Bring back Alexandra Park!

[IanDavies]

The bumping of the Wednesday Derby thread got me in nostalgic mood.

You can still see the outline of the track when visiting Alexandra Palace.

I would love to see central London get its racecourse back: https://youtu.be/GudB1I0FraQ

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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Cork All Star]

I have walked around Alexandra Park. It is difficult to believe it was once a racecourse. I would like to see it return as well but I doubt it will ever happen.

Willie Carson would not be so enthusiastic. In Chris Pitt’s book “A Long Time Gone”, Carson’s assessment was the track “wanted bombing”!

Lewes is another track which is still extant and I would like to see return.

[Cork All Star]

I would quite like to see Folkestone come back as well. Maybe it was not the greatest track in the world but I always enjoyed going there. It was not the most scenic but the area around the paddock and winner’s enclosure was nice enough.

Its closure means Kent has no racecourse. There was also Wye but that closed in 1974. I believe Wye was like Plumpton, only tighter. One jockey likened it to riding around Walthamstow Greyhound stadium!

[Meerkat]

Lanark is another which is readily visible and indeed a pleasant walk on a dry day.

[Cork All Star]

It would be nice to see Lanark return as well. I believe some of the buildings are still there? However, it was another track which was unpopular with jockeys. Rather like Alexandra Park, it was a tight circuit which became very slippy after a shower of rain.

The track’s feature race, the Lanark Silver Bell, is now run at Hamilton Park.

[IanDavies]

I remember BBC Grandstand paying a rare visit to Lanark once.

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"

[Nathan Hughes]

Thought I was in the lounge for a few moments
I read the title as “Bring back Alexandra Burke”
was thinking it was a bit late for a Christmas release

Blackbeard to conquer the World

[Meerkat]

Yes, the approximate odds board building at Lanark is still standing, it is a right mess but I believe is listed so unable to be removed. An image is available on the Wikipedia page for the track.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanark_Racecourse

I always thought that if the desire to have an all weather track in Scotland was there, Lanark would be an ideal place, assuming cost was not an issue of course 😉

[robnorth]

I believe Lanark Council have carried out work on the Tote Building to ensure the structural integrity. I presume it’s within their care anyway, so legally it would be their responsibility to do this.

[Meerkat]

Yes I would think that it is South Lanarkshire Council’s responsibility as the rest of the land has signs on it with Council headings. I would think they probably would like to get rid of the cost of maintaining the building in the current climate.

[Cork All Star]

It is on this day more than any other when I miss the jumps at Windsor. New Year Hurdle day was a great way to start the year.

[Author]

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