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You can rely on me to always be referring to the original version of any movie, gamble.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Understood Chief, now of green, and Ian Hislop’s genius would also concur rooted as he is, and obsessively, in days of old.
By coincidence, while clearing my mother’s house last week, I found a Brighton racecard from 1975. My uncle took me and wrote on the top of the card “Catherine’s first race meeting”. I was 12 and remember it well. Backed the last winner (Bell Tent, ridden by one P Eddery) so ended up with a small profit.
All the same, it’s never been my favourite course (East Sussex by the way Ian). Too expensive for the poor quality racing and lousy views (of the racing – not the Downs, town & sea which are spectacular on a clear day) but it’s still a good day out when the weather is good. Last time I went, a horse got loose on the way to the start and looked to be on its way to Whitehawk. The friend I was with quipped “Good job they caught that or they’d have found nothing but a rack of ribs in the middle of the road”. Harsh but fair I’m afraid!
The original – and the best….
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"The track was buzzin and rockin alright like I’ve never seen it ever. I think I spotted Mr Brown.
Am I right in saying Brighton, Epsom and Newmarket are the only courses where they do not go past the finishing line twice in a race? At the first two it would be impossible.
York used to be in that club as well but they changed the layout for the Royal meeting in 2005.
I suppose they never do at Windsor either now that the maximum distance is 1m 4f but in theory they could (and did when it still had the jumps).
When they used to pass the winning post twice at Epsom Downs!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Thanks for posting that clip, Ian. I had read about the Grand Met before but had never been able to find any film footage.
I saw Willie Carson interviewed by Nick Luck last Sunday and he mentioned the Sefton Course at Newmarket, which I believe was a round course taking in part of the Rowley Mile. Must look later to see if there is any film.
He also mentioned riding a few winners at Lewes. I would have liked to have gone there. I walked out to the site a few years ago and the track is still there. Another venue where they could only go past the post once, I believe.
There might be another 2m+ race run at York nowadays that I’ve overlooked but the Lonsdale Cup at the Ebor meeting is the only one I can think of that utilises the round course and hence passes the winning post twice
The track was converted into a circuit in order to run the Gold Cup, Ascot Stakes and Queen Alexandra at the replacement Royal Meeting; a move that was legally problematic as it involved enclosing more of Knavesmire, which is part of Micklegate Stray common land. The agreement reached was to allow the ‘new bend’ but in return to hand back to the common the land between the old 2m start on the back straight and the 14f Ebor start: a situation that prevails today
You’re welcome, CAS.
I must get to the site of the old Lewes track myself sometime – I love that sort of thing.
I spent a happy hour or two retracing the circuit at Alexandra Park, nestling below Alexandra Palace, in North London a month or two back, with an old racecourse map plus old footage on YouTube on my phone to help me match it all up.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I have mistakenly posted details of the wrong racecourse ……and as for the yobs back then they are sadly resting, their old leather hobnails beside them, covered with cheerful daisies.
Earliest meeting Tuesday 16th June 1829
Final meeting: Saturday 18th April 1896
Racing first began at Parkgate, a village of about 3000 on the Wirral Peninsula in Cheshire on the River Dee, on Tuesday 16th June 1829 when the Wirral Cup was won by Mr Herbert’s Julia. The racecourse was an oval and covered the length of Parkgate on land known as Park Fields, extending from the area called the Leighton Boundary on one side through to Wood Lane on the northern part of the course. Racing continued intermittently for a further 50 years, but the year 1881 was important in the history of Parkgate. In that year the races took place on Saturday 9th April 1881 and were organised by the Wirral Hunt Club who established the Parkgate Steeplechase. The races were renamed Wirral Hunt Steeplechases despite taking place on the Parkgate Racecourse, but they suffered from unruly behaviour and drunkenness over time, and finally came to an end on Saturday 18th April 1896. The Wirral Hunt group then moved their races to Hooton Park for the 1897 meeting.This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below.
Local Patrons
Wirral Hunt Club, Mr J J Houghton, Mr H Nicholson (Steward)Principal Races Parkgate
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