06 Mar 2009
With this year's Cheltenham Festival nearly upon us, Neil Goulden, CEO of Gala Coral and regular Festival attendee, describes why the meeting is such a special occasion...
I have been to the Cheltenham Festival every year since 1988, when I returned to the UK from running the Dutch Tote and picked up the reins as chief executive at racecourse caterer Letheby & Christopher, who held the Cheltenham catering contract and still do.
Prestbury Park is a magical venue and I have many happy memories as a caterer, sponsor and spectator over the past 21 years.
I can remember being at Cheltenham in glorious spring sunshine, driving rain, snow and last year in howling wind. That uncertainty is all part of the magic of a major racing festival in mid-March.
One of my lasting memories as a caterer was going down to the boiler room under the Main Grandstand and discovering 4 Irishmen with a card table, portable chairs and two cases of Guinness. Apparently they had been there for two days and had not seen a single race.
On another occasion I wore a pedometer as part of a piece for a catering magazine and managed to clock up 60 miles over 3 days – 20 miles a day up and down the hill and up and down the various grandstands. No wonder I was so thirsty after the Festival.
The Lords Test Match, the Six Nations at Twickenham and the Cheltenham Festival are arguably the greatest annual sporting events in Britain. The Cheltenham Festival has got better and better every year and any doubts about a 4-day Festival have proved to be totally unfounded.
The search for continuous improvement is the secret of Cheltenham’s lasting success and is a real credit to Edward Gillespie and Sam Vesty, who have been at the helm together for over 15 years now. Continuity and a relentless search for perfection is their mantra and it shows.
I am now looking forward to what is building up to be yet another great Festival and to presenting the Coral Handicap Hurdle Trophy next Wednesday.
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