Cheltenham 2009 Weds – Sat?

[Katchit]

I’ve heard that next year the Festival will be over 4 days from Weds through until Saturday with a change to running order so that the CH is on Thursday and QMCC on Wednesday – Gold Cup being Saturday

Is this common knowledge (hence no mention of it) or am I being misinformed?

[Ten Plus]

Hope it’s true – would love to beable to see the big races live on the Saturday!

[Friggo]

I’d probably like to see that. It’s been claimed that 2,000,000 watched the Gold Cup on Friday, imagine what the figures would have been on a Saturday! I don’t imagine officials at Uttoxeter (or Lingfield for that matter) would share that enthusiasm though.

[thejackal]

Its a tricky one – atleast the majority of us racing fans would not have to worry about work for the day and get to enjoy the race

I’m not sure if moving a race to a Saturday actually adds to the attention it receives – do you think the derby has benefited greatly from being moved?

The main problem I see is that that Saturday always clashes with the six nations and this takes up many column inches especially when its a title decider. The great aspect of a midweek festival is that it doesnt have a sporting rival – particularly in Ireland

I would almost suggesting moving it from Thursday to Sunday if they were going to move it to a weekend as I believe the Gold Cup would be the main attraction on a Sunday – it would also mean a packed house on the world hurdle day (like it or not perhaps)

Not sure what the sense would be in moving the Champion Chase to the first day? Do you know why this might be?

[Neil Watson]

At a pinch they could move the timing of the race to between 4-5 pm as im sure C4 could go without an episode of Deal or No Beard and they could get more of an audience

If the Gold Cup was on a Saturday then Uttoxeter would move to Sunday.

[PAULCS]

You get a load of drunk morons at Cheltenham on the Friday these days so they may as well switch it to the Sat.

And it would take up 1 less day of our annual holiday entitlements!

Is it good for the sport that most youngsters don’t get to see a Gold Cup live on TV or in the flesh until they are at least 16?

I can remember seeing Nortons Coin & Jodami win but nothing else until Best Mate’s 2nd win because of school…

[% MAN]

I’m not sure where this rumour has come from but I would suggest it only is a rumour.

None of my contacts are admitting either on or off the record that a change of days is being considered.

I would also suggest if such a mover were to happen it wouldn’t be implemented umil 2010 at the earliest, based on the simple expediency that hotels in Cheltenham are already taking bookings based on a Tuesday – Friday Festival.

Edward Gillespie is on record as saying meeting start times will be looked at, with a view to a possible earlier start time each day. The running order may be reviewed as well. This is part of the usual post-meeting analysis.

I am not sure what benefits would be achieved by moving the Festival. The Gold Cup already has sufficient exposure, it is already a sell out on course.

As has already been pointed out there would be strong objections from both Uttoxeter and Lingfield – I very much doubt if C4 would televise a second or third meeting alongside the Festival and knock-on of rearranging the racing calendar would be immense. Even putting Uttoxeter and Lingfield back a day would cause problems a) it is pretty certain they would lose the terrestrial TV coverage and b) the courses currently racing on the Sunday would not be too happy either.

Thejackal also has a very valid point about the rugby – clashing with a six nations decider would impact the viewing figures.

Look at the problems when The Derby clashed with an England football game and look at the stupid situation where the Grand National is now run at 4:15 to appease the TV planners.

The Festival works pretty well as it is now – if it ain’t broke don’t touch it.

[clivex]

Agree. Very unlikely that it is going to happen next year…if at all

Im marginally against it. There is something special about enjoying the festival when it is a day off work. Makes it different to just another Saturday

Nothing against change. I was open minded about four days and now strongly in favour.

[Ten Plus]

I can’t have a day off work … us teachers who are racing fans would love to have the opportunity to go or at least see some of the Festival "live" – I do admit to setting up a TV for my class to cheer on Dessie!!! (tho’ it was tinged with sadness when my namesake broke a fetlock) …

[runandskip]

i will be amazed if in the next five years the festival isnt run on the saturday. ch4 will be happy if it happen as they dont semm to like interupting their weekday programmes.

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