Might be the different in ages, I prefer the new modern approach but with a sense of tradition and class. At least with ascot if you want to go down the parade rind etc you can choose to or if not just bypass it Sandown you don't really have the choice you have to mix and muddle your way through. The champagne bars people who stau in there are yuppies and go as a fashion statement which is the only thing bad about it but still no that bad too look at some of them lol but eitherway racing is just as good as both
haha, are you calling me old? Ascot has no class. That is kind of my point. It is nearly as bad as Santa Anita for all bravado.
Deauville, Arlington (the best stand I've been in), Happy Valley (just for the buzz) I thoroughly enjoyed my one outing to Cheltenham. Gold Cup Day 2006, and some fine racing. But in some ways it felt like meeting your mates at the pub at 10pm and you're sober but they've been in there since six o'clock.
Interesting racecourse discussion and to throw my tuppenceworth in, I must say I hate racecourses that have a really long home straight - Haydock, Chepstow, Doncaster, Aintree (Mildmay course) and Newbury instantly spring to mind. The NH races at these courses seem to take an age to get up the straight and Newbury's 4 fences after the final bend very nearly made Denman's Hennessy victories seem boring. Sandown and Cheltenham have got the run-in just about right.
Heck, what is the matter with me, I forgot the old Singapore track, Bukit Timah. A natural amphitheatre, like Sandown, only it was left-handed. Spent many happy hours there, loved the place, broke my heart when they tore it down and built the new place. Went to Happy Valley a couple of times, lot of fun.
Just older thanm me so yea pretty much I do get your point there is quite a bit of fake money people thinking they have it and status when they really don't and have cleared there bank for a day out but I just personally like the feel walking down the hill thrn back up it which is ridiculous why not just make it straight from the station and you see the main grandstand building appear you know your in for a good days racing
York Goodwood The Curragh (purely for the occasion when i went and i loved the late afternoon/early evening race times) I have always wanted to visit Chester but never been able to go yet and im sure if i went to any of the other irish racecourses then they would go ahead of the curragh as, by all accounts, the rest are better
Oh by the way anyone I shall be doing my racemaking duties again this year will let you know of the dates altho they arnt at the royal meeting which is a shame as I was looking forward for you especially nass to come up and talk yo me at the royal meeting
Handy Andy Cheltenham 2.40 is my nomination for a punt today though seems like I'm not alone in that view as has halved in price since this morning. Reading the nominations for fav racecourses makes me realise how few I've visited. My favourite would be Cheltenham (would love to be there today) though would agree with others in that I wouldn't rush to go back for Gold Cup day. I like Aintree too, great views from the County Stand, but would never go on GN day. Newmarket should be great but is let down by ridiculous rules about where you can and can't take a drink making it impossible to enjoy a few beers and the racing together. You know some folk do enjoy both. Chester is another potentially fantastic venue but the view of the racing is obliterated by corporate bollox. Best place to watch the races at Chester is outside the course on the town wall. Finally Bangor is a lovely little compact course where you can navigate between refreshment, parade ring and course with ease. The stand is a grass bank which offers a lovely view of proceedings. But they bloody race the wronged way round so the finish is head on to the viewing area. Bonkers!
You never know, if the little horse grows wings, I might have to go to Royal Ascot. I bet you aren't that much younger than me old bean, I am nowhere near the age of Oddy or Stick.
That looked a smart 2-y-o unleashed by David Brown there...Complete guesswork to what the form amounts to but visually impressive. Not too many Azamour's win over 5f in April.
Spot on Chanin ... the City Walls road - just outside the DEE STAND at Chester offers by far the best view of the entire course from its elevated spot ... I have availed myself of it many times (with PaddyPower app on phone to complete the betting forays) ... I shall be in the County Stand for the upcoming May meeting .. and moving into the pre-parade area to catch any snippets from the stable lads/ lasses as they trot them around .. lovely course - lovely bars ... good horses in May ...what's not to like .. and Bangor-on-Dee would be even better if the horses weren't running towards you at the finish ... but a lovely setting and reasonably priced toooooooo ...
A side note, how many of these complaints of large crowds are because the person wasn't in the suitable enclosure for what they wanted? I ask because I really get annoyed at Goodwood when I go in the cheap bit, yet I know its because of me being tight that I don't enjoy the day (plus normally the outlaws go too)
I always go Club at Chelters Nass to avoid the riffraff in Tatts (sorry any tatts folks ) and it is oversubscribed on CGC day...choc-a-block.
