Cheltenham still missing the Irish 17/03/2010 |
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Cheltenham Festival organisers have admitted that the recession will once again have an impact on this year’s event.
The Financial Times reports that the number of Irish racegoers who made the trip over last year fell by a third, and that this year’s numbers are likely to be no better.
Managing director of the festival Edward Gillespie said: "There is no doubt that the Irish economy has had a very negative effect on their ability to come and be as gleeful as they used to be.”
The newspaper adds that the four-day festival, which began on Tuesday (March 16), is also struggling to attract Irish companies to sponsor races.
Anglo Irish Bank pulled out two year ago, Smurfit Kappa last week announced the end of its 20-year sponsorship of the Champion Hurdle, and Ballymore Properties has also withdrawn its backing.
Meanwhile, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary has said that the airline will probably end its long-running support when its current deal ends in 2012.
Peter McNeile, Cheltenham's sponsorship director, explained that the festival would be looking for sponsors from a more diverse range of sectors and confirmed that it was in talks with Wrigley's and Waitrose.
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