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Can you learned forum member point me in the right direction ? I have a quite few days holiday leave to book ( up until November '18 ) , and was considering going to visit a new racecourse or two , but I'm looking for tips on what meetings are best for value , viewing , facilities , atmosphere , ease of travel , local accommodation and nearby things to de etc . I've done all Scottish courses , and also visited Newcastle , Sedgefield , Hexham , Carlisle , Aintree , Cheltenham , Kempton and Sandown . I've already thought about July meeting at Newmarket , St leger meeting Doncaster and the Betfair chase Haydock . I know some of you will have been to many racecourses , and will be able to help me with your advice . I have already used the forum for advice when I visited the courses of Sandown and Kempton , and that helped me greatly . I prefer NH but top class flat action would interest me too . Thanks in advance .
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From what I hear any big York meeting midweek is quiet enough for a proper racing person to enjoy with the good quality horses to boot.
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If I sought advice from forumites I'm pretty sure I'd be looking for a Dummies meeting
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I would recommend 'Glorius Goodwood' week, lovely course set in the Sussex Downs.
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bearing in mind ease of travel i'd recommend a day at Plumpton. Friendly crowd,excellent value and tasty food from the main bar ,railway station on the course,very plummy announcer Milton Johns (well worth listening to). A lovely small course.
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i'd go to goodwood as well even though it's going to be a bit of a trek; from your list i'd do donny
did you consider ireland, or maybe the arc meeting @ longchamp? |
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The west country jumps tracks are well worth a visit, I would suggest the opening meeting of the season at Exeter on thur 11th Oct, followed by the season finale at Newton Abbott the following day, then onto Chepstow for their 2 day meeting on 13th/14th Oct, for the first good cards of the new jumps season. Stay in the Torbay area for the first couple of nights, i would suggest the Cary Arms, Babbacombe (good hotel, incredible location with sea views) followed by a couple of nights in the Forest of Dean, I would suggest St Pierre Marriott for the last couple of nights or somewhere like Symonds Yat. Hope this gives you some ideas.
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in a similar position as you northofperth i find it easier to go to ireland. laytown and kilbeggan for me in sept
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Had some good days at Bangor,Ffos Las Stratford. Uttoxeter,Towcester, Warwick,Market Rasen, Huntingdon, Fakenham, Fontwell,Brighton, Lingfield, Plumpton and of course Epsom.
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Many thanks to you all for your contributions . I will carefully consider the suggestions I've received . I have been to Galway and Tramore , in Ireland . But this year I was meaning to go to at least one new course in the UK . Travel wise , I have a car but I may choose to go by rail if it is convenient and reasonably priced . I'll continue to read this thread to pick up any more tips .
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There is the Yorkshire racing festival 21st-28th July covering Ripon, Redcar, Beverley, Catterick, Doncaster, Thirsk York and Pontefract
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If you prefer jumps Cartmel is a lovely little course ,about a ten yard walk to the village with at least 3 decent pub/hotels to stay in .Great atmosphere and very friendly place .
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Been to quite a few. Ripon is the most beautiful race course Ive been too.
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AA wons
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Although York is famous, I like Beverley, but I've never won there, and Thirsk is nice, too, and I've won there, but I've won at Pontefract.
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Glorious Goodwood is easily my favourite flat meeting to go to, that week aside the Arc weekend at Longchamp is my second choice and would heartily recommend both those meetings to anybody.
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Towcester
Free entry. |
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Never been to Cartmel will have to Go
 Fontwell Midweek Cracking Little track Get yourself into the Middle of the course for the chases |
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Personally I dislike Goodwood and although it's only 30 miles from where I live I avoid it nowadays. Agree with Casemoney re Fontwell;the midweek meetings have the feel of a point to point.
Ascot jump racing meetings are usually pretty good. |
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Ascot first day for the Queen Anne and other group 1 races,Newmarket July Cup meeting and then just try pretty much any midweek meeting on the grass or over the obstacles. If you avoid dirt racing and weekends its splendid. Good luck
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Newton Abbot and Salisbury Wed & Thurs 15 & 16 August.
Train to N Abbot, making sure you get a window seat on the left-hand side of the carriage. From Exeter onwards, if the tide's in, it's like crossing the ocean on a train. One of the great railway journeys of the world. And the racecourse in August is like a step back in time, to before all-year-round jump racing, to a time when racegoers were excited by the prospect of a new season, and the joys of the West Country circuit, with its characters and its holidaymakers and its sense of fun. Salisbury racecourse can be simply magical. Take an ice cream high up into the stand furthest from the finishing line, and drink in the peace and the views which inspired Constable. |
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Glorious Goodwood is easily my favourite flat meeting to go to, that week aside the Arc weekend at Longchamp is my second choice and would heartily recommend both those meetings to anybody.
