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Probably been to less than a dozen in my life, so far from an expert, but went to Goodwood today and that has jumped to top of my list. The perfect weather helped, but the views were awesome, sea one side, the downs the other, had a real touch of understated class about it too and not too busy.
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Glorious Goodwood is a magnificent meeting but for me nothing beats Longchamp on Arc day. Cheltenham is just too much hard work so prefer to watch that in comfort in the pub although I have been there many times and have got great memories.
I suspect glorious goodwood would be too busy for my liking. Was busy enough today but no queuing for drinks and there werent too many of the chavvy stag do sorts.
1- Sandown
2-Aintree
3- Fontwell
Obv the Chelt festival tops the lot, but just for a racecourse, facilities, viewing etc, there me top 3 (been to quite a lot, not york though so couldnt say about that 1)
2-Aintree
3- Fontwell
Obv the Chelt festival tops the lot, but just for a racecourse, facilities, viewing etc, there me top 3 (been to quite a lot, not york though so couldnt say about that 1)
York Fantastic facilities
Cheltenham Great atmosphere at the festival
Perth I love the location
Cheltenham Great atmosphere at the festival
Perth I love the location
I absolutely love Fakenham and Fontwell.
Goodwood for me but Glorious is too rammed. Evening meetings on a sunny day are wonderful. Can't help liking Sandown too...
Rob - I always knew you were a good judge!. God's own racecourse, as I have said before.
I like Chepstow. Like Cheltenham but on a smaller scale. Easy to get right up close wherever you want.
My local course Hereford which sadly is no longer operating
Love the Hunter Chase weekend at Stratford.
See all the way around, great crowd and good town for food and booze afterwards.
See all the way around, great crowd and good town for food and booze afterwards.
can't beat sandown, for me - top facilities, well laid out and always a cracking atmosphere
ps avoid the variety club charidee day though
ps avoid the variety club charidee day though
York
Cartmel
Don't care about the bars as I don't drink.
Aintree, only been there during Grand National weeks, getting in is beyond a joke with sniffer dogs all over the place, takes far too long.
Royal Ascot, utter madhouse.
Cheltenham okay, but getting away after racing can be murder during the Festival.
I was going to go to Fakenham last Sunday, but was told to mow the lawn instead.
Cartmel
Don't care about the bars as I don't drink.
Aintree, only been there during Grand National weeks, getting in is beyond a joke with sniffer dogs all over the place, takes far too long.
Royal Ascot, utter madhouse.
Cheltenham okay, but getting away after racing can be murder during the Festival.
I was going to go to Fakenham last Sunday, but was told to mow the lawn instead.
Newton Abbot without a doubt. The first Saturday in August which used to start the NH season after the summer break was so special. The train journey alongside the sea at Teignmouth, the sparkling Devon air, then meeting the mates you hadn't seen since Stratford in June for a drink in the Queen's Hotel. However many punters are present, you always seem to be able to get a spot by the paddock and to have a word with any faces you know.
Salisbury is also special. Breathtaking views, good horses and it always seems to be summer there. There's almost a magical atmosphere to the place sometimes (except when Steve Cauthen had his first ride and first winner in England, when it poured down all day). If only they still had that ice-cream salesman who was just so humbly pleased to sell you one of his cones, it'd be vying for number one.
Salisbury is also special. Breathtaking views, good horses and it always seems to be summer there. There's almost a magical atmosphere to the place sometimes (except when Steve Cauthen had his first ride and first winner in England, when it poured down all day). If only they still had that ice-cream salesman who was just so humbly pleased to sell you one of his cones, it'd be vying for number one.
We had a picnic in the carpark befpre and after, hence the traffic problems are minimised. Why doesnt everyone do that, saves money on over priced sub standard food. Was a delight sitting there withs cold beer looking at the scenery.
I loved Churchill Downs when I went to the Kentucky Derby the year Unbridled won, but the environs around the course itself were shocking in their deprivation
Goodwood – just naturally beautiful
Sandown especially on a cold but sunny winters day. The walk across the course from the railway station is glorious and really sets the pulse racing.
Cheltenham of course, because of the setting, the atmosphere, the memories and the sheer emotion of the place.
Cartmel is a hoot. Don’t bother if you want to watch the racing but if you want a good day out in a perfect rural setting it’s unbeatable.
The first time I went to both the Newmarket courses the view across the massive expanse of heath took my breath away.
We’re really blessed in this country with the variety of topography and settings of our racecourses
Sandown especially on a cold but sunny winters day. The walk across the course from the railway station is glorious and really sets the pulse racing.
Cheltenham of course, because of the setting, the atmosphere, the memories and the sheer emotion of the place.
Cartmel is a hoot. Don’t bother if you want to watch the racing but if you want a good day out in a perfect rural setting it’s unbeatable.
The first time I went to both the Newmarket courses the view across the massive expanse of heath took my breath away.
We’re really blessed in this country with the variety of topography and settings of our racecourses
cobblaz -- that's like --The Masters
major poverty out with course boundary,hence the huge fence around property
major poverty out with course boundary,hence the huge fence around property
Cheltenham....atmosphere
Galway........the craic
Perth.........the setting
Galway........the craic
Perth.........the setting
Sandown for me.Of the smaller tracks I particularly enjoy Plumpton,Fontwell and Hamilton.
York is miles in front imo. The facilities are different class. The town is fantastic also.
Every racecourse redevelopment after York has been a dismal failure imo. They should just copy York.
I'm not so keen on Sandown as the stiff uphill finish leads to a no. of slow motion finishes. The sprint course location makes for poor viewing also. The jumps is a bit better, with the railway fences and them running up towards you.
