What a difference a year makes as Cheltenham is held without crowds
What a difference a year makes at Cheltenham: Horse racing festival is held without crowds – a year after 250,000 fans packed into sporting spectacle just days before lockdown
- The four-day horse racing spectacle in Gloucestershire is taking place behind closed doors for the first time
- Pictures show empty spectator stands, abandoned car parks and deserted fields which are usually bustling
- Some of the stands have this year been covered with sponsors’ flags to prevent the stands looking so empty
- Last year, organisers were slammed for allowing event to go ahead despite fears of growing Covid outbreak
Eerie pictures of empty stands and deserted crowd enclosures show the stark reality of Covid restrictions on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The four-day horse racing spectacle in Gloucestershire – which attracted 251,684 fans last year – is taking place behind closed doors for the first time in its 161-year history.
Drone pictures show empty spectator stands, abandoned car parks and deserted fields which are usually bustling with racegoers.
Some of the stands have this year been covered with sponsors’ flags to avoid the stands looking so empty. British racehorse trainer Nicky Henderson admitted this year’s festival ‘will be weird’ and ‘won’t have an atmosphere’.
But he said it will still be a ‘fantastic spectacle of the highest quality’ with the ‘best horses in the country and the best jockeys’ battling for victory.
Meanwhile fans are marking the occasion from home, with many still opting to dress in the traditional tweed and elaborate hats synonymous with the races.
Last year, organisers were slammed for allowing the famous festival to go ahead despite fears of a growing Covid outbreak and lockdown being enforced just two weeks later.
The event this week will also seek to draw a line under cruelty allegations levelled against the sport after shocking pictures emerged of Irish trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse.
The four-day horse racing spectacle in Gloucestershire – which attracted 251,684 fans last year (left) – is taking place behind closed doors (right) for the first time in its 161-year history
Eerie pictures of empty stands and deserted crowd enclosures show the stark reality of Covid restrictions on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival
Left: 2020’s festival, which was blamed for a surge in Covid cases. Right: This year’s quiet event held behind closed doors
British racehorse trainer Nicky Henderson admitted this year’s festival ‘will be weird’ and ‘won’t have an atmosphere’
Left: Crowds welcome the jockeys into the arena last year. Right: A deserted entrance awaits riders for this year’s festival
Drone pictures show empty spectator stands, abandoned car parks and deserted fields which are usually bustling with racegoers
Handrails are cleaned ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival by a member of staff as few will cross the threshold this week
This year, due to coronavirus, only a few hundred will be allowed to Cheltenham, including jockeys, trainers, officials and limited media. Despite the lack of crowds, the horses and riders still hope to make history.
To compensate for the absence of spectators and race horse owners, Cheltenham organisers will reportedly have ‘fake sound’ on loudspeakers in a bid to create atmosphere at the opening day.
For those who are allowed inside the racecourse today, the town is out of bounds. Meanwhile the grounds have separate areas for British and Irish jockeys, trainers and horses, with mingling forbidden and alcohol banned.
Victory for the unbeaten mare Honeysuckle would earn Rachael Blackmore a place in folklore as the first woman to ride the Champion Hurdle winner.
Her rivals include last year’s victor Epatante and the beaten Triumph Hurdle favourite Goshen.
A Cheltenham spokesman said: ‘Based on current Government restrictions, professional sport is able to continue under stringent health and safety protocols, without spectators present.
‘In horseracing’s case, this is vital to support the livelihoods of the many thousands of people who rely on the industry and for the welfare of the thousands of thoroughbred racehorses who live and train in Britain.
‘This means that under current restrictions, The Festival will take place as a televised event, but sadly without spectators at the course.’
They added: ‘It’s a real shame for the local economy and for racing fans that it’s not possible for spectators to attend this year.
‘However, just as last year when the festival went ahead in accordance with government advice that it should do so, we continue to respect and adhere to the nationwide restrictions in place.’
