As many of the threads since the New Year, have mentioned that the Cheltenham Festival is nearly upon us I thought this would prove an enjoyable way to pass some time. I have noted that some of my 'fellow posters' either live outwith the UK or were not born in the UK so their racing experiences would be interesting. My immediate thoughts: Cheltenham anytime but particularly the Festival. The Sandown evening meeting which used to take place on the Tuesday before The Derby. The Arc weekend. 'Weekend International de L'Obstacle' at Auteuil - Sunday - easily on a par with a day at the Festival for 4 euros. Belmont Park (NYC) for the Breeders Cup 'trials' - five Grade 1 races for 4 bucks. Neuss (near Dusseldorf and Koln) - all weather racing on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. Munchen Daglfing - trotting - similiar atmosphere to dog racing in the UK - great food and Weissbier. Just thought I would add some of my disappointments: Royal Ascot and The Derby Hope my first thread is not a bummer!!
No bummer at all, good thread. Cheltenham festival there is simply no better place in the world to be at that time. Punchestown Festival Arc Day York Ebor meeting Cold wet windy Mondays at Plumpton - proper NH weather ! Any Sandown meeting Disappointments include Galway festival, any Epsom meeting and Grand National day (too busy/hard work)
When in the UK I used to enjoy the Sandown evening meetings and, to a lesser extent, Kempton and also the Epsom Derby and the KG race day at Ascot. Used to enjoy Royal Ascot but suffered the Silver Ring there after the re-build - absolute disgrace and NEVER again. I've only been to 1 track in France and that was Arc day last year. Great day out and would definitely go again. I gather the Deauville venue is also a good day out and must go there one day.
Sandown Imperial Cup - Lovely pre Cheltenham atmosphere and TEA on tap. Glorious Goodwood - love the place and its a brilliant meeting, especially like the Saturday (Nassau Stakes) Wincanton - Lovely course and a lovely part of the world Cheltenham - any day at Chelts is a pleasure
Forgot Goodwood, although only been there once. I'm sure Cheltenham is a great place to be but I've only been there once and it was freezing and my favourite chaser of the time got pipped on the post in the Gold Cup. So memories not great for me.
Cheltenham is always good but for the Festival it is great. I actually enjoyed my day at Royal Ascot this year. I suppose that might have been helped by Canford Cliffs v Goldikova and Frankel! Nothing beats or comes close to the Festival. The atmosphere is immense. On the Tuesday, everybody there has been waiting for 361 days and it shows. Just superb.
Haven't been to Goodwood but always hear good things about it. Couldn't make the Sussex Stakes this year as I was working. A proper job too not the optional University crack! Hope to make it at some stage. I quite like Newbury too. Hennessy day is always decent and planning on going on Feb 12th for the Denman/Betfair Hurdle/Game Spirit.
We have 3 racetracks here in Berlin - 1 "Galopp" (i.e. flat racing) track and the other 2 Trotting tracks. The flat track at Hoppegarten can be easily reached from Berlin City centre by train and the journey takes about 45 minutes, costing â¬3. Racing is from early April through to mid-October and there are 10 meetings planned for 2012. Racing is usually on a Sunday (one meeting Saturday 15th September and the traditional "German Reunification Day" Meeting is always on October 3rd, whatever day of the week it falls on) and we have a Group 1 race (Grosser Preis von Berlin â¬175,000) on Sunday July 22nd with a Class 1 handicap worth â¬80,000 on the same card. The full race calender can be found here: http://www.hoppegarten.com/renntermine.html (sorry I couldn't find an English version). The basic entry ticket is a "standing ticket" at â¬9 for adults (increases to â¬13 on racedays with a Group Race - there are 3 of these) or you can get a "season ticket" covering all 10 meetings for â¬70 - excellent value. In the main stand you can private boxes for 6 people (â¬40 / â¬45 for group races) or 4 people (â¬25-30 / â¬30-35) . It's a few years since I've been now but I do remember a very pleasurable visit with my father for the Group 1 race where we had a nice chat with mark Johnston and he told us to get on Docksider big time for the race (which we did and he duly won). The course is small but does not get overcrowded, even on big race days. There is plenty of time to view the horses in the parade ring before striking a wager and ambling about 200 yards to stand at the finish line. You can't really see much of the field until they are well up the home straight so you are dependent upon the track commentary (which is in German) but there may now be monitors installed (even a "big screen"??) - not sure but will definitely pay a visit this year. Betting is per