Cheltenham Festival punters faced ‘absolute bedlam’ when trying to leave the racecourse yesterday, as heavy rain created traffic chaos on the event’s opening day.
Torrential downpours and boggy fields caused a nightmare in the festival car parks, as thousands tried to head home at the end of a thrilling day of racing.
Vehicles got stuck in the heavy mud, creating queues of up to two hours on the opening day of the four-day event.
One racing fan posted a video on social media of a long line of vehicles queuing to leave in the pitch black, writing: ‘Racing finished an hour and 10 mins ago. ‘Absolute bedlam in the car park. No cars moving at all, stuck everywhere with no help.
‘£30 per car. Come racing they say!!!!’
He later added: ‘Update lads… 2 hours after racing. Car still down the hill and no movement whatsoever.’
Another video was posted of two supporters trying to push their car to freedom after its tyres became glued to the mud, whilst they were being jeered by passersby, who sing: ‘You’re not going home.’
There are concerns that some of today’s races may have to be postponed because of further heavy showers overnight.
Heavy rainfall and boggy fields caused a nightmare in the Cheltenham Festival car parks, as thousands tried to head to home at the end of the meeting.
Vehicles got stuck in the heavy mud, creating traffic queues of up to two hours on the opening day of the four-day event.
One video was posted of two supporters trying to push their car out of the mud after its tyres became glued to the mud
One angry racing fan posted a video on social media of a long line of vehicles queuing to leave in the pitch black
He later provided an update that he had been stuck in the car park for two hours without moving
More than 60,000 supporters attended yesterday’s meet for the opening day of the prestgious 164-year-old racing meet.
Rachael Blackmore stole the headlines after her thrilling winning ride on Slade Steel in the the Supreme Novice Hurdle, while Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico won the Ultima Handicap Chase.
But some fans, who paid between £67 and £85 for tickets, were left venting their frustration online after their journey home was delayed by the wet weather.
Rain was expected to fall throughout this week, but last night’s downpours were significantly heavier than what was forecast, leaving today’s Glenfarclas Cross-County Chase in danger of being postponed.
The track had expected 2-4mm of rain overnight but 6mm has already fallen – and another 6mm is forecast on the way.
Car drivers had a nightmare trying to leave the racecourse at the end of yesterday’s meet
Jon Pullin, the clerk of the course, said organisers will inspect the course at 8am this morning before making a decision on whether the race can go ahead
told talkSPORT: ‘We were forecast some rain and the initial forecast, two or three days ago, was suggesting only a light shower and maybe a millimetre.
‘That updated yesterday morning to slightly more rain and maybe 2-4mm. But the forecast I received late last night was very much saying we would receive significant rain.
‘Unfortunately, that has materialised and we are at 9mm as we speak and there is another forecast of potentially 3-5mm in the morning.
‘We have hopefully got a drier end to the day today and through tonight and dry tomorrow so we will give it every chance and if we are not able to stage it tomorrow, we are working with the BHA at the moment and looking at the possibility of restaging it on Friday.’