For anyone that is attending Champions Day on Saturday, the full schedule of events has been released: http://www.britishchampionsseries.com/itinerary/ I'll be interested to see the "Joey meets Monsignor", as I saw (on television) that they did something similar at Cheltenham a few years ago and the reaction of the horse to the puppet was very amusing. He didn't know what to make of it! Monsignor has been a bit of a fixture at these big days over the last year, so if anyone does want to meet him and have a pat he'll be over on the Stewards House Lawn, willingly accepting polos and sugar lumps no doubt! Who else is going? Should we all be wearing red carnations, or tea cosy's as suggested elsewhere?!
To be honest Nass, we're only going because some friends invited us to join them and we can get in for free using my office Newmarket Annual Member badges! If Frankel weren't running I'd probably not have bothered!
There's nothing wrong with Ascot per se, it is just very large and very impersonal. Don't expect to be able to see horses in the paddock, have a bet AND get to watch the race - you'll get 2 of the 3 done if you're lucky!
Gorgeous George WashingTOON, if you already have badges for the Premier Enclosure, you will be able to get within a hundred yards of the winning post. I think it is a sell out in there, so if you are paying at the gate you will be in the Grandstand & Paddock enclosure with the plebs. Standing near the winning post is the preserve of the upper classes (something that may count against Ascot hosting the Arc if our socialist neighbours even think about holding it abroad when they rebuild Longchamp). I hope that you are in good shape and do not have a heart condition or some such ailment that is going to prevent you from negotiating the steps as there are loads around the parade ring and loads to get from the grandstand down to the trackside lawns.
Have to agree Nass. My next outing will be the JN CC at Down Royal on the 5th of Nov.A crowd of my friends fly over every year and it usually coincides with the Breeders Cup in the evening.Proper days sport and decent stamina test for both man and beast! In fact,I try to avoid all meetings which will be patronised by the newbies the BHA are trying to attract...what a dreadful attitude!!..
Nothin' like a bush meeting with about 500 regulars, a beer tent, tea room and horses rated 45 and below. A belting sun that even the flies avoid and great clouds of dust being kicked up by slow moving horses, makes for a great day of racing. The fact that they take a minute thirty to struggle over the 1400m trip, just adds to the flavour. The longer they are on the track, the more bang for the buck.
My next trip to the races: Easyjet from Edinburgh to Paris £60 - Three night in Ibis close to Gare du Nord 147 euros - 2 days at Auteuil 8 euros. Losses and expenses ??? Add this to two evenings in a PMU bistro/brasserie for the Breeders Cup plus the FNAC and Virgin megastores for some CD/DVD browsing and I will be like a child in a toyshop. Finally, add some less than salubrious 'boozers' in non tourist areas and you have the perfect weekend! Hope Ascot on Saturday will be a repeat of the Arc for this Bavarian loving Scot!!!!
Cyc...I'm gonna report you to the RSPCA.This is even worse than your infatuation with 4m staying chases on bottomless ground!!..
Spot on Cyc, I love watching slow horses get whacked 6 times in the first two furlongs and then being ridden hands and heels for the rest of the 2 mile flat race. Much more value for your money!! Even more so when Richard Hills is riding one of them!!
Just like we know that the Americans do not speak English, it looks like the Aussies have a foreign language as well. A “bush meeting” where I live would be similar to going down to the local billabong when there is a Sheilas’ Night Out, they’re well oiled and looking for a knee trembler; and “horses rated 45 and below” are the key ingredients at the local kebab shop on the way home.
QMII I have premier enclousure yes, nothing to do with the proximity to the 'plebs' as you put it moreover I was told premier enclosure allows you to an upstairs bit and I prefer being able to see the race unfold from a few furlongs out rather than have the horses flash past me in the last few strides. What's a few quid when the card is that good? And Steps!? I watch football in the upper level of St James' Park....(again I prefer a loftier view) On a funny side note to plebgate, dress code for premier enclosure = shirt and tie dress code for grandstand = no bare chests!!
But you only have to go up those steps before three o’clock, come down them for a pint and a pie at three forty-five then repeat that at four and four forty-five (different times this Sunday when Spurs visit). You might even have a one-way system of people only going up one side of the stairs and down the other but the soft Southerners were not that organised on King George day. I think there is a Tie Rack at Kings Cross Station but I do not think that your replica Alan Shearer black and white stripes count as a shirt to the old boys on the gate at Ascot.
I'm going and same as you princess I am not sure I would have bothered had Frankel not been running. a combination of that and some half decent weather forecast should get the attendance above 20,000 I would think. If they persist in having Champions Day at Ascot in mid October though I think they may be struggling with the attendance in future years
From what I have read, the aim is to have attendence at 25,000 this weekend and get it up to 40,000 within 6 years. As you say, it looks as though they will be lucky with the weather this year, but they certainly can't count on it in future years.
Surely now with Ryan Moore on So You Think for the Tatterstalls Gold Cup- his 2/1 price is good value!
