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Goodwood Garden Party Set to be a Sell Out
21/04/10

Over 10,000 people have taken up the invitation to attend the ‘Goodwood Garden Party’ fixture on Saturday 1st May. Demand has been so great that the Sussex racecourse has announced the free ticket offer for the Gordon Enclosure is now ‘sold out’ for the opening meeting of Goodwood’s 2010 season.

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The fixture forms the climax of a week of ‘free racing’, a nationwide initiative organised by Racing for Change. The aim is to introduce as many people as possible to the pleasure afforded by a day at the races and Goodwood will be staging a number of special events to educate and entertain thousands of newcomers to racing.

The free week of racing features nine racecourses spread across the country over a period of six days between Monday 26th April and Saturday 1st May. The week features some of Britain’s best known racecourses; in addition to Goodwood, Ascot, Kempton Park and Doncaster are also involved.

Rod Fabricius, Managing Director of Goodwood Racecourse, said: “It is great news that the invitation to join Goodwood’s Garden Party has caught the imagination of the public. 10,000 racegoers coming for free represents a fantastic opportunity for us to show off racing to a new audience. We are proud to be part of the free week of racing and I’m delighted that the take up for the offer has been strongest at Goodwood.”

“As well as seven races there will be a wealth of entertainment, but even more importantly for newcomers to racing, in keeping with the Garden Party theme, they will be welcomed and looked after throughout by dozens of hosts, tipsters, actors and entertainers who will engage with them in a relaxed and informative way.”

Rod Street, Project Director of Racing for Change, added: “It’s fantastic that courses of the stature of Goodwood have got behind the free week of racing initiative. We know that our sport is exciting and regarded as a great day out by those who experience it but the hardest part has often been getting people to try it for the first time. That the take up has been so popular at Goodwood is very encouraging and their Garden Party fixture looks set to be a great success.”

Racegoers can still pay the normal admission price (£21 Gordon Enclosure or £29 Richmond Enclosure) in advance or on the day to enjoy what is bound to a memorable day’s racing with a special atmosphere. The gates open at 11.30am and there will be a programme of events prior to the racing getting underway at 2.20pm. From 1.15pm at the Parade Ring the afternoon’s racing will be previewed and there will be interviews with the leading jockeys and trainers.

Rod Fabricius added: “We are really looking forward to hosting the Garden Party. On top of the events we are staging to help newcomers engage with the racing, there will be a range of other activities for racegoers to enjoy. In addition to watching the racing live and on the giant screens, there will also be visits to the start.

Goodwood is famous for the quality of its food and drink offers and at the Garden Party there will be free wine tasting courtesy of Rothschilds and Bibendum, as well as the full range of Goodwood’s bars and restaurants for racegoers to sample and enjoy.”

“Goodwood is often referred to as the most beautiful racecourse in the world and combined with the relaxed party atmosphere that exists on racedays it makes Goodwood the ideal place to combine socialising and top quality sport. It is a truly unique location, extremely chic where people like to make the effort and get dressed up for the day and we would like as many people as possible to come along and experience it at first hand.”