Horse Racing Heaven
Spring is a beautiful season, the trees begin to bear leaf, the birds start to sing and there is a general sense of renewal in the air that can bring a smile to the grimmest of faces. What I most love about this time of year however is the four unparalleled days of excitement taking place in the South West of England: the Cheltenham Festival! I have gone every year with my sister, ever since her intial interest in Locum vet jobs.
The Sport of Kings has two distinct varieties: flat racing and jump racing. Flat racing aficionados love the Royal Ascot Festival but to my mind the jewel in the crown of the jump season, that incredible week, at Cheltenham is the one truly unmissable sporting occasion of the year.
A quarter of a million people will be milling around this corner of the Gloucestershire downs over the four days, unfortunately I won’t be one of them this year but I will be watching avidly at home with a form guide within easy reach. Unlike its more formal cousin Royal Ascot, all top hats and pimms, there is a much more down to earth atmosphere at Cheltenham, and it is all the better for it.
Guinness is the drink of choice at the Festival, an astonishing 220,000 pints will be supped at the numerous course side drinking establishments. One of the main contributing factors to this Guinness frenzy of course, is the Irish invasion that takes place. Tens of thousands of punters will cross the Irish sea for their annual pilgrimage to horse racing heaven, and every Irish winner will be cheered on with deafening appreciation. St Patrick’s Day also falls during the festival this year and so the party atmosphere will be ratcheted up one more notch, if that’s possible!
The sheer quality of racing on show is the main attraction for the racing purist, and this year does not disappoint on that score. All roads are leading to Friday, and the showpiece race The Cheltenham Gold Cup. Hot favourite Kauto Star is looking to emulate racing legend Arkle by winning the race for a fourth time, but it will face stiff opposition from stablemate Denman, winner of the Gold Cup himself in 2008. My advice to everyone out there is take some time off of work, get the drinks in and treat yourself to four days watching the Cheltenhma Festival – just don’t blame me if you lose the shirt off your back!