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Original poster

Article about the Cheltenham Races. Makes me so angry!

129 replies

buttheywereonlysatilites · 20/02/2021 18:52

Seeing it all in black and white makes me even more angry than I already was at our government and SAGE at the time.

I'm on other threads now supporting the reintroduction of outside activities, but not like this. What the hell were they thinking?! Angry

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/virus-dispersion-hub-packed-racecourse-cheltenham-festival?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

OP posts:
User133847 · 21/02/2021 09:40

@steppemum

In general Gloucestershire has had low levels of the virus all through, as has all the SW. we live just outside Glos, but my parents are in Glos and my kids go to school in glos.

The only people we knew during first lockdown who had had Covid, were a family whose dd goes to school in Cheltenham. There were lots of cases at her school, not far form the racecourse, and with kids walking to and from and going on buses etc all used by racegoers.

Her whole family were ill, she (aged 14) was hospitalised as she is asmatic and hit badly.
I am sure they got it from the races being in Cheltenham.

Interesting to read about all the people who caught it at Cheltenham (anecdotally via this thread). They all seem to be severe cases.

The viral load must have been particularly high due to the amount of people jammed together for a week.

steppemum · 21/02/2021 09:45

@Beaniecats

Can we stop this? They went ahead in compliance with the law at that time. I'm sick of it being trotted out as a scapegoat. Other large sporting events went ahead at that time you know Anyway many racecourses aren't going to survive the months of economic carnage, which may please you
we know it was compliant with the law. That doesn't make it right. And many other large sporting events have been commented on here, as they were in the article.

It is not about scapegoating. It is about calling the government to account for their bad decision making.

No-one is against racing per se. No-one wants any business to go under, but neither did people living in Cheltenham (or Liverpool or Twickenham) deserve this.

My only comment is, even at the time there is no way I would have gone. I cannot understand why so many went. That is on individuals, not on the racecourse or the government.

Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 09:58

Incidentally for the anti racing lot Cheltenham's charity partner for this year's Festival is Well Child
Before everyone starts foaming the Festival is being held behind closed doors

Janus · 21/02/2021 10:02

I knew a group of about 15 people who went. Every single one of them came down with Covid and one man, aged early 60s, in their group died. No health issues other than being a bit overweight.
It is criminal that it still went on.

megletsecond · 21/02/2021 10:05

I don't think anyone is anti racing. The football shouldn't have gone ahead either, neither should Crufts or the gigs. All of them were negligent.

Everything (pubs, school's, gyms etc) should have been stopped at least a fortnight before they actually were. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

Original poster
buttheywereonlysatilites · 21/02/2021 10:09

@Beaniecats

Incidentally for the anti racing lot Cheltenham's charity partner for this year's Festival is Well Child Before everyone starts foaming the Festival is being held behind closed doors
But this isn't an anti racing post. Why are you so insistent that it is? Confused
OP posts:
peak2021 · 21/02/2021 10:10

Cheltenham should not be singled out. However for not requiring it to be without spectators and the Liverpool match likewise, Mr Johnson should be held responsible and face a criminal prosecution. Along with many other infections and deaths from the lack of prompt action.

likeamillpond · 21/02/2021 10:11

Why do people automatically blame the government for everything?
People had a choice whether or not to go the races
People had a choice whether or not to attend the football match.
The government didn't hold a gun to anyone's head and force them to go.

When Covid was kicking off last year, I would like to think Ihat I wouldn't have acted like a sheep and would have weighed up the pros and cons of attending before making a decision.
Peiple have forgotten how to think for themselves.
Take personal responsibility.
It's what adults do surely.

LadyEloise · 21/02/2021 10:12

I remember I was aghast that the Irish government allowed Irish idiots who went race goers from Cheltenham return to Ireland with no quarantine.
I'd love to know how many brought Covid back with them to their family, friends and the wider community.
Their selfishness was breathtaking Sad

Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 10:13

Of course it's an anti racing thread why else is Cheltenham being singled out?

SomersetHamlyn · 21/02/2021 10:14

@Realitea

I know quite a few people who went and all but one caught covid. One spent a month in intensive care and still has lung problems. One can't walk for long without being exhausted. I think the government have a lot to answer for and so do the jockey club!

But not all of your friends/acquaintances who chose to go? No responsibility at all?

Feel very sorry for local residents and employees but those who chose to go have themselves to blame. It wasn't like we didn't know at the time.

Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 10:14

@LadyEloise

I remember I was aghast that the Irish government allowed Irish idiots who went race goers from Cheltenham return to Ireland with no quarantine. I'd love to know how many brought Covid back with them to their family, friends and the wider community. Their selfishness was breathtaking Sad
They had every right to go. Great Festival for them a dual Irish Gold Cup winner 😀
Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 10:16

[quote SomersetHamlyn]@Realitea

I know quite a few people who went and all but one caught covid. One spent a month in intensive care and still has lung problems. One can't walk for long without being exhausted. I think the government have a lot to answer for and so do the jockey club!

But not all of your friends/acquaintances who chose to go? No responsibility at all?

Feel very sorry for local residents and employees but those who chose to go have themselves to blame. It wasn't like we didn't know at the time.[/quote]
You do know local businesses, local economy does very well off the Festival and racing generally

Roussette · 21/02/2021 10:18

Why do people automatically blame the government for everything?

Errmmmm because they are the Government?!

You have to think... at that moment in time, covid was such an unknown quantity. There was so much we didn't know, that we do now.
So there will be an element of .... if the Government haven't cancelled this Race meeting, it will be OK to go to it. Otherwise they will have cancelled it.
Full blame on Government

BeyondMyWits · 21/02/2021 10:20

I live in Cheltenham, did not go to town from 1 week before the races until the summer after lockdown 1. We were fuming. We knew we would become a covid hotspot and still they went ahead.

The people who died in Cheltenham were mainly from postcodes related to racegoer transport and services.

For those saying "people had a choice" - visitors had a choice. The racecourse staff, the bus drivers, the rail station staff, the cafe workers, the pub wait-staff, the first aiders - DID NOT.

GCAcademic · 21/02/2021 10:23

Why do people automatically blame the government for everything?
People had a choice whether or not to go the races
People had a choice whether or not to attend the football match.
The government didn't hold a gun to anyone's head and force them to go.

Because public health is the government's responsibility? Because if the government says it is OK for something to go ahead, people tend to take them at their word? Because members of the government were at Cheltenham and other sporting events at this time, and also have financial interests in the racing industry? Because for the sake of not losing the economy millions of pounds for some sporting events they have instead trashed it for at least a generation and set in train thousands of unnecessary deaths? (And they say Labour are crap with the economy!). And there was at least one person in that article in the OP who caught Covid through no choice of her own; she had no choice but to work.

Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 10:24

@BeyondMyWits

I live in Cheltenham, did not go to town from 1 week before the races until the summer after lockdown 1. We were fuming. We knew we would become a covid hotspot and still they went ahead.

The people who died in Cheltenham were mainly from postcodes related to racegoer transport and services.

For those saying "people had a choice" - visitors had a choice. The racecourse staff, the bus drivers, the rail station staff, the cafe workers, the pub wait-staff, the first aiders - DID NOT.

Evidence for your claims or gossip and hearsay?
Nellodee · 21/02/2021 10:25

It's easy to be compliant with the law when you're besties with the people who arrange them for you.

Original poster
buttheywereonlysatilites · 21/02/2021 10:27

@Beaniecats ok then. If it makes you feel better then yep, carry on seeing this as an anti racing thread. Not one about the huge failure of government responsibility.

OP posts:
Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 10:27

Cheltenham will go ahead this year, next year and forever, survived the war and other calamities
First chance we get we will be back there

Beaniecats · 21/02/2021 10:28

[quote buttheywereonlysatilites]@Beaniecats ok then. If it makes you feel better then yep, carry on seeing this as an anti racing thread. Not one about the huge failure of government responsibility. [/quote]
Of course its anti racing

Reassuranceneeded14 · 21/02/2021 10:32

Cleeve resident here, I avoided town and going anywhere during race week and after. This has been a much debated topic on local groups!

LadyEloise · 21/02/2021 10:46

Beaniecats
You say they ( Irish racegoers ) had every right to go.
With rights come responsibilities.
They should have quarantined on their return. How many did ?
The only person I know personally who went to Cheltenham races in March 2020 had Covid19 on their return to Ireland.

Iwantacookie · 21/02/2021 10:52

I went to a concert mid march. Tbh at the time we were in 2 minds as if we should go or not.
We went but it wasnt full.
Tbh our reasoning for attending was the government would tell us not to go if covid was getting that serious over here.
I know that sounds pathetic written down but at that time but I naively assumed to government would give the best advice Hmm

User133847 · 21/02/2021 11:09

@megletsecond

I don't think anyone is anti racing. The football shouldn't have gone ahead either, neither should Crufts or the gigs. All of them were negligent.

Everything (pubs, school's, gyms etc) should have been stopped at least a fortnight before they actually were. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

A lot of it was this idea of 'the spirit of the blitz'. We still socialised through the war and went out dancing, so a virus isn't going to stop us. Also, this idea that was what happening in Italy in the hospitals wouldn't happen here.

And throughout the pandemic Boris hasn't acted until it was untenable not to.

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