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February 19, 2008 at 18:24 #144787
KCC, there won’t be a further increase in the number of AW meetings because the ones allocated to Great Leighs have simply been staged at the other tracks for the past 18 months.
February 19, 2008 at 18:45 #144792I am tempted to visit it to see what its like but will probably do the Saturday meeting in September on St Leger day.
The only horrifying thought will be if it holds a ladies day it will be full of Essex girls (something to look forward to)
February 19, 2008 at 18:47 #144793The only horrifying thought will be if it holds a ladies day it will be full of Essex girls (something to look forward to)
It will give some competition to Aintree / Haydock / Chester
February 19, 2008 at 18:49 #144794True, At Aintree home of people such as Jennifer Ellison and Danielle Lloyd will probably be so jealous of a racecourse which has produced "famous" people such as Jodie Marsh
February 19, 2008 at 18:55 #144797Clever choice of date for the first meeting, April 4th. No matter what goes wrong, it won’t make the front page of the Post on April 5th, Grand National day!
I see there’s a valuable 2M handicap on April 4th, so perhaps I can have a runner on opening day.
AP
February 19, 2008 at 19:59 #144804don’t forget, in 5 years time there will be much more awr and less low grade nh racing – it’s the way it’s going, get used to it now or get used to it later
imo
February 19, 2008 at 20:36 #144820Any idea on the likely standard of racing on offer ?
Considering the number of weeknight meetings and the involvement of Arena – Classified Stakes races and Sellers for £1700, for the benefit of empty shops I suppose.
Will be interesting to compare the purses with the other AW tracks but another opportunity lost I expect.
February 19, 2008 at 20:40 #144824Great Leighs is starting to look the part. For a lot of last year, there was more construction work happening on the nearby road, than there was on the course. I’ve got mixed emotions really. It will be great to have the racecourse open, but have felt for ages that John Holmes has messed several parties around over this. It will undoubtedly be a success, but I’m not sure if he deserves it. Hope that doesn’t sound too uncharitable, especially as I read somewhere that he’s supposedly had some stress related illness recently.
Marcus mentioned that there will be no great increase in the number of AW fixtures, but I am worried that Lingfield may lose out a little. The Newmarket yards that support Lingfield, will now have an AW course far closer to them. I’m sure the lower grade races will be OK, but it will be a shame if Newmarket yards start sending their maidens & better horses to Great Leighs instead, because it’s closer. I haven’t seen the fixtures yet, so that may not be an issue. Imo, it would be very unfair if Great Leighs were given a lot of high quality races. Bearing in mind the delays etc., they surely deserve to start at the bottom with lower grade cards.
February 19, 2008 at 20:50 #144834I can’t understand why they don;t build a jumps track in Essex as well.
You had Marks Tey point-to-point in the county last weekend – what more do you want?
Jumps racing under Rules (or antecedent) died when Chelmsford racecourse closed during WWII. I’m not conscious of any particularly strong movement to rectify that matter in the decades that have followed.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
February 19, 2008 at 21:23 #144843I have no doubt the facilities will be great, however it just lowers the standard of racing in general.
It is purely for the bookmakers.
In the main low rated horses running against each other time and time again with a different result every time, all in the bookies favour.
Sorry I just love MH racing and cannot abide the AW
I know a lot of people like AW so please do not have a go at me just because I dislike it.
I think I will turn to football. you have more chance
February 19, 2008 at 21:46 #144846As is usual when AW racing is discussed on here, all the standard prejudice about low grade races with minimum prize money is rolled out, even when the people offering the critcism have no idea about the facts.
I mentioned above that I might have a runner in a 2M handicap on the opening day. That’s an 81 – 100 rated handicap with £16,000 in prize money. And it’s not a case of extra money for the first meeting as that race was in the program anyway. Also on that card is a 1M 4F handicap with the same rating band and the same money.
On Sunday April 13th, there are races worth £17k, £12k and £10.5k. Friday 18th, an £11k handicap over 1M. Sunday 20th, two races worth £16k and two worth £11k. Weds 30th, two races worth £10.5k.
Still, why lets the facts get in the way of a good whinge eh?
If you don’t like the AW, why bother posting on a thread about Great Leighs?
AP
February 19, 2008 at 21:51 #144847as always AP is on the money , but one question ,where exactly is it ??
think it will be well worth a visit
cheers
rICKY
February 19, 2008 at 21:54 #144848Ricky,
It’s a few miles north of Chelmsford on the site of the old Essex County Showground, which is the more likely name to appear on your map.
From reading the website, early meetings are likely to be by invitation only for ‘elf and safety’ reasons. If we have a runner, I’ll let you know and hopefully we can arrange a badge.
AP
February 19, 2008 at 21:59 #144851Yes, I agree with AP and Ricky.
Btw, where’s the nearest train station?
I guess Liverpool Street will be the London station of embarkation.
Btw2, to all those who have trotted out the usual stuff about this being only for the bookies: how much have these bookies invested in the project?
I’m trying to understand the economics of the thing. Are the major investors working for the bookmakers or something?February 19, 2008 at 21:59 #144852I wonder if the BBC will show the feature race on the opening day if it attracts a decent quality field as they could show it as part of their Grand National coverage.
It will be interesting to see the feedback though but i can see a lot of Newmarket trainers using it possibly to introduce 2yo and it could also be used to hold Dubai trials in January for the carnival.
Aslong as NH racing does not suffer for it personally i do not think it will as the NH community is always strong and will stick together no matter what
February 19, 2008 at 22:06 #144853at least they have picked a good name
GREAT LEIGH
February 19, 2008 at 22:09 #144854If anyone has been to Leigh in North west England which is about 3 miles from where i am based then they will see that it is not great
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