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I’m taking the heavily in foal Ms TC to the lakes for a few days of frivolity and Tom foolery whilst we still can at the weekend and staying in a lovely little spot a mile from Cartmel.
Looking at the entries it won’t live long in the memory in terms of overall quality but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for many years.
Booked into a couple of nice restaurants, a leisurely stroll round the town with a couple of IPA’s to quench my first after climbing scaffel pike Sunday.
This time next month I’ll be nurturing a young foal and attending morning and evening stables 7 days a week so I’m going to enjoy the last few weeks with reckless abandon. Relative to my 43 years!
How was it TC, its on my bucket list of a track to visit.
A work mate of mine goes there for the Caravan location..and takes in a day a at the races. Hes a £1 a race type.
Hope Mrs TC didnt have the foal there, otherwise the offspring would have to be called Cartmel?
Absolutely first class Landafar.
It won’t be to everyone’s taste but it’s the best value I’ve ever had on a race course. When we’re all pig sick of being ripped off for food and drink once you’ve paid to get in at just about every other course in the country Cartmel proves that these places are simply taking the mickey!
I think it was £22 for the paddock tickets. We had to pay £10 to get the car into the centre of the course. But we took a picnic table, couple of fishing chairs and beanbags along with a picnic and a couple of beers.
Found a lovely spot on the grass in front of the big screen and I was as happy as a pig in poo.
Yea the racing isn’t brilliant but there wasn’t a single odds on shot all day. I managed to find 3 winners (ok short enough prices as the fields aren’t massive) and you don’t get a great view of the racing unless you pitch up very very early and set up near the winning post.
But as a day out for a couple either on their own or with a couple of young kids in tow who can run around and kick footballs until their hearts content it really can’t be beaten. We got lucky with the weather and the crowd/atmosphere in general was lovely. No hint of trouble and I didnt see one group of people or any individual off their tits on drink and drugs.
Highly recommend to you and anyone else mate. Racing fan or not.
For anyone planning to go to ‘The Festival™’ next year, prices are going up from Tuesday 11th.
I don’t like it but at least they are being somewhat transparent about it. The minimum increase from Tuesday is £10 at the cheaper end.
This is quite normal though. They always offer early bird prices to try and entice everyone in as early as they can!
The ticket prices are steep! No doubt about it. But what really puts me off going is the experience you get for that! First and foremost it’s a crap view of the racing. Bar the last half furlong if you’re stood on the steps you’re forced to watch the big screen. If you’re stood track level on the tarmac/lawn in front of the stands you’re view is restricted by others in front of you unless you’re smack on the rail.
They won’t because it would cost far too much but what they ought to do is scrap the stand entirely, and build a huge/steep stand right where the lawn/tarmaced area is which means everyone in the stand can overlook all of the course and the punters would almost be looking down on the runners and riders as they approach the final couple of furlongs.
“The ticket prices are steep! No doubt about it. But what really puts me off going is the experience you get for that!”
I gave up a long time ago for that very reason……..and from what I read, that was nothing compared to today.
It was three days then (three days of good quality races) and I always took in the three days, but when prices kept rising and the experience kept getting worse, I decided they were taking the piss and stayed at home and watched it on the TV and the last races in the bookies.
I’m not sure how they justify todays pricing, but there must be many taking the same view as me.
The drop in attendance figures the last 4/5 years confirms that griff!
Ian Renton the chief exec of Cheltenham will do his best to explain away why it’s had such a marked downturn recently but the regular race goer knows the truth.
Too expensive to get in for a poor view of racing.
Uncompetitive racing/rip off prices for food and drink and an awful experience of queues/overcrowding everywhere!
Question:
Chester, Im going to tick one off my bucket list. Got tickets for the county enclosure, any advice as to whats the best places for a beer etc..?Recently Ive done Ayr and Chepstow, certainly expecting a ”better” day at Chester.
My favourite pub in Chester is The Cross Keys, at the corner of Lower Bridge Street and Duke Street:
On leaving the pub, turn to left and go through the archway in the Roman Wall. Then turn right, walk along and then go up onto the Wall and it is then just a short walk to the racecourse.
The Spitting Feathers Tap mentioned in the link is quite good as well.
Booked a little chalet type place in Dyserth in wales for next week some time ago and thought at the time I’d maybe take in the card at Bangor on the Wednesday.
I looked at the 5 day decs yesterday and there’s a couple of cracking races on the cards with some decent horses pencilled in.
I’m aware there’s no grandstand at the course so hopefully it stays dry for the day. After raining for a few days beforehand to give them a chance at getting some autumn ground.
It’s also going to be my daughter’s first visit to a race course. 4 months old. 3 months behind my initial schedule😅
I was meant to be going to Ludlow today on a free ticket courtesy of RTV. Unfortunately, the marvellous train service we are so fortunate to have in this country had other ideas.
At least I received an alert from Trainline before leaving home and I can get a refund on the train tickets. It is a pity though – it would have been quite pleasant at Ludlow today.
I’ll be there in spirit ( always used to go on the Tuesday). Remember to touch Arkles statue ( or have they now moved it to a different place where it isn’t as accessible?).
Stratford on Monday, Cheltenham on Tuesday, back home for the rest of the week was an enjoyable experience
A lovely anticipatory atmosphere at Stratford
For all its current niggling problems the National Hunt Meeting, as we old fogies still insist on calling it, remains a jewel
After an absence of over 10 years , I finally made it back to Cheltenham
on Tuesday .
Stayed in Birmingham for 2 nights at the Aston University hotel at a cost of £80 p n
far cheaper than 1 night in Cheltenham .Would recommend lovely guinness £6.50 pint.
My experience at the course in Best Mate enclosure largely positive especially the covered fully seated grandstand available to everyone no extra cost . yes the food isnt cheap £15 for burger and chips and £7.80 for guinness but it compares with other similar sporting events.
As for the racing itself simply superb seeing the drama of the Arkle and the Champion hurdle live stunning added to that the sheer relief of hearing that CH an SM were unharmed .
All this taking place in the beautiful surroundings of Cleeve hill .
Forgot to mention Lossiemouth breathtaking performance .
When you add in the cost of entry £57 and my train fares from Bridlington ,refreshments etc there is no denying its an expensive trip….. but was it worth it for me every penny !
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