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YOUR best/worst experiences on a racecourse?
YOUR best/worst experiences on a racecourse?
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Replies: 98
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See what you're saying blackbarn ;although the criticism being made was I think directed at the racing around the left hand loop which is barely visible from the stands.
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Number 7 there is no such race in the UK as the St Ledger as far as I am aware?
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i find far to many good ones to mention but if anyone gets a chance to go racing in ireland then gowran is well worth a visit.
hardly any i dont like but not over keen on,bath,salisbury,and limerick,however chelmsford is dreadful. posy have you been to bath since the so called improvement in facilities ? i would also describe huntingdon the way you do. |
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Not just the course, memories influence my view
Best for me is always Cheltenham. Great days there in the past including a winner as a part owner. Taunton is my local track and I used to go there a lot but the TV is preferable these days. Newbury back in the day but not since the recent changes. Worst is Worcester-purely because of the traffic arrangements. The racing there is good. I used to live an hour away by car once clear of the course but can remember taking 2 hours to move 200 yards after racing. I have not been for 20 years but I doubt if it has improved. |
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foxy,festive greetings
I haven't been to Bath for about 6 years. The syndicate I was in had a runner/winner there and at the time I thought the 'owners' facilities pretty dire so god knows what it was like for the paying public. If the amenities have improved since then not before time but it would have needed a lot of investment. What with the ground issue (imo) the course doesn't have a lot going for it. I think you have a better opinion than me about Chepstow ! |
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festive greetings to you also posy
i went to bath the monday after the ryder cup to have a nosy at the new facilities well can you believe the course is now worse than it use to be ,there was little interest taken for those who watch horse racing. re chepstow its the national hunt racing i like there,i dont mind the racecourse either more so now as you dont have to pay to get into wales i always felt it should have been the other way around. |
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your right sageform nothing has change regarding traffic at worcester in fact nothing has changed at the racecourse in those 20 years other than a bit of decking on the riverside part of the parade ring.
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nothing regarding traffic in those 20 years has changed sageform its still a nightmare even on quiet days,in fact the only thing on the racecourse that has changed in those years are they have put a bit of decking down by the riverside side of the parade ring.
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I went to a weekend meeting at Worcester early in Sept and we had no real problems getting in and out by car.
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i didnt think the first post had posted sageform
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you were lucky salmon more often than not its a long wait.
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Its a shame as Worcester has some good racing. Owned by the town council which says it all I suppose. No money to improve it.
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If you do drive to Worcester, you're better off paying to go in one of the council car parks in the town itself. At least you're then sat in the normal traffic, rather than trying to join it one car at a time from the centre of the course car park.
The railway station is only a 10 minute walk to the course so that's the best bet when going. |
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Best:
Cheltenham Newbury (especially the evening meeting in the summer) Plumpton Newton Abbot Beverley Don't really have any worst but: Chelmsford Bath Windsor Worcester |
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Agree with sageform about Worcester, took well over 2 hours to drive there then stuck in a crawl for over another hour about one mile from the course. The one and only visit for me.
Getting out of Cheltenham is almost as bad. |
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Best
Cheltenham York Galway Barbados Ripon Worst Market Rasen Carlisle Galway Wetherby |
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Aintree Thursday on grand national day, is the best days racing at the best venue.
Not busy, easy for bar and toilet. 4 grade 1 races plus a race over national fences. Pricing for most stands with amazing views of the entire course about the same price as a Cheltenham tatts tickets (with no view at all) Cracking night out in city centre afterwards, plus ladies day to look forward to on the Friday. |
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Darlo.....can't you make up your mind over galway
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I was on-course for the void grand national which has to be my worst racing experience.
Bit surprised at the dislike of my ex-local, Huntingdon - decent view, open ditch in front of the stands and never too busy, although always at least 5 degrees colder than the rest of the area. In the old days they had a silver ring in the middle of the course where they used to bet over 150%. I don't particularly enjoy any course where one's viewing is impeded - Newmarket, Warwick, Doncaster to name a view. |
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sorry St Lager lots of it
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Whoever it was that said "Huntingdon on Boxing Day" is absolutely spot on, that is an horrendous experience.
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Best
Larkhill Milborne St Andrew Aintree (Thursday of National meeting) Ascot Aintree (ladies day) Worst Haydock Warwick Taunton Barbury Castle Cartmel (in bad weather) |
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SlippyBlue
I believe that John Major goes to Huntingdon on Boxing Day. |
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Darlo Bantam.
