I am actually all in favour of this as I think there should be an all weather track up north and it will prove very popular. My only hope however is that they make a fair track and that they show some ambition rather than just turn it into Greyhound racing.
When all weather racing first surfaced I was not a fan but it has slowly worked its way into my affections since the surfaces have improved. I also find it a very profitable place to bet as all the factors that you need to have a proper punt are easily weighed up and pretty consistent. The horses run regularly, the draw is consistent (low good, high bad) and when following it closely its easy to work out which horse is fancied today and which isn't by watching money and jockey bookings. I also love watching a good jockey and in many ways I think you need be a better jockey on the all weather tracks than most turf tracks as you must ride a start and in most cases be able to constantly asses and react to what's happening quickly, I feel Adam Kirby and Jim Crowley are two jockeys who have improved their riding immensely by putting in the time on the all weather tracks.
I will be interested in how Newcastle will compare to the existing tracks as they are all quite different in some respects, my opinion for what it's worth.
Kempton
This is my favourite as I feel the surface to be a good balance of neither slow nor fast, minimal kick back but most importantly is by far the fairest track. Although a low draw is still an advantage you do not need avoid a horse with a high draw as it can still win with an intelligent ride and only a little luck. Best punting track by far.
Lingfield
This has probably the best surface and is by far the best run of the tracks with some good pots often be up for grabs in between the usual standard fare. They have really worked hard with innovation over the years and are rewarded with attendances sometimes that the other tracks would never see. The down side is that it can have a few hard luck stories which makes punting hard and frustrating, a cut away like Kempton would transform it into number one for me but due to it's absence relegates it to second.
Wolverhampton
This track is very much like Lingfield from a punting point of view in as much as a high draw can really kill off a horses chances and make punting more difficult. I also have to say that the new surface laid for this season is not looking good at present as there is much more kick back which ruins everything. They claim it is still bedding in which it may well do but it's not looking great at present. Like Lingfield there are good punting opportunities as long as the draw is in your favour and you have the discipline to let horse you fancy go unbacked because of a bad draw, they will win sometimes even from out wide but as a rule best to leave them to run without money down in the long term.
Southwell
This track is like no other in the country and course and distance form is essential but the draw less decisive. I have had about 3 bets in my life on races at Southwell and cannot see any attraction in the racing there whatsoever, a place where a 5 furlong sprint will end up a war of attrition whilst add in the kick back and it all looks pretty grim to the naked eye. To provide some perspective the standard time over 6f at Southwell is 1m14s whilst at Lingfield it is 1m 9s and 5 seconds over a sprint distance is huge. I feel that you can tell what a surface and the racing is like by whether the grade A trainers will show up at a course and they are rarely seen at Southwell where as Kempton will always have the Gosdens, Cumanis Cecils and Stoutes running their horses even though the prize money is often not much better.
Anyway Lets hope Newcastle put in a good surface and a fair track on which you can win from anywhere, then offer some decent prize money as Lingfield sometimes do to attract the better horses. Do this and it will be a good addition to the Northern scene which will also help some good Northern jockeys earn a living through the winter as the other tracks do.