Left: Crowds pack out the stands at the world-famous festival. Right: This year’s stands lie empty due to Covid restrictions
This year, due to coronavirus, only a few hundred will be allowed to Cheltenham, including jockeys, trainers, officials and limited media. Despite the lack of crowds, the horses and riders still hope to make history
A Cheltenham spokesman said: ‘Based on current Government restrictions, professional sport is able to continue under stringent health and safety protocols, without spectators present’
The spokesman said: ‘In horseracing’s case, this is vital to support the livelihoods of the many thousands of people who rely on the industry and for the welfare of the thousands of thoroughbred racehorses who live and train in Britain’
The spokesman continued: ‘This means that under current restrictions, The Festival will take place as a televised event, but sadly without spectators at the course’
Only trainers, riders and some members of the press were allowed into the festival this year, with one being interviewed at pole’s length
Left: Racehorse trainer Willie Mullins on the gallops ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Right: A trophy on offer at the festival
British racehorse trainer Mr Henderson told the Today programme: ‘It’s going to be very very different, it’ll be weird from our own point of view.
‘While everybody’s in a fairly downbeat mood, it’s all televised, it’s all watched and has a huge following, there is the fact that racing can still be followed and watched.’
Asked whether you need fans to make a festival atmosphere, he said: ‘Well of course you do, but we’ve also got to provide a spectacle for ITV.
‘The fact that we can provide a fantastic spectacle of the highest quality, the best horses in the country, the best jockeys, this is the pinnacle of racing.
‘It’s not going to be the same, it won’t have an atmosphere, you know it’s a pilgrimage, it’s a pilgrimage from Ireland, they can’t come.’
Fans are this year marking the occasion from home, but many still opted to dress in traditional tweed and elaborate hats synonymous with the races.
Several got into the spirit early, with one fan pouring herself a gin and tonic before 10am and another tucking into a pint of lager mid-morning.
Others shared photos of themselves pouring over betting tips in the papers, while one fan went all out, transforming his living room into a miniature race course, complete with a wooden bench set up in front of his TV.
Empty benches overlook the racetrack ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire today
A general view from above shows Cheltenham Racecourse from Cleeve Hill ahead of Day One of the Cheltenham Festival
A sign is seen outside the course displaying that the meeting is being held behind closed doors prior to Day One of the event today
The statue of Sir Tony McCoy is seen inside the course as coronavirus prevention messages are displayed on the big screen today
One fan went all out, transforming his living room into a miniature race course, complete with a wooden bench set up in front of his TV
Several got into the spirit early, with one fan pouring herself a gin and tonic before 10am
How times change! A group of friends shared a snap from their celebrations last year (left) compared with their virtual gathering this year (right)
Alan Furley shared this snap of him working from home while geared up for Cheltenham – complete with a tweed jacket and a fine floral filly
Last year’s event came amid growing fears of the coronavirus and took place just two weeks before Britain was slammed into lockdown on March 23.
Dozens of celebrities and royals along with hundreds more racegoers were at risk of catching the virus as it started to spread across the UK.
Camilla’s ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles was thought to have caught it there, as was comedian Lee Mack and footballer Charlie Austin.
Fans were packed into the stands at the world-famous festival with no protection despite fears over the spread of the virus.
There were also concerns for members of the Royal Family, with Brigadier Parker Bowles in close contact over two days he spent at the event with Camilla, Princess Anne, her daughter Zara Tindall and son-in-law Mike Tindall.
Prince Charles tested positive for the virus last March, but fortunately had ‘very mild symptoms’ and soon recovered.
At the time there was huge debate over whether it should have been cancelled, with MailOnline’s Piers Morgan saying he was ‘astonished’ it went ahead, and ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt claiming the Government imposed the lockdown ‘too late’.
Dozens of other sports events had already been cancelled due to the pandemic. These included Premier League matches, England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka and F1 races – all called off on March 13, the last day of Cheltenham.
But organisers The Jockey Club insisted the festival ‘went ahead under Government guidance’. It finished three days before mass gatherings were banned.
