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Cheltz Fest 2021 Behind Closed Doors ?

I

IstabraqBarRegular

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A Bookmaker on ITV Racing suggested the Cheltenham Festival in March is likley to be either behind closed doors OR certainly with a hugely reduced crowd.

Any thoughts on this ?

Hotels and houses already booked ?
Still go and watch on TV ?

Cheers
 
IstabraqBarRegular said:
A Bookmaker on ITV Racing suggested the Cheltenham Festival in March is likley to be either behind closed doors OR certainly with a hugely reduced crowd.

Any thoughts on this ?

Hotels and houses already booked ?
Still go and watch on TV ?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Hotel for the week already booked and tickets are on order as soon as they come out. I'll be there.
 
Ranks with Ballyadam as, 'who the F knows'.
 
All I can say is, if the Irish horses aren't allowed over then they may as well cancel it altogether.
 
Lobos said:
All I can say is, if the Irish horses aren't allowed over then they may as well cancel it altogether.
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Interesting point there tho lobos.. small chance of it happening but it could mean there’s a bit more value in the English trained runners than first thought
 
DeeBee said:
Interesting point there tho lobos.. small chance of it happening but it could mean there’s a bit more value in the English trained runners than first thought
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If the Irish can't travel then all AP bets would clearly be void.
 
Why would there be a ban on Irish horses when there wasn’t when racing resumed in June and both UK and Ireland were in a far worse state than we are today.

The festival will go ahead with unrestricted travel on horses, authorities are working hard on getting punters back on the racecourse and I’m sure trials will start up in the next few weeks and I’m also convinced the only thing stopping punters from attending the festival would be a local lockdown in the region.
I doubt very much 70,000 people will be allowed to attend but a reduced capacity of e.g 15,000-20,000 could be accommodated with no greater risk than a trip to your local Sainsburys or pub.

If I’m wrong, and the festival takes place behind closed doors, there will be far bigger and wider reaching economic issues for everyone and the festival will be insignificant to the masses...
 
Istabraq said:
Why would there be a ban on Irish horses when there wasn’t when racing resumed in June and both UK and Ireland were in a far worse state than we are today.

The festival will go ahead with unrestricted travel on horses, authorities are working hard on getting punters back on the racecourse and I’m sure trials will start up in the next few weeks and I’m also convinced the only thing stopping punters from attending the festival would be a local lockdown in the region.
I doubt very much 70,000 people will be allowed to attend but a reduced capacity of e.g 15,000-20,000 could be accommodated with no greater risk than a trip to your local Sainsburys or pub.

If I’m wrong, and the festival takes place behind closed doors, there will be far bigger and wider reaching economic issues for everyone and the festival will be insignificant to the masses...
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Totally agree. If racing goes the way football is likely to go i.e. 30% capacity, then your numbers are about right. 7000 annual members leaving 13000 on public sale. Let's hope the touts don't get them all !
 
Istabraq said:
Why would there be a ban on Irish horses when there wasn’t when racing resumed in June and both UK and Ireland were in a far worse state than we are today.

The festival will go ahead with unrestricted travel on horses, authorities are working hard on getting punters back on the racecourse and I’m sure trials will start up in the next few weeks and I’m also convinced the only thing stopping punters from attending the festival would be a local lockdown in the region.
I doubt very much 70,000 people will be allowed to attend but a reduced capacity of e.g 15,000-20,000 could be accommodated with no greater risk than a trip to your local Sainsburys or pub.

If I’m wrong, and the festival takes place behind closed doors, there will be far bigger and wider reaching economic issues for everyone and the festival will be insignificant to the masses...
Click to expand...

I’m pretty sure Istabraq is right here. Personally, as it stands right now, I’d be very confident the festival will be going ahead with all Irish horses allowed to travel and participate.

However, I wouldn’t be confident anyone bar Cheltenham members would be allowed in, if as it stands as we are right now.

Festival to take place with full compliment of UK and Irish runners? I’d be be fairly confident.

Festival to take place with anything over 5,000 people, of which only members would be those? Not so sure
 
If they're insured like Wimbledon and the British Open Golf.
And there are restrictions in place like mentioned.

They'll just fucking cancel it for a year.
And take the money for doing nothing.
 
I don't think I'll be going next year.

Better on TV isn't it, I love to know what the social stable is up to and I miss that on course.
 
Kevloaf said:
I don't think I'll be going next year.

Better on TV isn't it, I love to know what the social stable is up to and I miss that on course.
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You are kidding me right ??!! Sacrilege.
 
Lobos said:
Not if you get in early.
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Earliest price club tickets were £72 I think last year Tue, Wed and Thur, Fri may well have been £75, so minimum cost £293 plus fees.
From memory these prices were available until April then went up so anyone missing the first price will have seen daily ticket prices rise to £75/£80.
Appreciate these are club ticket prices but membership gives you the same access to club.
 
I just got my Annual Renewal email for Cheltenham members badge for the season.

The full paperwork is in the post to me, but early signs are they plan to charge full price on membership and refund back to us each time we can't attend a meeting because we're not permitted on track.

Its probably all they can do at the moment to:-

A) Get all the members renewal money
B) Show them how they will pay it back if there is no racing to watch, on a meeting by meeting basis.
 
Istabraq said:
Earliest price club tickets were £72 I think last year Tue, Wed and Thur, Fri may well have been £75, so minimum cost £293 plus fees.
From memory these prices were available until April then went up so anyone missing the first price will have seen daily ticket prices rise to £75/£80.
Appreciate these are club ticket prices but membership gives you the same access to club.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'm a Best Mate man so paid £150 for all 4 days this year. See what you mean now. Yes, I can see loads getting Annual membership. Think I'll go that route.
 
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