Some cracking action today...will have a more in depth study once I finish making my lamb mince ragu...10/10 and its not even cooked yet! I like Cheltenham but agree with Barney re CGC day..I haven't been since 2004 and have no plans to return.Complete nightmare.The first two days of the Festival are much better regarding congestion and the quality of the racing.That however shouldn't detract from what a great venue it is. Also like Perth,Windsor and Sandown...never been to Ascot so can't comment. In Ireland I love Downpatrick,poor racing but unique little venue with really enthusiatic patrons. Listowel is also worth a visit,Wexford is a quaint little course and Leopardstown is the best track I've ever been to bar none. I have Killarney on my wish list before they close it...supposed to be a stunningly beautiful setting.
I don't particularly agree with this either. The course isn't particularly good, especially if you are a jumps fan, as the racing is too far away from the stand, even when they are coming up the home straight. I always find that it lacks the atmosphere that it should have, even on busy racing days, and worst of all, its all show and no actual substance. The only good thing about Ascot for me is the pre race rings, both the saddling and parade ring are excellent and viewing of those is superb, probably the best around. The rest of the experience just doesn't inspire me. I would compare it with Sandown and Cheltenham, both are older grandstands, and both for me have good facilities for racegoers, and more importantly both draw you into the racing in a more profound way than Ascot. The hill at Cheltenham and the final fence at Sandown are both spectacles that fascinate me, where as Ascot doesn't have that for me. I would say Ascot is the Newton Abbot of big courses.... a shade boring in racing terms.
Chester. Epsom. York. Today's lucky 15. Newmarket,1-45.Provident Spirit. Cheltenham.4-55.Saint Roque. Newmarket.5-10.Munjaz. Cheltenham.5-30.For Two. Good luck to all.
Definitely back the Crab and Lobster. Nice restaurant and great for a sandwich and a pint at lunchtime.
Channel 4 coverage is dire and the so called presenters are irritating to say the least Bring back racing on the BBC, remember the good old days when the horses where the main focus of attention, and the presenters where well informed Gents......Sir Peter, Julian Wilson, & Jimmy Lindley . I think they call it progress? Good Luck!
I'm not one of the sages but the best course I have been to, taking account of access, viewing and prices is, without a doubt, Longchamp. I will never go to Ascot again unless I can afford to be a toff for the day. Years ago a liked Sandown for an evening meeting
Sandown I don't rate at all apart from needing some serious re development imo it doesn't have the space for the amount people who go the parade ring is night mare at the bigger meetings trying to get through that is a nightmare. And how u cansay the racing isn't much at ascot putting the royal meeting aside and infact the flat you still get good jumpers the likes of Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, Big Bucks and Kauto star, I get your point about the the view and it is pretty far away from the rails but you can't beat the hill at cheltenham, the dip at newmarket and the last fence at sandwon but Swinley Bottom at ascot with th the bell ringing you know the action is about to hot up
My top 3 would be Goodwood Sandown - good for both jumps and flat Doncaster - this one surprised me but I had a fantastic day out at the Leger meeting a couple of years back I should probably go and visit some of the smaller racecourses though
Sandown - the last couple of times I have been for big meetings I havent bothered with the parade ring as it is far too busy. I find the best place is the pre parade ring. Really nice up there.
it hasn't been for a long time. I think it might have been in the past but that was before I got into racing. it should be though as there are interesing races throughout the card. a few I fancy today are PARBOLD in the 3.30, QUEEN CATRINE in the 4.05 and EXPERT in the 5.40. The favourites will take all the beating in the remainder.
Not sure how you can find Sandown cramped, its one of the biggest spaces around, the viewing from the roof above the parade ring is as good a viewing spot as you can get at a parade ring, plus I have never had issues finding a spot on the parade ring, even as a vertically challenged member of society , and the winners enclosure is a superb feature. I found Ascot more cramped (albeit when I went downstairs) and the stands at Ascot are horrible in comparison to Sandown for viewing spots. I prefer my racecourses to be lived in places, with a bit of history and the like, not a jumped up champagne bar with a view of some horses on occasions. It is very interesting to read how many different courses have been mentioned, Goodwood, Ascot and Cheltenham all aren't surprising, but good to read people are fond of Newmarket (must get soon), York and Chester.
I thought you loved Bath racecourse! Iâm Shocked with a capital 'S'. Do agree about Newbury, to a point, but find the trackâs âstandoffishnessâ as part of its charm in a funny way. Although things do gradually seem to be improving for the better. There was a book published a few years ago (apologies I canât recall the title) in which a racing novice attended all the UK tracks and then gave his thoughts on each and every one. Was first class and the memorable quote from it for me was that the walkway, at Newbury, between Tatts and Members was guarded more fiercely than the Berlin Wall ever was! So true, indeed! No âtop tableâ shenanigans for me today I settled for a quiet corner to read the old âWeekenderâ. Cheese ploughmans sandwiches, a packet of hula hoops and a banana all washed down with a refreshing bucket of water.
From Aintree to York (see what he did?) A very good read, a little out of date now, but still well worth a perusal when you are off to the next new racecourse. Bath is awful, it has gone downhill so fast since around 2010, with one grandstand being shut, them running out of pies, and then the slurrygate situation. A real shame as locationwise its brilliant, and its pretty unique due to the ground and lack of irrigation. Still, when its run by that inept group, what do you expect? Racecourse Newbury, to give its official name, is a shambles, I for one would love for them to go bust. The electrocution story, followed by the dresscode, the renaming and the latest stabling issue, makes it seem even worse than old Worcester racecourse. That racecourse only had bad stories because of location, and not ineptitude. As an aside, anyone been to Nottingham racecourse?
Am actually having a small bet today 3.50 Pacha Du Polder- 4/1can't bebothered to write up but didn't run to badly lto and will like the ground
Well, Nass, I'm obviously out-of-date, but for me it would be Sandown Park, the old Kempton Park (before the introduction of Polytrack), and Newmarket (even though I was rarely lucky there - but it is the home of some great horseracing). Have been to the Cheltenham Festival a couple of times, and, to be frank, it was just a bit too much. Could hardly move one way or t'other. Never did go to a meeting outside of the Festival though. I never did get to the York races, even though travelled up north once on the train with the then clerk of the course, Major Leslie Petch, who was kind enough to give me an open invitation to visit the track.
