Warwick this evening.

Mind you the racket does last for 90 mins after racing, so that's worth it then.

Not to worry stewarts, 42 races at 6 other tracks to have a go at.

Idiots that run racing think it will increase levy, would get more out of half that.

Nothing like diluting your product, downhill to nowhere once that starts.

56 quid, stewarts? That can't be the price for normal entry, surely?

Went to Newton Abbot on Wednesday, nice afternoon in the sun for 20 quid (only 13 quid if you wanted to go in the Course enclosure).
Although I agree about the lack of runners, I usually go to every Hereford meeting but not with the similar small fields last night

Even the jumps horses are saying give us the summer off.

Apologies stewarts, 56 quid it is

As you say, can't just buy a ticket for the racing, ridiculous. In fact on the blurb on their site pushing the event, about halfway down in the FAQs is "Is there also racing on?"... So, it's a concert first, racing second... Slippery slope

£15 quid at Kelso on Wednesday, great day out. Did book on line, think it was £23 on the day.

I went to Hereford last night. This was the view of the track from the grandstand.

(That's the home straight hidden behind the beer tent. They really do not like the annoyance of spectators at Hereford.)

I really don't mind small fields or bad racing. They're still puzzles to be solved. As Reg says, Newton Abbot was wonderful in the sunshine on Wednesday, regardless of the quality of the racing. The swallows and house martins are still swooping, the ice creams are still £2 in the Silver Ring, the train journey back to Taunton is still the best on the planet.

Alan the Beard was astonished that I made the journey to Brighton on Thursday, in view of what was on offer. But it's Brighton, isn't it? You've got to be there, if you can. Once again the sun was out, the walk down Trafalgar Street, across the Level and up Southover Street to the course still has all the buzz of Brighton. And Alan himself was there, and Eddie Fremantle had made the journey down from his new base in York, and that's what it's about really - getting away from the gloom of the laptop and the living room and going racing with your mates.

I was at Warwick tonight. Only because I have a hair of the tail of a runner & had an owner’s badge.
It was amazingly busy but well behaved. The queue at the on course bookies to oppose the Skelton 1/50 shot was astonishing!

screaming
The train trip from Newcastle to Edinburgh, change to Musselburgh rivals the Taunton to Newton Abbot.
Both are indeed gorgeous.

no matter where the meeting is, whether its night, day or afternoon

the one thing you can be assured of, is Saturday is, always has been, and always will be a mugs day for backing jollies.

Man in the street works his nads off all week, into the bookies at the weekend.  best form, i'm on that. 

nuts done. 

see you next week, same time.

Screaming, the Hereford crowd in your photo does look a bit thin, plus, as you say, the annoying positioning of the beer tent
I always take the train to Newton Abbot, from 2 stops further up than you, and I assume you are referring to the bit of the journey from Exeter to Teignmouth along the river/estuary? It is spectacular, I imagine Brunel had a hand in it?

Another meeting this Wednesday, 7 races this time, and the weather looks like being fantastic again. I counted 25 bookies on Wednesday which seemed plenty given the size of the crowd. This week Bath is also on Wednesday evening so may affect their numbers

That's right, Reg. Exeter to Teignmouth (and the bit beyond to Newton Abbot, with the gorgeous hills on the far side of the river). I always make sure to grab a nearside seat and just sit there with a big grin and my face.

Back in the late 80s/early 90s the train used to keep making an unscheduled stop at Teignmouth. One day Eddie Fremantle was sitting in the front carriage and discovered why: a guy came on, gave the driver a bag of crabs and got off again.

Those were the days: there used to be a stall in the Silver Ring at Newton selling freshly caught crabs and other seafood. People are different now, and those days are gone, but there's still an echo of them at Newton, with the Silver Ring still active, the kids enjoying the facilities in the playground and the general atmosphere of being on a seaside holiday.

Ironically if a racecourse bookmaker puts an umbrella up to protect himself from sun burn he is told to take it down as it spoils the view of the race.