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Love it or loathe if The Festival is soon upon us. Anybody else going? I've tickets for the Tuesday.
For a lot of folk I know who go racing regularly, The Festival is a bit of a curates egg. We enjoy the build up and the contest between horses we've watched and followed for years in some cases. But it is very crowded, expensive and the behavior of some leaves a bit to be desired shall we say! We were going to give it a miss this time but there is a chance that a horse which we are close to may run on the Tuesday and in the same way the some of you travel to the distant north every few weeks - well, you've just go to be there just in case!
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Today's programme advertises a Gold Cup Fan Zone on Friday at NMP Free entry, breakfast baps and piri piri chicken & chips. Bar open. 11.30 start, first race of the day 1.30 Got to register via the ticket page off club website. Sounds good to me.
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Sense not a lot of Festival interest on here but there is a tenuous link between our City and the incredibly talented now Gold Cup winner Rachael Blackmore. A few months ago she dropped into the St James City Farm in Tredworth to say hello and talk to some of their young riders and Jockeys. She was great; taking time to chat to the riders and volunteers. A lovely lady and brilliant Jockey.
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I went on the Thursday and came away feeling like I'd paid £65 to stand in queues all day, be that the buses, toilets, bars or food outlets. Really busy and hideously expensive at £7 a pint. Won't be rushing back in March anytime soon.
All the pubs in town also hiked their prices. The Bankhouse in C********m the week before the festival the signs outside advertised Guinness at £3.10 per pint, the week of the festival their posters had it priced at £4.45 per pint.
2yrs ago I called into Yates' for a Guinness on the way to the festival and they charged me £6.25, this was more expensive than the racecourse who were charging £5.75. Even the lady behind the bar was apologetic, saying the following week it would be £3.75 and that their computer systems dictate the till pricing.
Whole experience is one big rip off for casual racegoers.
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£10 for burger and chips. Robbers.
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It's hard to argue with you! For many it seems the Festival has become more a social occasion than a sporting one; though for those of us who follow the races year round it is incredibly special.
When folk ask, I always suggest the November meeting; always some great racing and a good atmosphere but without the excess that comes in March.
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I agree, the November meeting is a good one. Nowhere near as busy but still a good atmosphere.