Yes, Barbados (Garrison Savannah) is quite an experience with an enthusiastic crowd. |
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Plumpton
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Best
Flemington on the day Might and Power won the Melbourne cup,awesome Worst Haydock,one Friday night when the coach trips were in abundance and the losers even more so. |
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Best
1. The Curragh 2. Epsom 3. Doncaster 4. Flemington 5. Leopardstown * Worst 1. Sligo 2. Dundalk 3. Cork (Mallow) 4. Galway 5. Punchestown ** * within walking distance, and I've had a share of the jackpot three times, and a treble for 1k+ but I don't get excited by the place. ** I've never been, but was driving to Kilcullen from Dublin a few weeks ago. One of my dogs vomited chunks and chunks, a real bellyfull. I pulled over to try to mop up the mess ...... at the main gate of Punchestown racecourse. |
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GOD winning the 1983 benson and hedges gold cup AT THE WORLDS GREATEST COURSE YORK on caerleon. Legend jockey and brave horse on bad ground. I was 15 then but seems like yesterday. Love the memories
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WORST
1- Plumpton. Nothing but horrible memories of all the times I went. Strange but I win regularly there, but I wouldn't be bothered if it became a housing estate. 2- Brighton. One place I absolutely have to say I couldn't even pick a winner of a two horse race... 3- Ascot. Especially the Royal meeting. Dad used to love the racing there, I have strong opinions about the place. Went there for Betfair Chase day a couple of years back and I won't go back ever again. 4- Southwell. I would recommend this place to become a housing estate. 5- Taunton. I vowed never to return after seeing Mr Johnson win a race he should have most definately been slung out for, it was a TV race on a Saturday, he would have definately been disqualified. God knows how he survived the Stewards Enquiry that day, but I think the stewards there suit themselves. BEST 1- LEOPARDSTOWN (NAP) Spiritual home. 2- FAIRYHOUSE (n.b) Spiritual holiday home, 3- CHELTENHAM. Great action, yes it's crowded, but arguably the most informed bunch of racegoers around. Don't know if I will go festival this year. Once I have a touch I normally duck out of Club singing!! 4- PUNCHESTOWN Great festival, come on leaps and bounds. 5- SANDOWN PARK. Good track and good facilities. |
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great thread, love this sort of thing
Good: Hexham - lovely on a nice summer's day. great viewing, friendly crowd, pleasant town with good real ale pubs Aintree - just something about the place I love Market Rasen - scenic and fantastic viewing, especially if high up in the stands Carlisle - something about the place I like Cheltenham - natural amphitheatre and great sense of history Surprised at the negativity about Huntingdon. It is cold and not very scenic, but great viewing and the ditch in front of the stands is some spectacle. Worst: Galway - Plate day. Miles from the town, not scenic and far too crowded. don't like layout of steeplechase course either Uttoxeter - midweek summer meeting. Not a racing crowd -no racegoers bothering to watch horses come into winner's enclosure York - overrated. Flat, boring and overcrowded. All my friends love it though Newcastle - Miles from action, concrete jungle, staff not very friendly. Average viewing and rather faceless Doncaster - as above. cavernous and the viewing is awful Ludlow - looked a nice course and lovely town, but they called a very early inspection and cancelled by 10am before a warm sun came out That said, I don't actively hate any course, they all have their good points and it's always a good experience to go racing in my opinion |
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I could put this as either best or worst depending on how I view it e.g sober or contemplative.In the early 2,000s I was sitting in a bar in Lefkosia (Nicosia) prior to going racing.Sitting smoking a nice Monte Cristo and studying form just a few yards from the Green Line,all was well,my OH had just had an encounter with the UN guys in what used to be Helens Bar,spent a fortune shopping and refused to believe what the marks on the bar signified.
A large fellow sitting opposite beckoned me over and said "I cannot go to the races,something has come up,here is my race card,I have marked most of the winners so take it and have a good day" I asked "Have you studied hard then,I have and I can't pick anything definite"? He replied "Those I have marked are my own horses and they will all win,have a good day" He then left with what looked like a pair of larger minders and drove off in a large Rolls Royce which was painted gold. We went to the track and backed the first 2 horses which won,my OH then complained of being hungry so we left,out of curiosity I checked the results in the next days Cyprus Post and found that 5 of the 6 had won.Still seems incredible even though the racing was low level and confined to Cypriot bred horses. |
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glentoby.
I once went into a Cyprus betting shop as a horse I was interested in was running in England. He said that they did not take bets on English racing only sports bets. When I mentioned that I was going to the local track the next day he said not to as most of it is fixed by the local mafia. You must have met the Godfather. There was continuous rain the next day so did not go to the meeting. |
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All our tracks have something about them and are only spoiled by the lunatic drinking days - Donny on St Leger day is the worst.
I've been racing 175 days this year, from Carlisle to Newmarket and loved it all - especially Southwell on cold afternoons. Why people are so down on this track I don't know. Kick-back is a fault but that surface is an aid to punters who do their homework. But best day of the 175 was, oddly enough, at Haydock on the last Friday in September. I thought it would be packed out with drinkers but it was a lovely day. A good crowd, who were well dressed and well behaved, and a beautiful sunny autumn afternoon with excellent card. A big surprise in my first visit there in 11 years. Like I say, an afternoon at any of our tracks is time well spent for me - and, indeed, our racing is the only thing left that keeps me in this otherwise shabby and broken country, sorry to say. |
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what a great post the knight.
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Nearly thirty years ago I had £160 stolen at Stratford. Since then I've never stuck any money in my back pockets
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Will I see you Wed. Jimnast ? If so I'll make a point of looking out for you.
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hello democrat yes i will be there both days
seasons greetings |
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