The four day Cheltenham Festival is the biggest jump racing festival in the UK, where top horses, jockeys, trainers and owners battle it out on the track at Prestbury Park to win over £4.1 million in prize money.
This particular week in March is the most exciting of the year to be in Cheltenham, when the town dresses up to look just as good as the best dressed race-goers. Recent figures suggest the Festival brings in £100 million to the Cheltenham economy (University of Gloucestershire). This is not surprising when hotels, restaurants and bars are bursting at the seams.
250,00 people will pass through the gates of Cheltenham Racecourse. £150 million will be spent on betting.
It’s lovely to see how more and more of the shops dress their windows to take on the festival theme each year. I’ve had a wander round the town to capture some of these to convey some of the atmosphere.
This little gift shop in the Suffolks has gone to town with their colourful display:
Great to see some jockey silks at this vintage clothes store:
My first prize goes to The Kitchener in Montpellier. If you look closely, the horse is made up of individual kitchen implements:
I liked the colours to match the colourful clothes inside this boutique in Montpellier:
The Red Cross charity bookshop on Bath Road has certainly taken on a horsey theme:
I was surprised to see the Co-op on Bath Road joining in the fun:
John Gordon’s in Montpellier are promoting this local gin:
Most of the Bath Road charity shops have adapted their window displays to incorporate the necessary tweed:
Who doesn’t want to start the day with a cooked breakfast on race day?
