Author Topic: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival  (Read 518 times)

CrazyEnglishTriathlete

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Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« on: 13 March, 2024, 02:51:13 pm »
Its the best jump racing in the world.
The craic is amazing.

But there is no contest between Ireland and the UK anymore - Ireland won 6 of the 7 races and had 17/21 top 3 placings yesterday.  There's only so much defeat one can take. 
Eddington Numbers 130 (imperial), 183 (metric) 574 (furlongs)  116 (nautical miles)

Re: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« Reply #1 on: 13 March, 2024, 05:31:44 pm »
I have taken Ireland's defeat at Twickenham very well indeed.

Re: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« Reply #2 on: 14 March, 2024, 02:04:20 pm »
There are some very privileged people in this country. Some have motorised cops stopping traffic
(including cyclists, i.e. me) and preventing them from making forward progress.

I was just about to cross over to the petrol station to ride down the road to my house.

I'd bet my life savings that this cavalcade was coming back from Cheltenham races and heading for junction 9 of the M5.

Go to about 2:40

MOVI0127 by xmaanderx, on Flickr

Re: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« Reply #3 on: 14 March, 2024, 02:33:18 pm »
How many more horses killed?
https://www.horsedeathwatch.com/

Re: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« Reply #4 on: 14 March, 2024, 03:41:20 pm »
How many more horses killed?
https://www.horsedeathwatch.com/

The numbers are astoundingly high.

I grew up on a horse breeding and racing stable. In 20 years we didn't have a single horse die on a racecourse.

We had one have a heart attack while training (autopsy revealed she had a malformed heart).

Other horses died in accidents (very rarely, usually from attacking another horse). Colic, triggering them to roll and getting a twisted bowel was a scary and likely risk.

Most deaths were in labour, despite hours of struggling over them and huge vets bills.
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Cudzoziemiec

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Re: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« Reply #5 on: 14 March, 2024, 03:49:58 pm »
There are some very privileged people in this country. Some have motorised cops stopping traffic
(including cyclists, i.e. me) and preventing them from making forward progress.

I was just about to cross over to the petrol station to ride down the road to my house.

I'd bet my life savings that this cavalcade was coming back from Cheltenham races and heading for junction 9 of the M5.

Go to about 2:40
MOVI0127 by xmaanderx, on Flickr
Decent bell.  :thumbsup:
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

CrazyEnglishTriathlete

  • Miles eaten don't satisfy hunger
  • Chartered accountant in 5 different decades
    • CET Ride Reports and Blogs
Re: Why I am no longer going to the Cheltenham Festival
« Reply #6 on: 14 March, 2024, 04:51:12 pm »
I am enjoying this commentator's curse.  4 out of the 5 races so far have gone to UK based horses.
Eddington Numbers 130 (imperial), 183 (metric) 574 (furlongs)  116 (nautical miles)