Horse racing festivals can be great news for local economies and Goodwood is no exception. Huge crowds are expected at the 2021 event, which got underway in West Sussex on July 27th. With five days of top-class action including three Group 1 races, the local area including the nearby town of Chichester will be buzzing with excitement.
It’s a big week for the betting industry as well with bookmakers already offering odds across the range of markets and races. Key horses to look out for this year include Battaash, who is at 6/5 in the Goodwood odds to win the King George Qatar Stakes for an unprecedented fifth-straight year. In addition, other horses to look out for include the likes of Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya, who is set to run in the Nassau Stakes, as well as Poetic Flare who is aiming for victory in the Sussex Stakes.
Battaash eclipsed his own track record as he claimed the King George Qatar Stakes for the fourth successive year at Glorious Goodwood in 55.62 seconds.
👉 https://t.co/MUBiGBLrtf pic.twitter.com/jJiIfYNGU6
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2020
Tickets Selling Fast
With history-making moments a real possibility, the clamour for tickets will be huge. The first two days of the event are expected to attract crowds of up to 13,000 per day, with that number rising to around 25,000 for the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday meetings. That equates to a massive injection of cash into the local economy. So, what’s all the fuss about with Goodwood?
Two Centuries of History
They call it Glorious Goodwood for a reason. Following the first public race in 1802, the festival became one of the highlights on the summer social calendar attracting the likes of King Edward VII. The luscious countryside setting and garden party atmosphere promoted the media press to refer to the event as Glorious Goodwood, a popularised name that prevails in the present day.
But it’s not just horse racing that gives Goodwood its reputation as a top summer sports destination. The estate has also been hosting motor racing events since 1936 when the first hill climb course was created. A motor racing circuit was added in 1948 and many races were held at the track including the Goodwood Nine Hour endurance race. Racing halted in 1966 before hill-climbing returned in 1993 with the launch of the hugely successful Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the stunning Kimera Automobili Lancia 037 was revealed this year.
Does the new Kimera Automobili 037 steal your heart? Read all about this Italian beauty's debut at #FOS below 👇 #gw_Kimera https://t.co/E6YG8ed2n4 pic.twitter.com/wd7t2Q2d5I
— Goodwood Road & Racing (@GoodwoodRRC) July 14, 2021
Charity Focus
This year’s horse racing festival will also see the return of the Lord’s Taverners cricket match and Ladies’ Magnolia Cup charity race. The Lord’s Taverners is a cricket and disability sports charity that promotes sporting opportunities for disadvantaged people, while the Magnolia Cup features non-professional riders from the world of business, sport, and media. The last time the race was held in 2019, history was made when Khadijah Mellah became the first person to win a UK horse race wearing a hijab.
There’s plenty to love about Goodwood and it’s no wonder that local people are so proud of their festival which has a big impact on the local economy.
