I'm 3 miles north wonky

You can name me if you want Wonky plenty know me on here, if that is what you want? I don't care i'll still rip it out of you 'wee man'

13 points

As i said if naming people on a forum is your idea of a witty reply and makes you feel like a bigger man that you are go for it lots of people know me on here don't care my little tiny friend

I'm not perfectly calm i never get upset on the goings on an internet forum, but just saying if naming people on here is your thing and gives you a kick go for it, no skin off my teeth wee man. I always said you can give it but you can't take it

Wildman to be fair can give and take you can't

ffs rock. will u ever stop riding that old git!

Jimeen and Lustrum both state that the betting at Punchestown was useless but the figures paint a different picture.

Tuesday. 2012.  993,454
                2013.  1,136,900

Wednesday      2012.    479,516
                         2013.    1,210,400

Thursday.         2012.     656,205
                         2013.    1,441,079


I accept there are other factors but these figures are dramatic and stark.

I have been to most racecourses in England and the catering there is similar to Punchestown  although I have always thought that a racecourse should be the last place you should eat at.

Couldn't agree more with your second paragraph,the Irish handicapper is lazy and handicaps by rating alone.

Your point about the percentages is equally valid but that is the SP and anyone in attendance would have no problem beating that.

Is your first sentence about the blow up doll?
Why would someone from Sligo go to the races to eat?
No one believes a word you say but still Ozymandius thinks you have a sharp mind.

Wildman my primary function at the races was to bet obviously, In the UK, Fontwell when i was there was quite nice, stormed out of Wolves but managed to have something to eat and it was poor, Chepstow i'm not sure i ate as i was a student at the time, Chelters was just ok iirc. Tbf WR i had a good seat at Sandown so probably got looked after well so not a fair reflection. I'll always eat a course if i go Wildman even in Sligo, breaks up the racing and also the food is not too bad there, better than what i usually get at home !

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF FONTWELL ROCKET a cracking little track imo ...I ate at EXETER last year and it was dire , I also ate at Bath WERE I WAS MISTAKEN FOR AN OWNER ...Hard to believe i know , Anyway i'd made my way to the owners and trainers unawares , A woman and her friends came and asked it i mind if they sat beside me i been the gent i am said no problem , I GOT INTO CONVERSATION with them and ordered a meal as we spoke , i was amazed when i gave my order to the waiter he asked me my name , i gave it to him and away he went , i continued my conversation and when my meal arrived the waiter asked my fellow guests if they would like to order , They decided they would , giving her name the woman sitting beside me said , LADY SO AND SO ...NAME WITHHELD IN CASE SHE READS THIS ...She had a horse running in a race worth £1,500.. RIDDEN BY R, HUGHES ...She I SHOULD ADD WAS A PART OF A SYNDICATE ...Mr Hughes proceeded to ride a stinker and the horse was beat a half length carrying a hefty wad of my cash...Oh by the way the food was SUPERB....

I go racing to bet like feck and drink like a fish.  I dont care about catering standards in courses and getting a bit of muck on my shoes.  wtf is wrong with you people, its nh racing in spring in Ireland, the best horses have already ran in Fairyhouse, Cheltenham and Aintree if they were groomed for Punchestown they would have summer campaigns in mind.  Irish courses are raw, and we dont have a royal ascot or sandown or goodwood etc.  Spend a day or two around horses in any stable and you will come back smelling like one.

Fontwell is a lovely track, close to action so much of the time, one of my fav courses WR i've been to, i was surprised it had a nice little crowd the day i was there nothing amazing but not bad but then again it's not a million miles from a few big towns. Tbf i've not been to loads in the UK but i would go back to Fontwell quicker than Chepstow and esp Wolves.

