Let's hope Cheltenham has been listening to us on racegoer experience - it's vital the course gets it right in March
It's been fascinating in recent days to read different views on the racegoer experience being provided by courses, which has brought to my mind some complaints at last year's Cheltenham Festival when I surveyed those on the ground.
It's obviously vital for all racecourses to get things right when it comes to the customer experience, but nowhere is this more important than at the festival. This is not only racing's biggest shop window but also an annual pilgrimage for many fans, who fork out a lot of money to get there and whose loyalty cannot be taken for granted.
Last year, though, I heard some familiar complaints about the racecourse experience. In terms of cost, the general consensus was that the ticket price, although substantial, was acceptable and in keeping with similar sporting events, but the additional expenses after passing through the gates were over the top.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
- Never mind the price of the beer - kids go racing for nothing and that's worth a lot
- Bank holidays are in sad decline - why not let unloved Brigadier Gerard march to the rescue
- Is there a cure for the Derby? A dose of Epsom salts might get it moving again
- British Flat raiders restore a little sporting pride. It may be far-fetched, but can our jumpers do the same?
- 40 years on: memories of an era when winning at Epsom made a horse too valuable to race on
- Never mind the price of the beer - kids go racing for nothing and that's worth a lot
- Bank holidays are in sad decline - why not let unloved Brigadier Gerard march to the rescue
- Is there a cure for the Derby? A dose of Epsom salts might get it moving again
- British Flat raiders restore a little sporting pride. It may be far-fetched, but can our jumpers do the same?
- 40 years on: memories of an era when winning at Epsom made a horse too valuable to race on