GLORIOUS GOODWOOD 2011
The Glorious Goodwood 2011 Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever. It is already one of the highlights of the Summer sporting and social calendar, but this year there's even more for racegoers to enjoy.
Tickets are now on sale for the five day Festival which begins on Tuesday 26th July and runs until Staurday 30th July offering guests the chance to see some of the finest horse racing in Europe.
The opening day is dedicated to celebrating Britain's sporting heroes. Sponsored by bet365, Sporting Greats Day attracts the great and good of the sports world. This year Chris Tarrant will lead a team of top celebrities into bat for a special charity cricket match on the historic pitch in front of Goodwood House. Organised by the Lord's Taverners, the UK's leading charity cricket club, founded in 1950 to give children a sporting chance, the match will see a celebrity eleven take on a team drawn from racing and cricket.
With championship horses being flown in from around the world to race in the Festival, Wednesday plays host to the most prestigious race of the week: The Sussex Stakes. This Group One race, one of the best mile races in the calendar, features as part of the inaugural British Champions Series, and new initiative launched this year to broaden the appeal of horse racing.
Thursday is Ladies' Day and a chance to show off fashionista chic. Renowned as the home of the Panama and Pimms, elegance and fashion is always high on the agenda at Goodwood.
Saturday is the most popular day with thousands of racing fans flocking to see one of the biggest sporting spectacles: the traditional cavalry charge in The Stewards' Cup, and the Group One Race, the Nassau Stakes.
Racecourse Managing Director looks forward to his first Glorious Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse Managing Director Adam Waterworth looks forward to his first Glorious Goodwood.
Adam Waterworth took over the helm at Goodwood Racecourse in January and is looking forward to a successful new season at one of the world's most beautiful racecourses.
He says: "I am very honoured to be Managing Director of such a prestigious racecourse. We have an exciting new season ahead, with entertainment after the thrills of each day's racing at Glorious Goodwood to allow racegoers to fully enjoy the the beautiful surroundings of this unique racecourse on the West Sussex Downs. This year we are aiming to provide racegoers with a much wider experience of Goodwood at its best.
"Edward VII famously described Glorious Goodwood as a 'garden party with racing tacked on' and at the end of each day we'll be continuing that famous party atmosphere with music and dancing.
"Tickets for the Festival have just been released, and I'm delighted to say they are already selling fast. Book early and you can take advantage of the new advance booking discounts."
Book for Glorious Goodwood before June and you are entitled to an advance booking discount for the Gordon and Lennox Enclosures. There is also a 20% discounts for group bookings of ten or more people purchasing Gordon and Lennox Enclosure tickets.
Book online| or call 01243 755055.
Clerk of the Course reports on the state of the Racecourse after a harsh winter
Harsh weather conditions over the winter months privided challenges for the ground staff at Goodwood Racecourse who are dedicated to achieving the highest possible standards to attract the best horses to race this season.
But Clerk of the Course Seamus Buckley is confident that hard work throughout the year will ensure a perfect racing surface. "We have had some severe climatic conditions, with heavy snow in January and December last year, which have caused us some problems. Heavy snow lying on turf can cause diseases which kill the grass. But with a rigorous repair and mantainence regime we have at Goodwood, we've ensured we are on top of any problems nature can throw at us. I am confident the course will be at its best when we open the gates for the first race meeting of the season on April 30, and of course for Glorious Goodwood.
"We had 1600 runners through Goodwood last year, and a very successful Glorious Goodwood with the going good on every day. Preparation for the 2011 season began as soon as the the last horse left Goodwood at the end of last season. We have worked hard all year round, sometimes through the night, to maintain the racecourse to the highest standard."
For more information about Goodwood Racecourse please contact Bradley Eccleshare, Marketing and PR Manager on 01243 755000, or email him on bradley.eccleshare@goodwood.com|