Crowds flock to Cheltenham races

Edward Gillespie was delighted with last week's attendance figures

Cheltenham racecourse has beaten the credit crunch after reporting the second biggest-ever attendance for its November Open Meeting.

Close to 70,000 people watched over the three days, just falling shy of the meeting's record high set in 2007.

Managing director Edward Gillespie told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he was delighted with the figures.

"We're in a part of the country that's probably feeling the crunch less than others," said Gillespie.

Despite an eight per cent drop in year-on-year spending on the Tote and catering, Gillespie said: "There is still a lot of money being spent here on the course and a good positive feel.

"I think people are being sensible but very upbeat.

"We certainly can build the rest of the season on what we've seen over the last three days."

Cheltenham have introduced the Best Mate Season Ticket to attract punters to racing during credit-crunch times, which allows entry in to the Best Mate Enclosure for all 17 Cheltenham race fixtures.

"We're trying to give best possible value," he said. "The Best Mate ticket is �15.

"That's more than it costs to watch Cheltenham Town, and you can't get in for that to watch rugby at Gloucester.

"Our prices are relatively inexpensive."

The focus is now on the 2009 Cheltenham Festival (10-13 March).