‘Toilets like a WWI latrine’ – Why racegoers are abandoning Cheltenham Festival

‘Toilets like a WWI latrine’ – Why racegoers are abandoning Cheltenham Festival

Overcrowding, expensive beer, and the exorbitant cost of attending the race are all putting off festival regulars this year

‘Toilets like a WWI latrine’ – Why are people deserting Cheltenham Festival?

Overcrowding, expensive beer, and the exorbitant cost of attending the race are all putting off festival regulars this year

“I have been coming to the Cheltenham Festival for 30 years and that is the quietest I have seen it” – Park Life Sport

It is over inflated prices that has adversely affected attendance figures at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, according to punters. LISTEN to the noise for The New Lion @TurnersLtd Novices’ Hurdle winner pic.twitter.com/mZJ7Nm9QhR— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025 The Wednesday attendance was just over 41,000 this year, which was the lowest recorded crowd this century. Two years ago, on the corresponding day, the racecourse…

Cheltenham Festival draws lowest crowd since 1993

The figure marks a drop of nearly 5,000 from last year and mirrored a fall in Tuesday’s crowd which was down to 55,498 from 60,181. Wednesday’s attendance was at nearly 65,000 in 2022 but this has quickly plummeted to the record low. Regulars who have not attended this year have cited the cost of accommodation, tickets, travel, and food and drink as reasons for missing the event at Cheltenham Racecourse. The total attendance for the week is expe…