Our Superfans

32 Years Old from Arnold, Nottingham

A Sales Director by trade, James has a love for Cheltenham Racecourse like no one else. Having been present at the course for a number of extraordinary moments, one of his most memorable moments being the Vautaur winning the 2015 JLT, “it is still the most mesmerising performance I’ve seen at Cheltenham” he said.

There is one particularly extraordinary moment that made James stand out from the rest. “Overdue and on the cusp of The Festival, my wife was still waiting to give birth on the Sunday night before racing began. After much thought, and a good 18 months following Jezki (who is a key feature on the wall in our racing room at home), havd having slept on my coat on a cold, hard hospital floor on Tuesday 11^th March 2014, I zoomed off to Cheltenham, cheered home Jezki in the Unibet Champion Hurdle and returned back to his wife in hospital to sleep on the cold, hard floor once more.” 

We are looking forward to sharing more of James’s story throughout the season!

79 Years Old from Leighton Buzzard

A lifelong sports fan, Peter has enjoyed many incredible moments within racing particularly during his time visiting Cheltenham for The Festival and other race meetings. As he enters his sixth decade of visiting the Home of Jump Racing, he explains how excited and honoured he is to be a 2019/20 Super Fan.

Peter said: “Having been made redundant in December 1999 and have enjoyed my retirement watching all sports particularly horse racing especially Cheltenham.

“My first visit to Cheltenham was to the festival in 1960 and my most treasured memory is in 1970 when my Mother’s favourite horse Persian War completed the Champion Hurdle treble. This is special as she was suffering from cancer, was in a wheelchair and this was her final festival visit. For me, there is nowhere like Cheltenham. Nothing like when you hear that roar when they say “they’re off” for that first race of The Festival.”

Follow Peter’s story of his 60^th year at The Festival™ presented by Magners on the website and our social media channels.

52 years old from Wolverhampton

Jenny’s love for Cheltenham grew as an unexpected twist of fate. Working as a travel agent today, she relives her very first visit to Cheltenham as a 17 year old.

“In 1983 I won two tickets to Cheltenham on a coach trip through work, my best friend Carol and I were 17 then and the Cheltenham festival bug began! Our twosome grew quickly to 5 with my mum now 80, her friend and our great friend Rie.”

Jenny has only missed two years of The Festval™ presented by Magners when she was on the other side of the world, and had to supplement the Four Days of Extraordinary for The Melbourne Cup.

“Every February the involuntary smile starts to spread on our faces and as we near March the ‘how many more sleeps?’ texts start even at the age of 52 and 80 as we just can’t wait for Cheltenham to come around.

“For us The Festival is not only about the amazing racing but is also about being part of a huge crowd all gathered together to have fun and lots and lots of laughs.... and Guinness!”

This year Jenny is hoping that her 16 year old daughter will be able to attend for the first time, as in her words “the Cheltenham cycle continues…”

29 years old, Cheltenham

A local lad, Joe has lived in Cheltenham all his life and has racing in his blood as his Grandfather set up the first bookmaker shop in Gloucestershire. With too many racing highlights to pick, Joe explains “It’s not just the results that leave the memories though. The excitement that came with picking my selections each morning as a child with my Dad, the buzz the town always has on the Monday beforehand, or the atmosphere in the Plough at Ford after every meeting are equally powerful recollections.”

A keen racegoer all his life, Joe has missed many a school day for The Festival, even pushing his Dissertation deadline back to be capped at 40% in order for him to be able to attend The November Meeting – something his mum still hasn’t forgiven him for, but he assures us that he has no regrets.

We look forward to hearing more of Joe’s stories throughout the season…