Cheltenham

Racing at Cheltenham started in 1815 when the first recorded flat racing meeting was held on Nottingham Hill.  Today the Cheltenham Festival is one of the UK’s big sporting events, alongside the likes of Wimbledon, the British Open, the British Grand Prix and the FA Cup Final.  It is the county's biggest single revenue earning event, generating an estimated £50m for local hotels, shops, pubs and clubs.

We attended the races on Friday afternoon, including the Gold Cup.  The day was a grand spectacle that included the British country set, the greater British public in their tight suits and posh frocks and the majority of the Irish racing world.