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Thanks for that Grayson I never realised there had been so many racecourses in such areas, so other than Hexham what do you see as possible casualties Kelso? Is it mostly Nh tracks that are at risk?
Pass, Steve – I speak with no authority on this matter to which you’re not also privvy. I’d be astonished if Kelso is in any bother, though, as it appears from the outside to be a well-managed, progressive small course.
The Sportsman did run a front-page article one day last summer suggesting around a dozen courses or so were staring down the barrel of the gun, and these were mostly small jumps tracks such as Ludlow and Hereford. At this remove I can’t for the life of me think what thinking, if any, influenced that dramatic headline.
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.
No danger of Kelso closing. It is well supported and well managed by people who understand what jump racing is about.
In Scotland, Ayr is the only course that could make way for development as the private company that currently own the place will eventually look to make a profit.
Pengamon,
Saratoga does seem remarkably well priced. I was just looking at ticket prices for the Breeders’ Cup Chase day at Far Hills and general admission is 100 dollars with car parking at 30 dollars!
Saratoga is $75 for a Clubhouse pass and $35 for a Grandstand. Food concessions are overpriced and poor but I either go onto the backside for food/drink or go home in between races.
Breeders’ Cup Chase is $100 if you pay on the day and $50 if you get a ticket in advance (but the locations are all in New Jersey). I will be there supporting the jockey Paddy Young (ex Henrietta Knight)-who should ride last years runner-up Chivite and challenge Xavier Aizpuru for the jockeys title.
They may charge $100+30 but they get a crowd in excess of 30,000 even in terrible weather-which they’ve had the past 2 years
£300 for a 2008 "Season Ticket" isn’t too bad for 77 days (so they say..) incl of racecard
Good value if you’re an AW junkie with loads of free time
I think i’ll take the 36 day Saratoga pass for £40 instead
But on the downside it’s full of Americans
Normally i’d agree with you but when it comes to racecourses/racetracks-i’d rather be at close quarters with thousands of Americans than British.
Peng – if you go to Far Hills there is an outside chance of a European runner in The Grand National (formerly the Breeders’ Cup Chase).
Dermot Weld has been considering the race and Michael/Peter Scudamore could run the Swedish Grand National winner Neptune Joly although he injured himself last weekend and does’t run in Scandinavia today.
Peng – if you go to Far Hills there is an outside chance of a European runner in The Grand National (formerly the Breeders’ Cup Chase).
Dermot Weld has been considering the race and Michael/Peter Scudamore could run the Swedish Grand National winner Neptune Joly although he injured himself last weekend and does’t run in Scandinavia today.
Thanks. That’s good to know. Always a good day of racing-hopefully they may get good weather one of these years-although the best place to be in foul/cold weather is next to the huge vat of Butter Nut Squash soup in the owners/trainers tent
I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s there ahead of the Breeders’ Cup rather than going to State Bred day at Belmont on Saturday. You can get a New Jersey Transit train from Penn Station direct to Far Hills.
Just had to bump this as I’ve just heard the exciting news…
Looks like December, everyone. Not long to wait now. I’m sure the end result will make the years of waiting worthwhile.
hexham closing would be a bodyblow to me, it epitimises what jump racing is about, small track / friendly people / bag of carrots for every winner / helpful staff etc etc to me going to the likes of cheltenham -ascot – liverpool etc leaves me cold as in my experience you are crammed in like sheep then ripped off at every turn. i realise i may upset some people but as a geordie i speak as i find and give me a northern gaff track every time, chipmunk
No need to worry about upsetting anyone, Chipmunk – your thoughts on the virtues of Hexham over the bigger courses are largely consistent with mine. I do love it there. Sadly, though, it has no greater claim to continue existing than any other course, and from the outside looking in the revelations about the executive’s persistent underspending do hint at it being a troubled ship.
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.
The transferring of Great Leighs fixtures continues all races upto 24 December have been moved.
I happened to be down in Essex today, so decided to take a detour via Great Leighs.
Now I am no building expert but I like to think I can spot a "value" bet when I see one – from what I saw today, I cannot see Great Leighs staging any racing this side of Burns Night, never mind Hogmanay – so I would be more than happy to lay them staging a race meeting in 2007.
Indeed the only evidence of there being a racetrack was the presence of some running rails, there was no indication of a full set of pylons for the floodlights for example – then again I suppose they could have some folding ones, a la Kempton style.
There is the frame of what appears to be a grandstand taking shape – slightly disconcertingly it appears to be in the centre of the course – which will be quite interesting for those who like to watch the entire race with the naked eye, rather than on the big screen – presumably only the top of the stand, if accessible, would provide the requisite 360 degree view.
Work seems to stop whenever it rains and on that basis they won’t even restart building until next spring.
I would want a large price before backing Great Leighs to stage a meeting in 2008!!
This is a photo I took a couple of months ago so I dare say it hasn’t changed much
If memory serves me right the track has to be down & raceable two months before the meeting so thats this year out completely!
Ayr is the only course that could make way for development as the private company that currently own the place will eventually look to make a profit.
I don’t know if you have been to Ayr recently, but the Tescos outside of it is build on a part of the racecourse that the race course still owns. Rumour has it that they have got tescos by the short and curlies, financially. I’m pretty sure that the course is profitable now. MacDonald and Johnstone are pretty shrewd operators.
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