Best English meeting of the year

[insomniac]

Epsom Derby / Royal Ascot / Cheltenham I avoid nowadays because the crowds are insufferable.<br>Newmarket July : nice atmosphere – rubbish viewing.<br>Doncaster – doesn’t seem to have much atmosphere for a "top" track.<br>Newmarket Rowley: about as welcoming as gangrene and rubbish viewing.<br>Aintree – too crowded and if it rains there’s little or no cover for those who don’t want to watch the racing in the bars.<br>Chester has a great atmosphere and gets crowds most other courses that staged cards with nothing better than group 3’s on would die for. Trouble is, what was once the best course in the country for viewing has now been spoiled by too many corporate tents in the middle of the track.<br>So – York and Sandown get my vote.<br>For atmosphere (but crap viewing) – Cartmel takes some beating.<br>(Pontefract’s a smashing track  – and Hamilton)<br>Naffest of the lot – Bangor-on-Dee<br>

[jairducochetfan]

I like Bangor in the summer, even though it has no stand. There’s a good atmosphere and is great when the sun is shining :)

[insomniac]

jdc  – I’ve been going to Bangor for years know – a kind of masochistic ritual. The sun does occassionally shine there I’m told; just never when I go.

[jairducochetfan]

I like it. Its got some charm about it that I can’t really explain. I tend to like the small jumping courses.<br>

[insomniac]

jdc – well, yes – I can understand a liking for small jump courses. No crowds, more genuine racing fans – less posers.   Bangor has improved quite a bit in the last year or two (presumably down to the new management).  Nowadays there’s even hard-standing in most of the car parks!<br>They have hare-coursing there I believe. I wonder what that’s like? Might give it a try one day.

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