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……or you could try Paul Ostermeyer’s ( a regular poster on here) excellent site at http://www.ors-racing.co.uk
Colin
Perth holds many memories for me and is without doubt my favourite. I just can’t fault the place. Haydock, Hexam and Market Rasen are others that I like.
Being a jumps fan Cheltenham would would think be the natural choce but it’s a difficult place to relax and enjoy.
I would go with York closely followed by Ascot and Sandown.
So Perth and York for me
For "average" meetings the runner-up is Cartmel just because it is a lovely setting with a fantastic atmosphere, although you don’t get to see that much racing.
…and it has the advantage, Thomas, of being barely an hour and a half up the M6 from you. Certainly the large number of charter coaches from Liverpool parked around the course each meeting indicate that this is a path well-worn.
The next Cartmel raceday is Thursday, July 17th, the sixth renewal of their Barbecue Day (for which, typically, it usually tanks it down with rain). It might actually be a fair introduction to the course for you – it attracts only around half of the near-20,000 crowd of all its Bank Holiday fixtures, so you can move a bit more freely; and there is usually a bit less clutter in the infield, so the viewing is a touch better. It’s still a place where you’re fairly dependent on the giant screen near the winning post, though.
The village shop next to the course, sticky toffee puddings and all, is a thing of legend.
I’d certainly endorse the recommendations of Perth, Fontwell, Southwell and Hexham above, too, although like Cartmel the last-named of these can test the resolve on a cold and wet day. Bangor and Towcester are unutterably wonderful as well, the latter having the added advantage of being free to get in most of the time.
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)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.
Tar.
Ideally I want somewhere which consistently has the top horses and trainers.
Seen some of the cards today for racing and everywhere apart from sandown is an awful standard today.
York is far and away the best track I have been to but i’m yet to get to Goodwood which is right at the top of my tracks to attend…
I have this vision of Cartmel being like something out of lord of the rings for some reason with hobbits manning pig roasts… I have a strange imagination I think!!!
Ideally I want somewhere which consistently has the top horses and trainers.
Ah. That’s not going to be Cartmel, then – about as much chance of you seeing the Gold Cup winner there as the first foal of Kittenkat winning the Brocklesby!
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.
Happy to oblige, Mr Sandown.
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.
Definately York Ebor meeting. Great value for money, great horses and great people. Love York.
As for everyday, i like Redcar. Not the best grade of horses but it’s a really nice place to go.
Definately York Ebor meeting. Great value for money, great horses and great people. Love York.
As for everyday, i like Redcar. Not the best grade of horses but it’s a really nice place to go.
Yes if you like seeing the steel works bellowing out steam while all the women who walk by on the roadside of the back straight each have an identical outfit of a tracksuit and pram
I do best gambling wise at York, which I’d say is my favourite track overall, although I’ve not been to some of the big ones for big meets, I love York, I love everything about the place, I’m going in July, 26th I think, a Saturday, it’s a bit harder to get to from south Manchester than some others in the north west, but well worth it, and a good night out afterwards.
Chester is a great night out afterwards for social reasons to go to a race meet, but I hate the track, and the races, and the horses that turn up, no decent horses go to Chester and no decent races are ever on offer, I’m not sure but isn’t the Chester cup the biggest race they have there? Yawn.. I always lose there too! I’ve vowed never to go again!
I really enjoyed Kempton, I was in London at Christmas and saw Kauto win the big one, I thought the place had everything you need with the facilities on offer, food and drinks wise I mean, and wasn’t too difficult to get to from north London, even on Boxing day.
I was at Cheltenham for the Thursday and Friday of the Gold cup meet this year, I expected it to be too busy to move, but was pleasantly surprised as it was easy to move around and get served for food and drinks, but not to get money out of the single ATM on offer! We got a taxi to the town centre to draw money out, which went straight into a bookies pocket when we got back, what a waste of time!
I easily bagged a spot against the rail just past the finishing line for the Gold cup, had my camera ready but was too depressed to take pics after seeing Denman win.. I’d have got fantastic photos if I’d bothered, but my heart was set on Kauto winning..
Haydock is easiest to get to for me, but not many true racing fans there, just people getting tanked up and orange ladies, bit similar to Aintree, which is far more difficult to get to, went to the National last year, now that was busy in an annoying way.
I’d love to do Goodwood and Epsom and Royal Ascot in the future for the big flat meets.
York from Altrincham is easy just get the tram to Piccadilly then 3 trains an hour in about 1hr 20m
Agree about Chester in that they cater more for the corporate sector and i was peeved when they split the County Stand in 2 so they could make more money from the public.
Likewise with Haydock it is my local and im a badgeholder their and do enjoy the racing alothough like a lot of people i wish they had kept hold of the old jumps course but they want 2 flat tracks to get more crowds of beer drinkers watching what will end up being low grade races.
York is one of the top courses but Hamilton for me is a lovely venue and always worth a visit as you see decent horses from good stables
Yes if you like seeing the steel works bellowing out steam while all the women who walk by on the roadside of the back straight each have an identical outfit of a tracksuit and pram
Haha, very true. I got to know the staff there so always find it good and friendly but very true what you say about the tracksuits! Still, am i only one who finds Redcar a decent ish track? Actually i’ve changed my mind, Thirsk is better. Yes i’m going for Thirsk now ha
One good thing i do like about Redcar is the annual members bar which is a seperate area and does a wonderful burger and chips meal for £4 when i went three years ago on a Haydock reciprocal.
Best race meeting to go to?
Nobody has said Taunton races
i’d rather watch the action on the telly with a couple of cans of cider, no queues for the bog or traffic problems, although i would love to go to Cheltenham sometime.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Sorry, Nathan! Be assured I for one enjoy my occasional forays to Taunton, not least for the unpretentious atmosphere and very acceptable viewing. I’d just struggle to think of one thing for which it is the best of its kind in the country.
It’s high time I revisited Taunton, though – I last went back in December 2005 and saw Hors La Loi III make his chasing debut. Has much changed about the place since then?
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.
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