Blenheim Horse Trials

[Velcrobum]

Sent to volunteers this AM

It is with a very heavy heart that The Jockey Club has ended its contract with the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, with the 2022 event in September being the last staged under its organisation.
The current economic climate is unfortunately going to have an impact on us all and we have therefore made the difficult decision to end our contract with the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
We are proud to have led the way in Eventing in Britain as we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 but we now feel the time is right to concentrate on our core mission of acting for the long-term benefit of British horseracing, with our profits being reinvested into that sport.

We thank you for all that you did to ensure the success of the events under our organisation, we very much appreciated it all and look forward to our paths crossing again at some point in the future.

Not very surprised as they got rid of the money making Arena Eventing which pulled in lots of people on Thursday and Friday who visited the trade stands, food outlets and spent money.

 

[reynold]

They got rid of the ability to select your own seat in the grandstands and made what was the 'Members' marquee so expensive you needed a 2nd mortgage to afford to go.

Having been attending Blenheim every year since it's inception and all 4 days for 17 years prior to covid I voted with my wallet and my feet and refused to attend under the Jockey Club management.

I hope that it can resume under new leadership and that it will revert to the event that welcomed all levels of society and not just the elites.

In the H&H article it states that BPalace wants to continue holding the event, as do BE so fingers crossed it continues.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I love Blemheim - I really hope it continues ?

 

[humblepie]

I liked the Jockey Club running it as they brought in RoR showing classes but even though it id near it isn’t an event I would generally go to spectate at. Not sure why though. I hope it does continue though as a lovely setting.

 

[Velcrobum]

They got rid of the ability to select your own seat in the grandstands and made what was the 'Members' marquee so expensive you needed a 2nd mortgage to afford to go.

Having been attending Blenheim every year since it's inception and all 4 days for 17 years prior to covid I voted with my wallet and my feet and refused to attend under the Jockey Club management.

I hope that it can resume under new leadership and that it will revert to the event that welcomed all levels of society and not just the elites.

In the H&H article it states that BPalace wants to continue holding the event, as do BE so fingers crossed it continues.

I agree!! I have volunteered there for many many years in various areas. The Jockey Club were trying to run BHT like they do Cheltenham races, lots of corporate stuff, booze and big screens. None of the longstanding experienced volunteers were listened to offers of advise not needed etc etc.

 

[reynold]

The volunteers do so much and always seemed to be welcoming even when it poured down the year it was cancelled. The older chap who stewarded at the dressage year after year moving and replacing the entry to the arena with his bowler hat was a gem. I noticed when he was no longer there and felt sad.

The other thing the JC did last year was to not provide a 4 day season ticket option. If you wanted to attend for all 4 days you had to buy 4 individual day tickets which was obviously going to be much more expensive.

I really wanted to attend again post covid but refused to be ripped off. It's the only event I go to now as I find Badminton far too crowded and other events are too far away. The viewing at Blenheim on XC day is always good in comparison and getting XC on the sunday as well is a great bonus.

 

[Velcrobum]

The volunteers do so much and always seemed to be welcoming even when it poured down the year it was cancelled. The older chap who stewarded at the dressage year after year moving and replacing the entry to the arena with his bowler hat was a gem. I noticed when he was no longer there and felt sad.

The other thing the JC did last year was to not provide a 4 day season ticket option. If you wanted to attend for all 4 days you had to buy 4 individual day tickets which was obviously going to be much more expensive.

I really wanted to attend again post covid but refused to be ripped off. It's the only event I go to now as I find Badminton far too crowded and other events are too far away. The viewing at Blenheim on XC day is always good in comparison and getting XC on the sunday as well is a great bonus.

A lot of very experienced people got the boot very sadly and certainly behind the scenes it was painfully obvious. They actually accepted people to fence judge who had never done it before.............!!

 

[ester]

I will miss the big screens they were very good, especially compared to burghley’s

 

[Velcrobum]

I expect BHT will run again as The Jockey Club were not the only group that tendered. I suspect a group already running horse trials will win this time round.
Edit to add. I always thought the Jockey Club was a very very strange choice as Racing is such a different type of horse sport. It was so evident the first year they ran BHT Champagne Bars might work well in Racing but not really Eventing IMHO.