More than 100,000 people flooded through the gates over the five days of the festival – shooting down fears its popularity could be hit by the credit crunch.

Racecourse bosses were delighted with how smoothly the event ran, and were overjoyed at the quality of the racing, which saw a number of close finishes in some the biggest races of the week.

IN THE OBSERVER THIS WEEK - Reports and pictures as we reflect on all aspects of Glorious Goodwood

Managing director Fabricius said everyone involved, from the management team to the groundstaff and the jockeys, trainers and owners, could be proud of playing their part in a racing spectacle to remember.

And he said planning for the 2009 festival would begin almost immediately.

"There's no time to rest on our laurels," he told the Observer.

"We have a good reputation and high standards but the only way to maintain these are to keep working hard and coming up with new ways of making Goodwood, whether during the festival or at other times, an attractive place at which to watch racing.

"We will have a wash-up meeting and look back at the festival and start making plans for next year.

"And don't forget, we've another eight race meetings to come this season, starting with a big weekend of racing on August 23 and 24."

Fabricius revealed plans were in the pipeline to move one of the feature races – the Sussex Stakes – to the Saturday of Glorious Goodwood in 2010 as part of a nationwide move to create a new championship for the sport's biggest races.