Ludicrous hotel prices have been cited as a reason for attendances falling at the Cheltenham Festival over the past three years.
A record 280,627 were at the racecourse over the four days in March 2022, the first year crowds were allowed back in after Covid.
But that was down to 218,839 last year, with some hotels reportedly increasing their rates by more than 1,000 per cent to cash in, leaving would-be punters understandably reluctant.
The Jockey Club subsequently partnered with Venatour Racing, a horseracing travel company based not far from Cheltenham, to launch Room To Race last year in an attempt to deal with the issue.
The initiative helps secure large quantities of rooms in Cheltenham and surrounding towns at discount rates, to be packaged with tickets to the Festival and travel to help make the event more affordable.
While Room To Race got off to a good start last year, Guy Lavender, Chief Executive of Cheltenham Racecourse, has revealed that there has been an explosion in demand for this month’s Festival with ‘six times as many rooms sold’.
High hotel prices have been cited as a reason for attendances falling at Cheltenham Festival
‘We’re definitely seeing a shift in accommodation providers wanting to work with us to ensure there are affordable options to help people come to The Festival,’ he added.
‘It’s not perfect and there are still hotel operators who are charging silly prices, but in the round we are seeing a re-balancing.’
Russia await IOC verdict on Iran attacks
Russia will be looking to see how the IOC react to the Donald Trump-led military action against Iran on Saturday.
In 2022, shortly after the Beijing Winter Games, Russia launched their full scale invasion of Ukraine. The IOC tried to use this breach of the ancient and symbolic Olympic Truce for the reason why the Russian Olympic Committee and their athletes were subsequently banned from participation in Olympic sanctioned events.
With the USA hosting upcoming Summer and Winter Olympics, it will be interesting to see how the prickly Kirsty Coventry deals with Donald Trump on this apparent latest breach of the Truce.
Harry Redknapp’s act of generosity
When Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was sacked last month, 78-year-old Harry Redknapp was linked with a return to north London on an interim basis. However, horseracing fans will know that you’re more likely to see him in the paddock rather than the dugout these days, meaning that 3pm kick-offs on a Saturday are almost always out of the question.
Despite the above, Redknapp has season tickets at Bournemouth, close to his Sandbanks home, and ensures his seats never go to waste.
Speaking at racehorse trainer Ben Pauling’s yard in the Cotswolds, where his Gold Cup contender The Jukebox Man is based, Redknapp explained: ‘I’ve got four season tickets that I pay for. I never ask anyone for them – I buy them myself every year and if I’m going racing or I can’t go then I give them to whoever wants to go.
‘I was chatting to a bloke the other day in Marks and Spencer, a lovely man who had just lost his wife and he’d been a West Ham fan all his life. He’d moved down to Bournemouth 20 years ago so I asked him if he was going to the game the next day to watch West Ham at Bournemouth.
‘He said “no I can’t get a ticket, Harry, but I’d love to go”, so I said “Do you wanna go?” and I gave him my season ticket. He loved it. He was so grateful – I’d never met him before.
‘He said “how will I get it back to you?” and I said there’s my phone number, just give me a ring when you’re done and I’ll meet you for a coffee one day.’
Harry Redknapp gave a grieving gentleman tickets to watch West Ham’s trip to Bournemouth
The stranger, who Redknapp met in Marks and Spencer, saw his West Ham earn a 2-2 draw
Are the EFL play-offs set to be expanded?
The annual EFL Club meeting takes place at the Belfry this week but there will be little time for golf.
Fresh from his appearance at the Premier League’s stakeholder meeting Independent Football Regulator chair David Kogan will discuss the year ahead while clubs will vote on extending the play-offs in the Championship from four to six teams.
Sheffield Wednesday pay one of their debts
An anonymous Sheffield Wednesday fan, who lent the club a cool £1m in its hour of need when administrators were called in last year, has been repaid.
The generous Owl, who did not wish to be identified, made the interest-free gesture to ensure the club could continue in the wake of Dejphon Chansiri’s departure until a new owner could be found.
While a takeover collapsed last week, the fan was repaid in January, with administrators securing enough funds to see them through until the end of the season.