a tote-style system only with win, place, forecasts and tricasts available. There are no private bookmakers. On-course catering is pretty much what you would expect in Germany - excellent cold beer, plenty of Bratwurst and other such delicacies and not too much queueing. It's easy to get into the rhythm of beer // parade ring // tote window // finish line // beer // parade ring // tote window etc etc etc etc. Hoppegarten is a fun day out without the drunks you often get in the UK and actually has more of a family fun fair / carneval atmosphere. The majority of people I would not have down as horse experts but everyone takes a keen interest in the animals themselves and there is a general "feel good" factor despite the rather poor economic situation of the sport in general in Germany and Hoppegarten in particular. On my last visit with my father we hit the beers very hard. We had a big win on Docksider (had the forecast up) and coming to the last race we could hardly see the race card. We spotted one horse whose name just made us laugh (I think it was "Kalshi Malshi" or something similar) so we lumped on that. We were stood near the finish line in a decent crowd of people as the race commenced. I was listening to the commentary trying to spot where ours was, and my dad kept asking me where our horse was (he doesn't speak German). To our disappointment he had not been mentioned by the time the field came round the final bend. Then, about 2 furlongs out a horse shot out of the pack and made the best of his way home. The commentator yelled "Kalshi Malshi" and me and my dad were jumping up and down cheering him home. We were obviously the only ones on it as everyone around us was looking at us with rather puzzled expressions on their faces as we shouted "you ****ing beauty" at the top of our voices. Happy days indeed As trotting doesn't interest me I haven't visitied Marienfelde, but I did once go to a camel race at Karlshorst. Unfortunately, because of some German legal technicality, you can't bet on camels. So having picked the winner of the first race on his paddock looks, I was disappointed at not being able to strike a wager. So we went home.
Favourite meeting is without a doubt the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. My three favourite races of the festival all in the first day Supreme, Arkle, Champion Hurdle apart from obviously the Gold Cup. The overall buzz of the day is incomparable for Me the whole festival is truly unique... I always enjoy the venture across to Liverpool for the Grand National, Usually stay to the Tattersall Enclosure always a good buzz and the couple years I've been the weather as been brilliant espcially last year, I couldn't have picked a better day. Usually stay in Liverpool after always a good night! Favourite racecourse is a difficult one, I think York is certainly up there dare I say it is better than Ascot for Me. For overall history and the year's I've been Prestbury Park is second to none the aura of that place and the view of Cleeve Hill is truly breathtaking at times. We are blessed in this country to have such brilliant racetracks!
You cant beat my local track Plumpton- Love it thier- the smalled NH course in the country get close up and personal with the horses and trainers! Great Day out!!!
Always back at least 1 Gary Moore horse- has an incredible record at the course and always has at least one 1 winner. Venetia Williams seems to have a few runners there every so often the same with Alan King.
As a relative newcomer to racing, I've only been to the races *shocker* three times: I went to the first day of Cheltenham festival last year, the first day of the Aintree festival, and the 'Champions Day' at Ascot.... Aintree and Ascot were fantastic, and I would recommend either to anyone. Cheltenham was twice as good, if not better. The best day out I've had in ages.
When I die and go to heaven (some hope) St Peter will meet me at the entrance to Cheltenham racecourse. It will of course be March, the daffodils will be out, and the sunlight and shadow will dance across Cleeve hill. In the Gold Cup, Best Mate will flow over the last abreast of Arkle, Denman and Kauto Star. Should I go to the other place, it will be Southwell. And I'll have backed Ballinger Ridge.
They are three pretty darn good days to start you off Danish. The best day of Cheltenham, the best day of Royal Ascot and Champions Day was a cracker too. Doesn't get much better than that.
Tough one... Favourite day I've been to is Cheltenham Gold Cup day - This was due to Katchit & Kauto the buzz is incredible been to Wed, Thur, & Friday of Cheltenham I will have to make the Tuesday one day too. I really like York and the ebor festival is fantastic. Personally the Derby day was good to me to because of Workforce's win. Also been to guineas, national, champions day and loads more. The atmosphere at cheltenham is second to none.
