Cheltz Fest 2021 Behind Closed Doors ?

[Istabraq]

Interesting MoM but that would impact the Spring schedule and other big meetings like Aintree, Punchestown, Sandown etc would all suffer as a result.
Far more likely I think that crowds can return in limited numbers for March with distancing etc being observed and that a proportion of attendees would have already had the vaccine anyway, I certainly think and hope that trainers, jockeys, yard staff, travelling media etc will be higher up the priority list than the majority...

[charlie]

The Government is reportedly set to buy 200million of the tests which give a 'yes' or 'no' result in 15 minutes. A negative result would allow millions of people the freedom to socialise and experts say this could be key to moving away from strict coronavirus restrictions. People who test negative could also receive a 'day pass' to go to the theatre, cinema or a sports event.

Stuff like this is obviously great news, but I ground any optimism I have when I look at this governments track record during this pandemic. We have the highest death toll in Europe, a track and trace system that doesn't work and a government that routinely misses testing targets month after month after month. If we had a competent government, and importantly, a compliant general population, then I'd interpret the above with optimism and hope spectators make Cheltenham. Unfortunately, we have neither, so this doesn't really get my hopes up one bit.

[Kevloaf]

Mass testing could help sports bring back crowds within two months.....

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13173270/new-covid-tests-crowds-matches-gigs-two-months/

The Sun isn't a credible source for anything.

[Jorvik]

A negative result would allow millions of people the freedom to socialise and experts say this could be key to moving away from strict coronavirus restrictions. People who test negative could also receive a 'day pass' to go to the theatre, cinema or a sports event.

Proper Orwellian stuff, we need to be very careful as a society, i'd rather wait years to go anywhere than give the government more control of civil liberties that'll never be returned.

[Faugheen_Machine]

I'd happily get micro chipped if it allowed me to go to Cheltenham in March

[charlie]

I'd happily get micro chipped if it allowed me to go to Cheltenham in March

I'd take being gang-raped by a gaggle of silverback apes if it allowed me to go to Cheltenham in March

[Jorvik]

I'd take being gang-raped by a gaggle of silverback apes if it allowed me to go to Cheltenham in March

Will there be a livestream? Asking for a friend.

[charlie]

Will there be a livestream? Asking for a friend.

Hahahaha

[Istabraq]

The Sun isn't a credible source for anything.

Deidre and her casebook have got me out of many a hole....

[Saxon Warrior]

The Sun isn't a credible source for anything.

Its quoted elsewhere too, its an obvious reaction to a vaccine being discussed, where people cant get their heads round the virus being here as a danger until further notice, and we dont know how long the vaccine provides protection yet, beyond 7 days!

[jonthehammer]

Proper Orwellian stuff, we need to be very careful as a society, i'd rather wait years to go anywhere than give the government more control of civil liberties that'll never be returned.

Totally agree Jorvik, I don't want us going down that route at all. Did anyone see that clip today on BBC about them cooking the figures again? Very worrying indeed and no wonder there has been a sharp rise in 'COVID deaths'

[Lobos]

Potential of return of spectators to sports before Xmas being mooted. This can only be good news re the festival welcoming spectators back in some capacity in March.

[Istabraq]

Potential of return of spectators to sports before Xmas being mooted. This can only be good news re the festival welcoming spectators back in some capacity in March.

If the noises are true I’m half expecting to get Trials Days in...

[Lobos]

If the noises are true I’m half expecting to get Trials Days in...

Me too. Everything crossed.

[charlie]

Talk of trials day going ahead with spectators is living in a fantasy land, and quite short sighted with a view to March IMO.

The Gov are panicking about Xmas and so they should be - it's the one time of year where everyone is socialising, drinking, meeting. It's inevitable that cases will sharply rise, and it will be impossible for the Government to know the toll of everyone meeting between the 20th-30th because their testing system is shit - hence the reason why a 25 day national lockdown post xmas is already being discussed for January, because they know tracking cases over Xmas is going to be a nightmare. I know the Government are utterly inept, but on what planet are they going to think:

'Let's start the year by getting racing fans back to a place where we copped untold amounts of shit for letting it go ahead in March'. I simply don't see them being that stupid.

More importantly, with a high likelihood of a post xmas spike, why on earth would Cheltenham racecourse want to potentially put themselves back in the firing line after the complete shit storm that followed March?

IMO the festival is over for spectators, but IF there's any chance of people being at back at Cheltenham in March, Cheltenham cannot afford any slip ups or negative publicity beforehand. In the wake of post-xmas Covid fallout, it would be the height of commercial stupidity to potentially jeopardise a Festival that brings in hundreds of millions of pounds, to let a tiny number of people experience trials day. Nobody will know who has what post xmas, so it doesn't make sense from a public health perspective either, and it doesn't even make sense as a trial - the whole 'but this will prove racing is safe for spectators in March' argument holds zero weight as any number allowed in for trials day would be numerically insignificant in comparison to March.