Leopardstown racecourse.....A disgrace to Irish racing......

While the racing was exceptional with a great result to the Hennessy, I would agree with some on your comments Paulie.

Was nursing something of a hangover so went to the restaurant shortly after the first for some breakfast. On a very limited offering, got a hotdog that didn't taste like anything with horrendous onions. The fiver it cost was worse than losing a deuce on the track. Generally stayed away from under the stands for the rest of the day. However, whenever passing the concession between the stand and Pavilion, the queue didn't seem to dissipate all day until after the Hunters. What happened the vans that used to park to the right past the racecard hut?

The big screen freezing was annoying but that can happen. It was far more unforgivable at the last meeting when the screen was partially blocked for much of the racer won by Paddy O Dee with a message about the monitor being inactive. Must have been a case of someone being too lazy to press a button.

On the racing front, Sort It Out once again showed Eddie Harty's ability to bring a horse along. There's a lot to be said for smaller operations fronted by a person of his excellence. The winners spoke for themselves so I will put out some other thoughts:

1) Prussian Eagle continues his progression as a hurdler and produced a career best. However, using him as a barometer with his flat form suggests the Irish juveniles are considerably behind the English this year.

2) The Deloitte once again shows the importance of putting stock in proven form over hype. Windsor Park ran a cracker having been left out of his ground again. He is in for a productive Spring campaign.

3) The novice chase was a barnstormer and backs up the feeling that this is a very good crop across all trips this year. I was thinking at halfway that Carberry was giving the horse no spin. Shows how much I know!

4) I would hazard a guess that Kinnity Castle ran in the bumper as his owner was over (though I didn't specifically look at connections in the ring). He is a smashing horse with plenty of ability who will be placed to win good pots in due course.

you would think regarding the screen that they would put screens in the stands like ..kevin blake said ..at naas or navan is it?..either way its not hard to put a couple of 50 inch screens in the stands surely?

The Public Address is too loud at every race meeting.

It could be an age thing but this need for constant music at huge volumes grates with me,is it not possible to have quiet for some time.

The Punchestown Festival is ruined for me by this constant assault on my eardrums,when they are not shouting out something they give us RTE 2 radio.

One further item to note is that Hannon took over the commentators rostrum yesterday. It would be unusual for Dessie to miss such an occasion so maybe the persons in charge have finally heeded the murmurs of disquiet from the racing public.

Agree that the noise from the panel and generally music etc. is much too loud. I saw Matt Chapman's interview with AP McCoy before racing on ATR today and you could hardly hear them with the music.

Regarding screens in the stands, Leopardstown is to be redeveloped and I presume they'll put screens in the stands as part of this.

Would always try give some leeway regarding crowd size but I'd have to say it's hard not to agree some of the issues raised by Paulie. Maybe its the onset of age but this constant need for screeching music / sound is crazy. Main bar in the stand is a bit of a joke regarding time it takes to get a pint. The fast food place downstairs ran out of ketchup / mayo after the second race ffs. Layout of Leopardstown is great imo and racing was top notch but the management need to address some of the service aspects and the points noted by original poster or they will lose custom which would be a great shame.

The biggest disgrace of all was and is the betting shop.....One shop on a day like yesterday is ridiculous.....Screens frozen and you cant get near the counter and when you do they are telling some punters sp only......The absence of normal day concessions is utterly contemptable.....come racing my hole.....come racing and bet in the only paddy power shop in the country which doesn't do BOG.....
Cheltenham would have half a dozen different sp shops....and with different firms in operation too...
Now as for the tote.....well what an organisation.....the decision to guarantee the pick 6 for 7000 euro on one of the most competitive days racing of the year defies belief.....what kind of imbecile made that call.....
Didn't notice big Brian there yesterday....suppose he was upstairs with his head in a trough for the day.....and his two cheeks perched on a couple of seats.....

I enjoyed it , though as long as the racing was decent , I'm happy. The p.a. is indeed extremely loud alright and I have to say the coffee was pure p iss.

I generally drink in Jodami's when go racing at Xmas. Quite how they cant have a tv in there with RUK, so patrons can atch what is going on at Kemp etc, is beyond me. And when you ask the staff can they work the remote control.....

Ya should have gone with something stronger Toby!

Tobywong.....im not disputing for a moment that the racing wasn't top drawer.....it was tremendous.....
What we had yesterday was world class racing....with third world facilities.....and run by buffoons....

Yes paulie , loved the racing , nice punter friendly fields for the each way backer , made a nice change from the long odds on 3 or 4 runner affairs of late.

Has to be said, Gigginstown and O Leary are great for the game. They decide where their charges run, and are not afraid to run their best against each other. Very refreshing. Most competitive graded action in Ireland in quite awhile.

The dance music they play is simply bizarre, i have to agree with Paulie on the public address system. It makes me cringe, why do it, where as this worked before? I find Punchestown worse for this nonsense.

Paulie has nailed it. It would appear the racing has become secondary. Surely if you want to hear music you go to a nightclub. On showing a replay, some brain decides to cut short the race at the second last to see the bloody presentation!!! This is a top qaulity race meeting. For top quality horses and serious wagering. Not a disco for the teeny boppers.

