No problems reported at Cheltenham despite Microsoft outage

Fears Cheltenham racegoers may have issues accessing the course for the opening day of the November Meeting on Friday in light of the worldwide Microsoft outage proved unfounded.

Officials had issued a statement urging those on their way to Prestbury Park to arrive early as there was a chance customers who did not have paper tickets may struggle to access their digital version.

However, the crowd streamed in through the gate for the first afternoon of the three-day fixture, which is the biggest Cheltenham hosts outside of the Festival in March.

A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said: “A crowd of around 18,000 was expected for the first day of the November Meeting and the Microsoft outage has had no impact on racegoers arriving at the course.”

The Microsoft issue arose on Thursday evening, causing the email application Outlook huge problems, but by early Friday afternoon mail was flowing through the ether seemingly as normal.

The British Horseracing Authority had also been forced into issuing a statement, asking trainers to contact them by phone if need be.

Elsewhere at Cheltenham, an impeccable minute’s silence was held before the start of racing in memory of former jockey Tom O’Brien, who died at the age of 39 this week.