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Picking up on the Marx Brothers theme: this clip brings a tear to the eye.
Nice of him to remember Chico and Harpo and also the wonderful Margaret Dumont as well.
Jack Lemmon was clearly moved by the occasion too.
“I always used to like walking over the track to get to and from Sandown
I went by train today and did exactly that – always a pleasant stroll.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I didn’t know you could walk from the station to the stands upon arrival; I thought it was only on the way home.
I was walking back to Esher station.
Upon arrival, I walked around the back of the track until I reached the entrance to the car park in the middle of the course.
I also went down to the finishing line to watch the 5f race.
Such a civilised venue, and hardly changed since my first ever visit in 1983.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"“I didn’t know you could walk from the station to the stands upon arrival; I thought it was only on the way home.”
No, you can arrive by walking over the course as well. At least if you get there early.
“Such a civilised venue, and hardly changed since my first ever visit in 1983.”
I believe Sandown is close to being the perfect racecourse. Good pre-parade and parade ring. A very nice winners enclosure where you can easily get a good view.
It is a superb viewing track as well. Not only for the view of the racing but the view of the surrounding area. Is it the only track in the country where you can see another course? (The stands at Kempton are visible if you know where to look).
Sandown also has good catering facilities. Better than the usual tired fare. It is a while since I have been, so I am not sure if it is in the Cheltenham and Aintree price range.
Used to live a couple of minutes drive from Sandown so me and a mate used to go a lot when we first got into horse racing just over 10 years ago, first big race we watched there was Nathaniel winning the Eclispe, wasn’t best pleased though as I’d backed Farrh, didn’t know anything about the horse but Frankie Dettori was the only jockey I’d heard of so who else was going to be carrying my money?
Agreed about the course it’s great, especially on the days that aren’t full of the cokeheads, they don’t bother me either way as those types help keep the sport afloat, just gets annoying having to walk through large crowds to get from the parade ring back to the stand.
Glad you had a good day Ian! You may know of it but there’s a pub called The Greyhound (though think it may have changed name to Sextons on The Green now) that’s about a 5-10 minute walk from the course in Thames Ditton, worth having a pint in there after racing as the owner is a great Irish chap who loves his racing, loads of racing pictures on the walls and some signed stuff too.
CAS – it’s been a few years since I got any food there myself, but if memory serves me right it was your typical sporting event rip off prices, it’s to be expected though these days sadly so best avoided unless you’re desperate and in those cases cheap and cheerful chips are always a winner for me.
“…there’s a pub called The Greyhound (though think it may have changed name to Sextons on The Green now) that’s about a 5-10 minute walk from the course”
I haven’t been to Sandown since Covid struck, but always used to go to the Albert before racing. They had a pleasant roof garden and did excellent steaks; the pub was always popular both before and after racing.
The pub closed but has reopened under the stewardship of Fuller’s; I’ll pop in there the next time I go to the Esher course, which will probably be on Henry II day.
Thanks, Ben.
I don’t drink – and I’m not very sociable! – so I never go in pubs.
I don’t eat racecourse food or pay racecourse prices for drink either, but I did notice Sandown had far more choice in that department than most.
I grew up watching a LOT of racing from Sandown Park on the ITV7 back in the day, so it’s one of those tracks you feel you know even before first visit.
I usually go racing by car, but the walk across the racecourse to or from Esher station is an almost surreal experience if it’s your first visit after watching on TV for years.
The Railway fences, the Eclipse Start, the 5f chute, the Pond fence, the open ditch alongside the plain fence at the last, that uphill finish, and all so beautifully maintained.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It seems like all racecourses are in rip off price territory now.
When I was last there, Sandown did at least have a proper restaurant in Tatts offering a range of hot food. Not just the usual burgers or chips.
It was also one of the few racecourses with a good choice of beer. The local Hogs Back brewery had a stall there. They used to go to Kempton, Epsom and Newbury as well but disappeared from those venues eventually.
The food in the food hall at sandown is as good as you will get at a course.
As said, it is neat enough the perfect venue although a new stand would be nice. I’m a Jumps member there and go flat
frequently enoughYou can’t always walk the course from the station. Depends on the ground and that entrance is shut a lot in winter
Cork. Easy to see kempton and imagine if hurst park was open still too. Paul ostermeyer tokd me you can actually see Epsom’s stands too but I haven’t yet. Possible probably. High up and not that far
Those that don’t want booze (me). The Giro cyclists cafe next to the course is very good. Ok I’m a cyclist but it’s open to all nice crowd. Good food. Great coffee and friendly
I’m not slim but there is a risk of being a stand out tub of lard there
Two perfectly well dressed young women being refused entry to premier enclosure because they have white trainers. Assume it’s an any trainers rule but they are the cleanest you’ll ever see. Come racing!
— Paul Kealy (@PaulKealy) April 23, 2022
Will say that from time to time the coffin dodging stewards there can be arsey although I’ve not seen it for a while. Bit of a contrast with the ever friendly Kempton up the road
The above is ridiculous.
I’m here now and stewards totally welcoming but Kealys post might be wrong. There’s a bit of a fake ticket issue around I gather
“I usually go racing by car, but the walk across the racecourse to or from Esher station is an almost surreal experience if it’s your first visit after watching on TV for years.
The Railway fences, the Eclipse Start, the 5f chute, the Pond fence, the open ditch alongside the plain fence at the last, that uphill finish, and all so beautifully maintained.”
Very true, me and my mate used to walk in that way, love being able to walk past those railway fences it feels almost surreal, and being able to get a feel for the ground underfoot is a nice touch too, we’d smoke a couple of herbal cigarettes in the middle of the course before hustling our way through amongst the crowd without tickets lol oh the good old days of being 18 and not giving a f*** lol.
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