PUNTERS, bookmakers and locals have long considered Glorious Goodwood to be one of the best horse racing meetings the country has to offer.

And now the Qataris think so too.

Their new 10-year link-up with Goodwood has boosted the prize money on offer at the quintessentially English meeting.

There is now £4.5 million up for grabs during the track’s biggest week of the year thanks to the single biggest sponsorship deal ever signed in British racing history.

It means Glorious Goodwood, or rather the Qatar Goodwood Festival as it is now known, is up there with the likes of Royal Ascot.

But while the Berkshire meeting is becoming somewhat notorious for drunken punters falling over themselves and blokes fighting, Goodwood is steadily becoming a contender for the most lucrative and classiest event in the British sporting calendar.

And all the action takes place on our doorstep in Sussex.

Attendances at the scenic track near Chichester have so far been up every day this week compared to last year’s event.

On Thursday, 23,607 passed through the turnstiles – up from 23,524.

More than 24,000 are expected for the final day today, which will make it the busiest day of the week.

So what makes Glorious Goodwood so much better than the rest?

Aside from the huge amount of prize money now on offer, it is the beautiful Sussex countryside that has people flocking to the racecourse.

The Argus found first-time racegoer Daniel Arnold, 28, from Brighton, armed with a pint of the good stuff in Goodwood’s Gordon enclosure on Thursday.

It was about 3pm and he had not had much luck on the betting front.

But the pleasing aesthetics of Goodwood and the surrounding rolling countryside more than made up for it.

He said: “It’s my first time ever at the races. I’ve never really had any incentive to go before but I’ve come with my mate and his dad today just to see what it’s all about.

“I’ve not had any winners just yet but that can soon change. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

"But even if I don’t get one I’ve had a fantastic day anyway. We got a coach from the train station and it took us up all the way through the estate and the racetrack. It was beautiful. The view from the grandstand is second to none.

“It’s just beautiful countryside all around, people sharing good times and a great atmosphere. We’re lucky to have this on our doorstep and I’m sure I’ll be back to Goodwood in the future.”

Daniel’s friend Adam Pollard, 32, from Worthing, added: “It’s my first ever time at Goodwood and I think we picked the right day in Ladies' Day. There’s lots of beautiful women around. They look great.

“And I can’t believe how good the view from the grandstand is either. You get the best of the Sussex countryside. It’s not like any other track I’ve been to. There’s a special atmosphere.”

No sooner had Adam finished appreciating both the punters and the countryside, that Daniel’s day got even better when Big Orange romped home at 6/1 in the Qatar Goodwood Cup – the feature race of the day.

The horse’s connections won a cool £170,000. Daniel beat the bookies for more than £50.

“Get in!” he roared as jockey Jamie Spencer’s mount thundered past the finishing post.

Down in the betting ring, bookmaker Martin Power, of Powerbet, was not as appreciative of the Ladies' Day clientele as Mr Pollard.

He said: "There's lots of ladies here and they're having a good time, but they're betting small - £1 and £2 here and there. There's no significant money around. But that's always how it is. The money comes on Friday and Saturday."

Mr Power travels the length and breadth of the country to take on punters at various racecourses.

From Cheltenham and Royal Ascot to the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and the Grand National at Aintree.

But Goodwood is the one he always looks forward to.

He said: "In terms of meetings throughout the year, Goodwood is the one we look out for on the calendar, the one we look forward to.

"We go to all the big meetings but Goodwood is one of the best ones purely because its in such a nice and scenic part of the country.

"Business wise, it's picked up a bit today on Ladies' Day but the first two days have been fairly quiet. It will pick up on the last two days though so I'm not concerned yet.

"It's the first Glorious Goodwood since the sponsorship deal was announced and numbers are clearly up on last year.

"The quality of the racing will only get better as the years go on too. The more prize money there is, the better quality of horses and trainers will come over and that should mean even more punters too."

Over in the winners' enclosure, Frankie Dettori had just completed his trademark flying dismount after scooting home in the £113,000 Qatar Richmond Stakes on 11/8 favourite Shalaa.

Gaggles of beaming punters raced back to the betting ring to collect their winnings. But for the likes of Martin at Powerbet, it is never a good result when the favourite romps home.

He said: "Frankie cost us about £3,500 in total in just that one race. It's been the biggest payout we've had this week."

For one final time this week, tens of thousands of people will today make their way to the Goodwood for a host of top-class races, plenty of drink and fun and frolics in the sun.

While there have been reservations about the name change, most agree the future is bright for the Sussex racecourse.