Cheaper beer is all okay but Cheltenham tweaks are mere window dressing in absence of much-needed changes to festival programme
It fell a bit short of a "free beer" marketing slogan but the Jockey Club succeeded in generating some goodwill this week by announcing the price of a pint will be reduced by 30p at next year's Cheltenham Festival.
Guy Lavender has been on the charm offensive in terms of the customer experience since he began as Prestbury Park's chief executive at the beginning of the year and the latest suite of tweaks to the four-day gala are on message in that respect.
Ladies' day is back. To be honest, I didn't even know it was gone, but I don't really have a problem with initiatives like that because they are proven at getting people through the gate. As long as Cheltenham doesn't resort to a student day promotion, we won't object to a bit of finery and frills.
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
Published on inRichard Forristal
Last updated
Copy- 33 runners per meeting? Summer jumping has hit rock bottom and British racing can't just accept this as the norm
- The crowds are still coming - just in racing's own peculiar way
- It wasn't just about the superpowers - here are my ten leftfield highlights of the jumps season
- Willie Mullins might have waved the white flag in Britain - but his familiar surge means it's game on in two Irish title races
- It's irresponsible and short-sighted to stand idly by while the activists go after greyhound racing - they'll be coming for us next
- 33 runners per meeting? Summer jumping has hit rock bottom and British racing can't just accept this as the norm
- The crowds are still coming - just in racing's own peculiar way
- It wasn't just about the superpowers - here are my ten leftfield highlights of the jumps season
- Willie Mullins might have waved the white flag in Britain - but his familiar surge means it's game on in two Irish title races
- It's irresponsible and short-sighted to stand idly by while the activists go after greyhound racing - they'll be coming for us next