In general, I like flat courses, where you get faster, more exciting finishes. e.g. Newbury & Doncaster.
Newbury's facilities are ok, but not great. Doncaster's facilities were outdated & needed modernising when I last went. ca 5 years ago.
Doncaster is fairly lively as a town. (just been in the town once or twice)
Goodwood is picturesque, but does not have nearly enough seating. The nearest town (chichister) si not somewhere I'd be in a hurry to visit again.
Epsom is ok, but they let far too many people in on Oaks & Derby day. (like Cheltenham some years back & probably still) The town & surrounding villages are pretty decent.
Every racecourse redevelopment after York has been a dismal failure imo. They should just copy York.
I'm not so keen on Sandown as the stiff uphill finish leads to a no. of slow motion finishes. The sprint course location makes for poor viewing also. The jumps is a bit better, with the railway fences and them running up towards you.
In general, I like flat courses, where you get faster, more exciting finishes. e.g. Newbury & Doncaster.
Newbury's facilities are ok, but not great. Doncaster's facilities were outdated & needed modernising when I last went. ca 5 years ago.
Doncaster is fairly lively as a town. (just been in the town once or twice)
Goodwood is picturesque, but does not have nearly enough seating. The nearest town (chichister) si not somewhere I'd be in a hurry to visit again.
Epsom is ok, but they let far too many people in on Oaks & Derby day. (like Cheltenham some years back & probably still) The town & surrounding villages are pretty decent.
Have been to almost 40 over the years - Killarney the nicest.
only been to scottish tracks, perth , hamilton, ayr, and musselburgh.
in order
hamilton-like the atmosphere.
perth-close second.
musselburgh-nice enough.
ayr-****.
in order
hamilton-like the atmosphere.
perth-close second.
musselburgh-nice enough.
ayr-****.
York for me too. If you want to get dressed up and drink Champagne at half the price of Ascot and Goodwood with world class racing, then the Ebor meeting is for you. If you want a cheap day out, and see the best horses in Europe racing, take your own drinks into the course enclosure. You will see the best slappers the north of England has to offer on Ebor Day too. York has got it all.
JUST had a quick tot up and I have been to over thirty in England and eight abroad
my nicest are
Santa Anita
Longchamp
York
my nicest are
Santa Anita
Longchamp
York
Cheltenham my favourite - but local course Hereford right up there . Hope we get racing back there !
Towcester is one of my favourites.
Uphill all the way around.
Uphill all the way around.
1. Chester
2. Goodwood
3. Hippodromo,Lima
others because of on course wins Windsor, Bath and Brighton
2. Goodwood
3. Hippodromo,Lima
others because of on course wins Windsor, Bath and Brighton
I won thousands of soles at the track in Lima but it amounted to less than £10 ...
but my well connected brother-in-law introduced me to the right people and I was briefly allowed to sit in the President's seat ) he wasn't present).
but my well connected brother-in-law introduced me to the right people and I was briefly allowed to sit in the President's seat ) he wasn't present).
Yarmouth , great viewing and only a stones throw from the beach.
Trentham (NZ)and Santa Anita (US) - dead heat for fantastic surroundings and facilities for proper racegoers (ie not owners/trainers and corporate hangers-on who have spoilt many UK racecourses in particular Chester).
I must admit goodwood is a fantastic place in nice weather, but go on a wet day and it feels like the worst place on earth
Sandown for me too. Great venue, good racing, good atmosphere.
Also love Aintree & Chelters, (IMHO York overrated as far too may drunks and not 'racing fans'). Windsor has a certain charm but low grade racing doesn't really do it for me.
Actually Ascot is now a nice place except Royal Ascot!
Also love Aintree & Chelters, (IMHO York overrated as far too may drunks and not 'racing fans'). Windsor has a certain charm but low grade racing doesn't really do it for me.
Actually Ascot is now a nice place except Royal Ascot!
Beverley can be a lovely place to visit, nice walk up from the Town and a good view all the way round. Shame the racing is usually of the Class 5/6 dross most of the time. The steep uphill finish also means often exciting close finishes as they start to slow down in front approaching the line.
Les Landes, friends, unbeatable on a great summers day.Views all over the other Channel Islands,,
Newbury.
Sandown.
Stratford.
Went to York last Judmontte meeting, I sat on one of the long seats Donated by past racing people/community members outside the weighing room, within one minute 2 policemen and a security guard approached me,
What are you selling? they ask
Nothing, this is a laptop bag,
What`s in it,
Er a laptop and some racing programmes the jocks are going to sign,
Where do you live?
I bowl them a googly and give them my Kiev,Ukraine address, (Factual)
The 2 coppers stare at the Security man, he stares at the "Jobsworth" somewhere in the weighing room entrance who called him.
Information is conveyed that I am Not allowed to sit on these Donated seats and I must move 5 meters away,
Everybody walks away shaking heads including me,
These Jobsworths are what ruins some peoples racing day.
Sandown.
Stratford.
Went to York last Judmontte meeting, I sat on one of the long seats Donated by past racing people/community members outside the weighing room, within one minute 2 policemen and a security guard approached me,
What are you selling? they ask
Nothing, this is a laptop bag,
What`s in it,
Er a laptop and some racing programmes the jocks are going to sign,
Where do you live?
I bowl them a googly and give them my Kiev,Ukraine address, (Factual)
The 2 coppers stare at the Security man, he stares at the "Jobsworth" somewhere in the weighing room entrance who called him.
Information is conveyed that I am Not allowed to sit on these Donated seats and I must move 5 meters away,
Everybody walks away shaking heads including me,
These Jobsworths are what ruins some peoples racing day.
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