Leoparstown have lots right , their efforts at trying to jazz things up are aimed at a younger crowd ,I think we are all in agreement that the music is off puting and very load ...I'm sure this will be brought to the attention of managment ...

It's been going on for years wonky. When are they going to listen? But what a fantastic day's sport. Willie, Tony, Barry all signing autographs without hesitation. Great interviews and a fairytale result in the big one.

I find myself agreeing with you for once , a fine days racing along with some magic from AP ,some smashing looking young ladies to add to the mix , a really good crowd and Johnny Ward looking very dapper , he must have been the after dinner speaker somewhere after racing ..Never seen him looking so well ...

Wonks.....you say Leopardstown have lots right....could you please give me one facet of Leopardstown racecourse that is in any way comparable with Cheltenham.....
Leopardstown have lots wrong.....as do  almost every other Irish racecourse......

A relaxed atmostphere for starters , you are often made feel like a criminal at Chelt with all the badge checking etc , Aintree the same ..A effort to attract young people seems to be their agenda atm ..Same at Naas on sat , tried to get into the members bar on sat was told the front half was for Trinity Students only ...I'd say the refurbishment will take ALL aspects into consideration...

Paulie Wallnuts thinks all Irish racecourses bad,all British racecourses good.

P.S the toilets were sparkling , honest , though I suppose you checked them out yourself...

Wilddan....I never said anything of the sort.....what im saying is that the flagship racecourses in Ireland like Leopardstown and the Curragh and indeed Punchestown are light years behind their British counterparts.....
Facilities don't bother old stagers like yourself but they do most people.....Not everybody would eat stones and shitt in your eye.....
Wonks.....and I don't know why im bothering with you.....the reason theres a relaxed atmosphere is because theres nobody attending....the reason they check tickets in Britain is because of there being a memebers and a non memebers.....what you expect ?....that people with no badge should be allowed into members?....And the toilets weren't sparkling yesterday.....they were just bog standard basic and nothing else.....

I have no difficulty with having my badge checked , but its everywere you go ffs , obsessive a word you know well ...The toilets seem to be a huge problem for you , the last time Leopardstown was done up was 74/74 not sure which , so yes its due a overhaul like most Irish tracks ...

Overhaul my hole.....it doesn't need an overhaul to have a decent catering service....proper sp facilities....a well run tote....small things that are easy to get right.....

In 1972/4 they thought they had a state of the art racetrack , things were a lot different then , they did what they thought was the right things for the times ...I have been to many tracks in the UK and some of the catering leaves a lot to be disired let me tell you ..Also not all the great British punters are happy with the tote , BObfred at Chester and Bangor for instance are allegedly ripping punters off with their takeouts ..So were you get the idea that the British  tote is so wonderful i dont know ..They have had a lot longer than ourselves to get it right with huge grantsfrom the Jockey Club ...I think you have your own agenda and only see what you want to see ..Of course alls not great at our tracks catering wise , as I say our friends across the water have the exact same problems...

Wonks .....ive been to more British and irish tracks than I care to remember......don't speak to me as if I go racing every Easter Monday....

Well then you should KNOW what they are like , Bath for example a tiny little shed for a members resturant , was lucky enough to be mistaken for a owner there a few years back and was given a free lunch ..Prontefract last year , lucky to get a pork pie ffs , Ripon not much better ,Brighton had fish N chips at a night meeting again last year , I think the fish was caught in the baths ffs ...I could go on and on ..

Presume Paulie means the big tracks wordrider, like for like basis. always liked Leopardstown, it's the only racecourse I've been to in the last few years so don't have much to compare it to.

Neill the point is ,most major British tracks Ascot Sandown Goodwood have has a huge redevelopment in the recent past , Leop and Curragh about to follow suit , so hes been a little unfair ..

Oh right, I wouldn't have known about that. The racing fraternity here (owners, jocks, trainers, breeders) seem to see prize money as the be all and end all. That's where they want to see money spent.

I seem to remember attending  the Leopardstown Chase at Navan and the Sweeps Hurdle at Fairyhouse (Persian War) while they were redeveloping Leopardstown and I think that was about 1969. I never liked Leopardstown and much preferred the Park. Always found Leopardstown lacked atmosphere. Have not been there since the 80s so unable to comment on the present day setup,

I am a regular at Lingfield and visit Sandown, Epsom and Brighton a few times a year. The stands are ok at all these venues, Epsom is deserted apart from the Derby/Oaks meeting. Quality of racing at Sandown has been in decline for years apart from the Eclipse.. Epsom and Sandown are expensive for food but the quality is okish. Lingfield is the best value of them all provided you like AW, annual badge £320 which covers almost 100 meetings and free entry into all Arena tracks. Brighton is good for hiring a box from 10 persons upwards. 3 course lunch ,admission and table for the day about £80 per head. The trackside restaurant at Lingfield is a similar price.

   The 2,000-capacity Nowruzabad track off a major highway to the west of Tehran is the only track easily accessible to the population of the capital. It hold races over a 10-week season each year.


   did you visit this track whilst riding in iran ???  what were the toilet facilities like, food, drink etc.   

   .....Inside, a dozen women, wearing obligatory headscarves, sit behind windows, taking predictions and paying out winnings. As well as a computer screen with race details, each has a basket into which they toss the takings.