of course, when Sprinter Sacre came back to win the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2016. “Cheltenham is something that is in your heart,” he says. “You cannot get rid of it. It draws you there each day. “Cheltenham has grown hugely in every way since when I first started to come racing. The racecourse has expanded in a number of ways, from the racing, to the television figures, the crowds but most of all the accessibility of the course from a disabled person’s point of view. This is vastly improved.” In Peter’s early visits to Cheltenham, he used to racegoer for almost 60 years, Peter Freeman has been a regular to Cheltenham
come alongside his mother, who spent her final visit to Cheltenham in a wheelchair. She directed Peter around the course while he pushed her through the enclosures. “Of course, that would not be possible nowadays with the sheer volume of people and how big Cheltenham has become. The racecourse has been so good at adapting. Now there are many more slopes and lifts which has made it so much more accessible for wheelchair users as well as blind racegoers like myself.” These days, Peter loves to come racing with his grandson, who shares his passion for the sport. “The family days are fantastic and a great initiative for getting young children involved in racing,” he explains. “My grandson comes along in his JP McManus colours and loves it.” In order to ensure he gets the most out of his day at the races, Peter uses Cheltenham Radio. “In my opinion, this is one of the greatest additions Cheltenham has brought in for racegoers. Not only for me as a blind racegoer, but for everyone.” Cheltenham Radio gives in depth analysis of the racing commentary, as well as discussing all the other events going on throughout the course on that day and exclusive interviews. Cheltenham Racecourse introduced Radar Key toilets into the facilities and these have been in use since 2000. Peter explained that this has been a huge benefit to disabled people, as they have facilities that are easily accessible for them. “It is much nicer to be able to use a facility that you can be by yourself in, and not have to worry about finding your way around.” Parking at any major sporting event can often cause concern for a number of racegoers. At Cheltenham Racecourse disabled car parking is spacious and located by the Steam Train station. A
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