Slippy Blue, Very good choices, i would say exactly the same .......... but in reverse  The Arc weekend (Saturday is also good) is the one i try to make most years, i love it. |
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october 10th ludlow
october 11th worcester october 12th newton abbot october 13th chepstow october 14th chepstow a cracking trip finishing with two very important days national hunt racing at chepstow which will help set you up for the season ahead.a good three days in ireland is thurles november 29th then a blank day friday then two days at fairyhouse december 1st and 2nd like chepstow sets you up nicely for the season ahead.regarding the flat royal ascot is different class in every way never mind goodwood and the july meeting.any trips to plumpton,fontwell and kelso are always enjoyable. |
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Foxy,
RA is different class, there's no doubt about that, but would most 'real racing' fans agree ? |
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good morning andrew
why would they not agree its a wonderful occasion with high class racing it has everything for 5 days nothing else in the world matters. |
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Good morning foxy,
I've been to Ascot many times, but i prefer the champions day and KG/QE II meetings to RA. Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful meeting, with high class racing as you correctly stated. I took my daughter to the QA meeting to see Frankel, her first experience of racing and she loved it, the pomp, the Queen, the fashion etc, not only that her first ever bet was in the sprint directly after Frankel. I can't remember the name (Little Bridge ?) and she had also forgotten, but she knew the silk colours, and was shouting home 'go on £24' in the last furlong, her bet being £2 @ 12/1  . So funny and not bad for a first bet.I just feel RA is a little OTT, but maybe it's just me, and i'm certainly not envious of those with more £ than me. Given a choice of RA or Longchamp Arc meeting, I would choose the latter, 2 days of top class group racing, with all the glamour etc but precluding the class distinction element. Good luck today  |
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well andrew i hope after the queen anne you explained to your daughter that if she went to royal ascot for the next million years she will never see a performance like frankels that afternoon.my two daughters are going for the first time this year i will show them the frankel statue and explain to them not to expect to witness a horse like him this week.
good luck to you also. |
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Foxy,
Totally agree and well said, My daughter was probably fed of me telling her all about Frankel the wonderhorse for weeks leading up to the race. I like to think i'm his biggest fan amongst the millions and had many a debate with Brigust1 on here as to the merits of him vs Brigadier Gerard. I travelled over 4 times to see him race. None of us expected the demolition job on QA day, and my cheers were probably heard back home in Sweden, an awesome performnce, but I actually think his best win was the Juddmonte, Pegasus wouldn't have beaten him that day. Champions day 2012 was my best and saddest day in racing, only the 2nd time i had 'welled up' at a racecourse. I had seen probably the best thoroughbred ever to grace a racecourse, and one of the great trainers in HRC (who sadly looked very ill). I was very fortunate. I knew i would never see either of them again, and sadly one is no longer with us  Have a great time with your loved ones at Ascot. |
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champions day 2012 was also the most memorable day i have ever been racing the entire day was about frankel and sir henry nothing else mattered ,i shall never forget as he passed each person in the final two furlongs they stood up cheered and clapped him all the way to the line ,the memories of that horse will stay with me for the rest of my life.
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Likewise foxy.
I still have momentos of the day, the badge, racecard and RP from the day. I also had one of the many Frankel videos as a Christmas present, but i have all his races ingrained in my memory, i could describe them all if i had too. Crazy isn't it, how a horse can give anyone such a lasting impression. |
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As a younger person Andrew I always thought it would be a long time until I saw a better performance in the derby than that of Troy and so far I haven’t but may do one day,with dancing brave I thought it would be a long time until I saw a better one with frankel I know I will never see a better one.
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Foxy, going to Donny Fri 1st June, Hex Sat, Faken Sun, Leic Mon, Bangor Tues, you at any ?
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Will be at Bangor workrider you will love Hexham and fakeham Leicester is better than most would have you believe.
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foxy - I think you may need to comment on - screaming from beneaththewaves - post ...
" ..... Salisbury racecourse can be simply magical. Take an ice cream high up into the stand..." -------------- Didn't you previously post about an altercation at Salisbury between, either yourself, or other racegoers, and the Salisbury Ice Cream Police - banning people from taking an Ice Cream into the Stands |
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foxy,
Are you a bookmaker ? |
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Yes onlooker I did consider the Salisbury ice cream saga but thought the story would be to far fetched.
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Yes Andrew I am but the first 25 years I went racing was as a punter/ enthusiasts even now 65%of the time I go for pleasure ,my thoughts on racing always come for the love I have for the sport not as a bookmaker .
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Foxy,
Thanks, and i wasn't asking due to your love of racing, i could sense that anyway I'm curious if i ever gave you 'short term loans' that have never been repaid. I know Barry Dennis owes me a few quid |
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Last year or so I've been to Warwick a few times and really enjoy the course, the town is very nice too.
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Agree on both accounts lovegod
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