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A group of us have decided to attend one of the festivals next year (except Cheltenham & Ascot)
any opinions on what is considered the best in way of course,hotels etc
Punchestown.Perth,Chester,Anitree,York,Goodwood are in our minds at the moment.I heartily recommend the International Jumps Weekend at Auteuil in November.
There’s a bundle of Graded races, entrance is buttons, viewing is great, there are no queues at the bars, and all of Paris is your playground when you’re away from the track.
Me and Mrs Grass will be attending again this year.
I second Goodwood. I would (and have many times, more so for non racing trips) stay in Arundel, a lovely West Sussex village with a beautiful Castle with some nice Canaletto’s and a few great eateries.
Considering Sussex Stakes day, and possibly the Nassau as well.
Although it’s not strictly a festival, I would goto Longchamp for the Arc meeting, for both the Saturday and Sunday – the best 2 days racing of the year. Entrance is a staggering €8, and it’s quite convenient if you are staying in Paris.
I heartily recommend the International Jumps Weekend at Auteuil in November.
There’s a bundle of Graded races, entrance is buttons, viewing is great, there are no queues at the bars, and all of Paris is your playground when you’re away from the track.
Me and Mrs Grass will be attending again this year.
That sounds a good one Grass – which weekend is it?
Of the festivals tenbob mentioned my favourite is Punchestown – good racing, a great atmosphere and more comfortable than Cheltenham in terms of crowds.
Of the flat ones Goodwood is the best one for me – personally I find Chester and York too boozy – but that’s just my personal prejudice.
Hi Paul – I haven’t checked France-Galop yet, but suspect it will be 8th & 9th November.
Hi Paul – I haven’t checked France-Galop yet, but suspect it will be 8th & 9th November.
Cheers Grass – I have just checked and it is the 8th & 9th and as it "clashes" with the last day of the flat then all the more reason to go
Of the festivals tenbob mentioned my favourite is Punchestown – good racing, a great atmosphere and more comfortable than Cheltenham in terms of crowds.
I’d have to agree with that.
Cheltenham is my personal favourite and every year a load of us go – but for a week away with a bunch of mates you can’t beat Punchestown.
The nearby town of Naas turns into a party zone for the week and while you could argue that so does Cheltenham they’re on a different scale.
The area is much smaller and as a result more intimate /friendly. They literally have speakers attached to the outside of the buildings down the high street pumping out music.
Ladies day is excellent.
Lee
P.S Must admit Grassy’s sound sgood though. Would normally head over for the Arc but being a jumping fan that could be a viable alternative.
Outside Cheltenham, Goodwood is the best in my experience, though I have not yet been to Galway (same week as Goodwood) which has daily attendances in excess of 50,000 and sounds a hoot.
only gone to Cheltenham "festival" in UK been to other tracks but no festivals on at the time….
In Ireland as stated already punchestown is very good as is Leopardstown X-mas Festival as there is usually very good quality cards, but for me The Galway races is one of the best the crack is "almighty" apart from the mixed card (Jumps & flat) the city centre is great at night all the pub’s & bars have extensions so they serve till all hours and if you get good weather just add’s to the fun……..
I heartily recommend the International Jumps Weekend at Auteuil in November.
There’s a bundle of Graded races, entrance is buttons, viewing is great, there are no queues at the bars, and all of Paris is your playground when you’re away from the track.
Me and Mrs Grass will be attending again this year.
does sound good and will looked into it.
anyone been to the Perth meetinganyone been to the Perth meeting
The three day April meeting is heartily recommended though it has been troubled by abandonments due to waterlogging on occasions. Great course, good craic and not unbearably crowded. It’s become a favourite late-season haunt of southern trainers not least Twiston-Davies who tends to ready his charges for the long trip north.
Buses are laid on from Perth town centre.
As an aside Scone Palace and its arboretum of majestic trees are well worth a gander too, though the latter is at its best later on in May and June as Spring springs a tad late that far north.
On the Flat I’d recommend the first two days of the Doncaster St Leger meeting
Sounds like a good shout Grass.
And from memory isn’t the metro station right next door?
Yes, Firefox – Porte D’Auteuil Metro empties straight into the entrance to the course.
When we were over last year, they were handing out free entrance tickets for the races at the steps of the station. The race programmes were also gratis.
Hard to knock it.
The three day [Perth] April meeting is heartily recommended… Great course, good craic and not unbearably crowded.
Seconded without reservation.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Outside Cheltenham, Goodwood is the best in my experience, though I have not yet been to Galway (same week as Goodwood) which has daily attendances in excess of 50,000 and sounds a hoot.
Bet you can’t buy a racecard, giant toblerone and bag of oranges from the same tinker woman at Goodwood…
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