Well newmanix,i go racing a bit too and i dont really want to be bringing my own sandwich in tinfoil to a grade 1 racecourse. Sadly i have no choice on certain days. dj876,if you travel a couple of hours to get to a meeting and are maybe there an hour beforehand,then that makes it a fairly long day,so it would be nice if you could go and get something to eat that when you are finished you wont be saying"that was some shitt". I am not talking about having my dinner in these kips either,all i want is an acceptable stop gap,a nice sandwich or sausages and chips,something like that. That isnt alot to ask in this day and age,but in Irish racing terms ,its a bridge too far.

Thats the solution wildmanfromborneo,i never thought of that one. Dont eat at all as you say and there will be nobody whining. Typical Irish attitude,anything will do Paddy. Why bother sourcing good caterers when Paddy will put up with any kind of one,sure it wont kill you,isnt that the attitude?

You don't like racecourse food fair enough but you have alternatives,eat before you go eat on the way there,call into a garage and get a sandwich and bring it on to the races and finally eat on the way home.

I like going racing the food and the entrance are the least of my concerns.

I actually said held up as the ring was full anytime I ventured in.

I was surprised at the figures as they show a dramatic increase

I accept the general point about racecourse betting being in terminal decline,when I started racing if you wanted to see a race you went to the course plus we bet on nothing else although some punted on greyhounds now they are betting on everything.I can see all races at home now and I can even eat properly.

I still think a day at the races is a great day out and I like to look at the horses in the parade ring something that will be put to the test this Saturday.

Part of a new worrying development in the connections department.

as usual, i seem to come late to these discursive threads.

went to Punchestown on Friday and it started badly and hardly improved. I was directed to a car park that almost stranded me in mud and my female travelling companions had their footwear ruined before racing.

thirty euro for entry was too expensive on the basis that the so-called feature events had a 1/4 shot stroll and a three-runner Grade 1. I'm not into the "ooh aah! isn't he  lovely horse" and Mullins' dominance leaves me cold and feeling for the old guard like O'Grady & Co who can't get a look in nowadays.

It was virtually impossible to get a drink and I had to do the circuit twice before I found some prospect of counter space. One of the bars near the ring had one barman and three sides to the counter.

I think the Punchestown parade ring is horrible with all that rubber matting and the layout seems to encourage everyone to congreagate near the winners' podium and it seemed dull and soulless and devoid of atmosphere. I stood beside the winners' enclosure for Hurricane Fly's race and there wasn't a single cheer or whoop when he jumped the last safely. I found it all far too predictable and almost "British" in its reserve. The MC seemed ill-prepared and there was far too much waffle and noise all evening.

It was my first racing experience since the Thyestes and give me a "real" racing occasion any day. Punchestown's quality over five days is stretched to the limit and far too many average races throughtout the week with eye-watering money available.

foodwise, as many have said, you get proper public catering at the top tracks in the UK and the range and variety of food vans is always impressive. The only quality food available in Ireland is of the corporate/private dining variety and this is priced for the corporate jollies. when eating a snack your best hope is that you don't regret it afterwards. The food franchises at most racecourses should be given to local delis and eateries with the emphasis on quality and not profit for the track (wildman's beloved Thurles sets some standard here).

Lots of students and casual racegoers and the racing is merely a sideshow for them. Once you capture an area near the bar and dont stir for the day everything else fades to not caring quickly enough. For the first time in my life I didnt go near the betting ring once and had a few bets on my phone at 50% greater odds.

I chose Punchestown over an alternative engagement and quickly regretted my choice. I honestly don't know what to expect anymore from a so-called "big" day out racing but, for the moment, give me Lemonfield or Bennetsbridge or Dromahane over the likes of Punchestown as you can build a day out around a point without depending on facilities on course. And I'll continue to support the local supporters' clubs that offer the prospect of good company and a nice pint in pleasant enough surroundings.

You appear to have got my earlier thread about the cousins being taken hostage this is different as it concerns a new family member.

The man making the book for Harney is irritating in the extreme but you can learn a lot from their board as you can from another recipient of Ladbrokes largesse