New contributor. I’ve enjoyed the forum as a guest for a few years now. Re Kempton and Sandown, I go fairly regularly to both (I was at the Tingle Creek and Lanzarote days over the last 3 months). A couple of comments:
1. The Jockey Club have a finite amount of cash and it appears illogical for them to spend significant resources on 2 courses no more than 10 miles apart. I would argue that the £25m (in 2015) money spent at Epsom on the new stand was a terrible waste – it is used for so few days in a year. Better off erecting a giant tent for the 2 days of the Derby/Oaks! Does anyone really think spending tens of millions at Kempton is a good investment?
2. Kempton is looking very tired, but this doesn’t stop people attending. No-one cares if the facilities are tired. Most are interested in drinking and to a lesser extent the racing.
3. Kempton has poor public transport links, the train from Waterloo is half-hourly and very slow. Compare that to Esher on the fast line on South West Railways. Kempton may describe itself as “London’s racecourse”, but Sandown is preferred by the locals (in London) and has better viewing.
4. I agree that the going at Kempton for NH is generally good and the Sandown hurdles course is a disgrace over the winter. If trainers aren’t happy with the going, don’t run them there if the King George meeting was transferred to Sandown.
5. Better still, run the King George at Ascot on a Saturday around Christmas, would improve attendance and the facilities are good. I was there on Saturday and the going appeared ok.