Goodwood boss: Three Friday Nights couldn't have been better

Our Three Friday Nights are over for another season and this year's series couldn't have gone any better, writes Goodwood racecourse MD Adam Waterworth.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jun 2013, 20:27 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:19 BST
Trevor Nelson entertains the crowd at dusk at Goodwood Picture By Clive BennettTrevor Nelson entertains the crowd at dusk at Goodwood Picture By Clive Bennett
Trevor Nelson entertains the crowd at dusk at Goodwood Picture By Clive Bennett

We had great music, excellent racing and perfect weather – and while we’ve had the first two before, this is the first time the elements have been kind to us for each event.

All three were sell-outs – Rudimental and Trevor Nelson in advance and the Andy Cato set on the night.

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Announcing the acts earlier helped and we’ll certainly be revealing our 2014 line-up early in the year.

We’ve been keen not to repeat acts so far but with the event now firmly established and having had a three-year run, bringing back someone, perhaps from year one, is an option we’ll consider.

Our Friday nights have brought people to Goodwood for the first time who will return, perhaps for Glorious, or another meeting.

What’s pleased me is the majority of the crowd have been on site in time for the first race. If anyone thought many would come after racing, and only for the music, they’ve been proved wrong.

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Now our attentions are firmly on Glorious, which begins in 33 days’ time!

Ticket sales are ahead of last year. Thursday and Saturday sales for the festival always go well but those for Wednesday – Sussex Stakes – are holding up very well despite the fact there’s no Frankel this year.

Royal Ascot has appetites for Glorious, where we hope part three of the battle for supremacy between Dawn Approach and Toronado will be played out in the Sussex Stakes, possibly with Aiden O’Brien’s Declaration of War taking them on.

And I was at Royal Ascot on Thursday to see a really special moment for the sport – The Queen’s horse Estimate winning the Gold Cup.

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Could we see Estimate in our Goodwood Cup on Ladies’ Day? I think there’s a distinct possibility.

There are any number of stayers who have gone from Ascot’s Gold Cup to the Goodwood Cup and it would be fantastic for everyone present if it happened, so watch this space.

We hope to see The Fugue back to defend her Nassau Stakes crown, and another who impressed at Royal Ascot - Just The Judge - could step up in trip to run here.

They’re all exciting prospects and we can’t wait for the action to begin.