The Cheltenham Festival is the Olympics of the horseracing calendar. The £2.7 million prize money is up there with the Grand National, half of Ireland flocks there, the best horses in the nation run and fortunes are made (I’m still in denial about the losing money part).
Owning a racehorse is an exciting world, and you’d be mad not to want to be a part of it. But at £18,000 a year in training and up keep, a syndicate is a brilliant way to start out. We were lucky enough spend the day with BetfairClub ROA, a horse ownership club for 18-32 year olds in March 2008.
At 9.30 AM and I’m sat on a minibus travelling through Gloucestershire on a surprisingly sunny morning (yesterday, the races were cancelled due to storms and such). To my left are four budding race horse moguls, young chaps in their twenties dressed in navy pinstripes and Patek Phillipes. “To your right is Kate Winslet’s house” points out our temporary tour guide, Tom Gittins, Manager of BetfairClub ROA (Race Horse Ownership Association). We’re on our way to the Cheltenham Festival, today is Ladies Day, and there are 10 races to fit in before sundown.
The day started out at the Westcote Inn in the Costswolds. The traditional English pub meets boutique hotel was full to the brim with members of Betfair ROA as we all piled into the restaurant for a full English breakfast and coffee. “Don’t start the morning without a breakfast here. They’re to die for” advised the guy sat opposite me. For anyone partying the night before (that would be pretty much everyone), delicious smoked farm house bacon, free range eggs, sautéed potatoes and organic tomatoes were welcome recovery food. Not long after, we left to catch the minibus to Cheltenham.
“Sarah, I’m thinking about renaming my racehorse to Money Pit. We’ve poured so much money into her… vets, physiotherapists, travel, you name it, and she hasn’t won a bloody race yet.” Hearing this, I ask if the chap speaking, is a member of the club. “No, but I could have done with Tom’s advice a couple of years ago!”. The savvy bus driver decided to ditch the motorway for the back route of village roads and playing fields. We pass a home made sign offering “Parking for only £2.00” in the garden of a 1930’s mock-Tudor fronted house. For those that haven’t visited the Race Course, there’s an easy way to tell if you’re getting nearer, the makeshift car park prices skyrocket. £2.00 for parking meant we were miles away. Soon, £25.00 signs start to appear. We’ve arrived.
The Cheltenham Festival attracts tens of thousands of race-goers every year. Established in 1902, the Festival was traditionally held over three days until recently. It is now the highlight of the National Hunt Season, and the racecourse in Prestbury, Cheltenham hosts the Open in November. The season runs from mid October to April. The world of National Hunt (jump racing) can be broken into hurdle races and steeple chases.
In a steeplechase, the fences are 4 feet, 6 inches high. It’s tougher and more challenging than hurdle races, where the obstacles are smaller and softer, allowing for the horses to clear them easier.
Through a sea of tweed and fur hats, Tom lead us down to the chalets with 2 hours to spare before the first race. The weather thankfully held up, and we are all looking forward to entering the warmth of the chalet for the champagne reception. Perfectly set tables are assembled around the television screen, ready for the 12.30 steeple chase challenge cup. At this point, we were sure to obtain a racecard. This was probably the best investment of the day. It details every race, horse and background to make a bet on.
There’s a cool mix of people around the table, all vying to get betting tips from the Tom, whom has a stake in Back On Line, the lightly raced 8 year old who has won 3 of her 4 starts over fences in the Uttoexeter Handicap the previous month. Thankfully everyone put their money on Back On Line, as she came in 3rd on an 8/1. James, 21 has been a member for 2 years: “Owning a horse is something I’ve always wanted to do. For my 19th birthday, my parents bought me membership, then my friends got involved and come we all go to the big events. I can’t wait for Royal Ascot!”. There are quite a few familiar faces around the room, most of all are regulars at Boujis and Mahiki, with the added difference of their racecourse badges dangling from their lapels. The racecourse badges are status symbols in any major racing event, that and bringing your own field-glasses (prefereably inherited, with racecourse badges tied to the straps). One gentlemen remarked “I don’t know why they must have so many badges – one gets you into everywhere!” Having said that, his own was for the “Jockey Club”.... Continued on Page 2
Roll on to Page Two: Key Races, What to Wear, Racecard 101, Placing Bets and More
