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Newbury, my local course these past 20 years, has great racing but I find it a boring venue and feel qualified to speak as I was an Annual Member for a couple of years.
It’s the province of embittered men with names like Clive and colostomy bag envy.
I prefer quirky courses like Brighton and Bath – and not just for the loos!
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Each to own Ian. Low grade flat racing isn’t really my thing
I’m a jumps member at Newbury and surprised at the boring tag. Maybe see it again after the development?
Agree about Newbury. It is a while since I have visited but I always felt the track lacked a certain something. I could not quite put my finger on what it is – but I never enjoyed going there as much as to other big courses like Ascot, Goodwood and Sandown. I even preferred going to Kempton.
My opinion of Newbury was not helped the last time I was there. I was challenged by an officious little man for not having a tie on in the Premier Enclosure, despite having been sold the ticket without any questions. A group of lads dressed as Elvis in his Las Vegas phase had just walked by but he had not said anything to them. That must be acceptable under the Newbury dress code!
`I remember my first visit to Newbury in 1983.
I was excited – this was the home of the Hennessy and the Lockinge, Arkle had races and there.
I was disappointed.
Hardly a scenic back drop to a very fair, but also very dull flat galloping circuit.
I later saw Frankel win a Lockinge there – the horse did rather more for me than the venue at which he was effortlessly pulverising his rivals.
Brighton on a sunny day has a blend of stunning scenery and the slightly sinister Whitehawk tower blocks peeping up from whence the nefarious in-running drones hove into view.
All very 21st century Brighton Rock.
Love the place.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"The last time I was at Newbury for racing was in 1990 and remember seeing Freddie Starr in the paddock for his horse Minnehoma in the Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Final. He made us laugh as the bell went for the jockey’s to mount as he started sparring.
Little did we know he would go on to win the Grand National over fences four years later, the horse not Freddie!
I enjoyed Newbury then, not too built up.Then about four years ago I was on a steam train day experience travelling to Bath for a day out. The train stopped at the racecourse to take on water, but I could not believe all the development that had taken place. Just didn’t recognise it.
I will go back there again one day for racing. It’ll be interesting comparing the days out, it’s like another racecourse now.
Another “track” which needs the good weather is Laytown. It would not be much fun there in the rain.
The Irish authorities are taking a real chance by rescheduling this year’s meeting to 1st November. Laytown in the winter cold and rain? Cannot see that working.
Hope all the Newbury lovers enjoy the 18th of this month. 45 quid in Tatts for the pleasure of Rick Astley blasting out “Never gonna give you up”.
Be happy if I never hear that song again. Nice little pension for Rick though.Astley was utter pants originally in the 80’s. Beyond bizarre he is seemingly still relatively popular. The Germans have The Hoff, we have The Rick. The Hoff sings along when the Berlin Wall is demolished and Communism is slain, The Rick performs after mid-fare racing at Newbury.
I’m with the krauts.
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It’s actually quite a good card at Newbury that day, including the Mill Reef Stakes.
Tbf to Newbury they are now only about 40 years behind the times – Tom Jones used to be a regular there: “Why, why, why….”
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I remember being at an evening meeting at Haydock about thirty years ago and the after racing concert was by Acker Bilk.
John Smiths Cup day crowds are entertained by a post-racing gang bare-knuckle fight. All participants are unpaid volunteers. If you can avoid getting drenched by flying beer glasses its decent viewing.
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Liberty x played Hamilton one summer , one the birds had on so much warpaint she looked like an Apache …..nice ass though , obv never stayed for the gig just saw in the paddock earlier in the night
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Some might observe smelly old men hanging around the paddock with their hand in their pockets moving discreetly but frantically
No offence but it’s not perhaps what the BHA was promoting as extra curricular activities to draw people to racing
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