Empty stairwells cut a dramatic picture ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival when normally they would be packed full of punters
Empty bookmaker stalls ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse as it kicks off this week in Gloucestershire
British racehorse trainer Mr Henderson told the Today programme: ‘It’s going to be very very different, it’ll be weird from our own point of view. Pictured: Willie Mullins trained horses on the gallops today
Mr Henderson said: ‘While everybody’s in a fairly downbeat mood, it’s all televised, it’s all watched and has a huge following, there is the fact that racing can still be followed and watched.’ Pictured: Concertista on the gallops today
Willie Mullins horses on the gallops at Cheltenham Racecourse ahead of day one of the annual festival in Gloucestershire today
Robbie Power with trainer Henry de Bromhead and horse Aspire Tower ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire
Willie Mullins trained horses on the gallops ahead of day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire
Jockeys Aidan Coleman, Richard Johnson, Bryony Frost and Nico de Boinville (left-right) are pictured socially distanced ahead of day one of the Cheltenham
A general view shows the deserted streets of Cheltenham city centre where pubs and restaurants remain closed but would normally be packed this week
Cheltenham train station also cut a miserable site this morning without the usual stream of well-dressed punters heading for the racecourse
A general view shows the deserted streets of Cheltenham city centre where pubs and restaurants remain closed despite the festival
The festival has been overshadowed in recent weeks after pictures emerged showing Irish trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse.
He got a 12-month ban from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board but six months was suspended. He was also fined €15,000 (£13,000).
In a strongly worded statement, the referrals committee of the IHRB said Elliott’s actions had ‘damaged the reputation of the Irish racing industry and the thoroughbred industry’.
They added that his actions had shown a ‘complete lack of respect for the horse’. The IHRB accepted the three-time Grand National-winning trainer felt ‘genuine remorse’ for the incident, that he accepted his actions had offended many people and that what he had done was ‘wrong and indefensible’.
The IHRB referrals committee, who said their organisation had received an avalanche of complaints, concluded: ‘We consider a suspension of Mr Elliott’s training licence is merited.
‘To reflect the seriousness of the offence and the damage to the Irish racing industry, to deter other offences of this nature and, having taken into account the mitigating factors we have heard, we consider the period should be 12 months.
‘However the last six months of this will be suspended. The committee also notes that Mr Elliott has stated to the committee that he will not attend a race meeting or a point-to-point for six months and we accept that helpful course.’
The festival has been overshadowed in recent weeks after pictures emerged showing Irish trainer Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse
He got a 12-month ban from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board but six months was suspended. He was also fined €15,000 (£13,000)
Elliott’s main backer, Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair (right), and his Gigginstown Stud, stood by Elliott after apology
There remains a question of who circulated the picture of Elliott on the dead gelding Morgan, and the IHRB noted there was a ‘sinister aspect to this case’.
Their statement added: ‘The committee are satisfied that the publication of this photograph is part of a concerted attack on Mr Elliott, the full circumstances of which are unknown.’
At the start of the month Elliott had been preparing for the Cheltenham Festival with a number of favourites in his County Meath stable.
The 43-year-old signalled he intended to return to the sport when his ban ends. A statement issued by his legal team said: ‘I accept my situation and my sanction. I was dealt with fairly.
‘I am in this situation by my own action and I am not going to dodge away from this. With my position in the sport, I have great privileges and great responsibility. I did not live up to that responsibility.
‘I am no longer the teenage boy who first rode a horse at Tony Martin’s 30 years ago. I am an adult with obligations and a position in a sport I have loved since I first saw horses race.
‘I am paying a very heavy price for my error but I have no complaints. It breaks my heart to see the hurt I have caused my colleagues, family, friends and supporters. I have a long road ahead of me but I will serve my time and then build back better.
‘I was disrespectful to a dead horse, an animal that had been a loyal servant to me and was loved by my staff. I will carry the burden of my transgressions for the rest of my career. I will never again disrespect a horse, living or dead, and I will not tolerate it in others.
‘Finally, I want to thank my owners and my staff who, despite being let down by me, have been unstinting in their support. I will vindicate their faith in me.’
Source: Read Full Article