- This topic has 18 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 9 months ago by
.
- Posts
I like Brighton.
Beautiful circuit to walk, unique and full of character.
Steeped in history, scene of parts of “Brighton Rock,” drones suddenly hovering into view from above the notorious Whitehawk estate to this day.
Brighton remains forever a city which is helping the police with their equiries.
But ARC has allowed the place to fall into some disrepair and just look at what’s on offer for their big three days this year.
21 races, five at Class 4, four at Class 5 and TWELVE at Class 6.
The historic Brighton Mile is a Class 4, as is the Brighton Challenge Cup, ditto the “Brighton Bullet.”
The holidaymakers might not care, but wasn’t this once a three-day fixture of some sort of minor quality?
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Come on, Chezza; you know the score. It’s not about the racing; it’s about making sure the bars do roaring trade.
I’d honestly expected the three races mentioned to be at least Class 3.
My naïveté is my undoing yet again.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I used to enjoy betting at Brighton. It was quirky and form did not always work out there but it suited some horses better than others.
Now I seldom have a bet there. The racing is terrible and completely uninspiring.
It is a real pity because (as ID says) on a summer’s day it is one of the best places to watch racing.
Great summary, CAS.
That’s exactly how I feel about it nowadays.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Brighton’s “Big Meeting” of the year will be on the 22nd August because I will be in attendance
Beautiful course.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
It’s my local course but I rarely go. Far too expensive for the very poor racing on offer. Last time I went a horse got loose at the start and was heading to Whitehawk. One of the friends I was with commented dully “better catch it soon or they’ll find nothing but a rack of ribs in the road”. Time was when the first meeting of the season was free. A good turnout and great atmosphere with loads of local families. Obviously not lucrative enough so they stopped that. I may go in August as a few friends had to miss Goodwood because of the rail strike so have expressed interest but it will be purely social.
Admission: £20 and £24 (Premier Enclosure) in advance; £22 and £26 on the day.
This compares with £10 access all areas at Epsom on Blue Riband Trial Day and £20 Grandstand at Sandown on Classic Trial Day when I saw Westover, Emily Upjohn and Alcohol Free in action.
Many no longer go racing at ARC tracks on a point of general and who could blame them?
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"£22 for a card of maidens and moderate handicaps is poor value for money, especially once you add on travel costs.
I sometimes go to Wolverhampton, which is usually only £15. Most of the racing is similarly modest but a few horses rated in the 90s race around there occasionally. When was the last time a horse with that sort of rating ran at Brighton, I wonder?
I have been to two sporting events recently which had cheaper admission. Both were more enjoyable and better value than bad racing.
Maybe it’s an age-related inflation thing, but all events – not just racing, sport, music, you name it – seem so expensive to me nowadays.
And not just admission – the price of food and drink to a captive audience once inside.
Throw in the increased travel costs due to fuel price increases and I find it a really easy decision not to go.
I can watch on TV instead and for the money I save eat like a King all weekend.
I’m actually surprised crowds have held up as well as they have.
I won’t be at Brighton this week and that’s a decision that instantly saves £60 in admission and a further £92 in fuel over the three days.
Staying down there would have cost even more.
And for what?
A three-day “Festival” devoid of anything above a Class 4.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I paid £35 for a concert a few weeks ago, which was a reasonable value price.
There is still value out there but it is becoming more difficult to find.
As I said at the time, the ticket for Tatts into the opening day of the National meeting is one of the best. It is not that much more expensive than what Brighton is charging but you get to see four Grade 1s, the hunter chase over the National fences and a good handicap.
That seems reasonable for what’s on offer.
My bargain of the year was £10 at Epsom in April.
Blue Riband Trial, City & Surburban, Great Metropolitan Handicap, Indigenous Handicap – not absolutely top class but decent enough and a card steeped in history.
Possibly even better value was £20 at Sandown Classic Trial Day – saw Alcohol Free, Westover and Emily Upjohn.
Some Jockey Club Racecourse big race days are a rip off on the same scale as ARC, but if you shop around there are JCR race days that are value.
And tbf ARC often offer one free admission day a season at each of their tracks – Bath had one this year.
Sadly there’s no free fuel to get there and back, though!
Nor is food and drink free while you’re there!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Used to do at least two and something all three days of the Brighton Festival meeting back in the 80s/90s but standard has fallen away, though the Mile at least has a competitive field for its current level and the Challenge Cup has a decent entry.
My old favourite the Stanmer Selling Handicap (7f) has disappeared, the races remotely the same are a 0-60 handicap and a similar classified stakes. Used to crack this one fairly regularly, Dallas Smith, Gershwin and Gypsy’s Barn Rat sticking in the memory.
“My old favourite the Stanmer Selling Handicap (7f) has disappeared”
They could resurrect it as the Starmer Selling Handicap.
Principles for sale… we’ll start the bidding at a tenner.
David Ashforth and Ian Carnaby, those kings of whimsy, lovers of the mundane and of Brighton in particular, used to sponsor a spectacularly bad race at this meeting: the eponymous Ashforth-Carnaby Selling Handicap
Here’s a nice little essay from Carnaby written in 2005:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/aug/23/horseracing1
which includes the splendid:
Several other Brighton regulars will be in action during the afternoon, though sadly not Transvestite, who came out overnight
Great stuff.
Is it just me or are there far fewer Selling races nowadays?
I remember seeing one at Windsor. The auction was conducted by Milton Johns, a well known actor who served as master of ceremonies at Windsor and Plumpton.
Good to see Charlie Smirke get a mention as well. He genuinely was reduced to sleeping on Brighton beach after he was warned off for FIVE YEARS for allegedly stopping an odds on favourite at Gatwick. That sort of puts the discussion about Master Fallon’s two days for swearing into perspective!
Within a year of coming back, Smirke won the Derby. He was a major figure in mid 20th racing and it is surprising there has not been a proper biography written about him. He did write his own memoirs but it is long out of print.
I had a little look back through the old Superform annuals and it looks like Gypsy’s Barn Rat (as backed by Robnorth above) was the last winner of the Stanmer Selling Handicap in 1988. In 1989 it became a claimer and in 1991 the distance changed from 7f to 8f. In 1993 it was restricted to 3yos only and in 1995 moved from the Wednesday of the “festival” to the Tuesday. I only have the annuals up to 1996 so can’t tell you what’s happened since.
Field sizes much smaller when run as a claimer compared to as a selling handicap:
1982-1988 (Selling Handicap) 14/13/12/15/17/14/18 1989=1996 (Claimer) 15/10/10/9/7/4/5/7
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.