In the long-forgotten time, about 30 years or so ago, when the Cheltenham festival was a three-day get‑together for country types, no one gave much thought to attendance figures, the price of beer or maximising the customer experience. It was a coming together of the National Hunt clans, much anticipated and hugely enjoyed but not, in the grand scheme, an event with a story to tell about the overall health of the sport.
But not any more. The state of the Cheltenham festival is a key indicator of the state of the racing nation as a whole, and perhaps more so than ever this year, as the sport heads to Gloucestershire rudderless after Charles Allen, who took over as chair of the British Horseracing Authority just six months ago, turned out to be a temporary hire. There is even talk of a schism in the dysfunctional racing family as the showpiece tracks, and that includes Cheltenham, demand change “to ensure that significant views from key racecourses can influence outcomes”.
