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Chaps i need some quick advice…… My wife and I are planning a visit to watch Kauto win the King George on boxing day (no debate please!) but I am looking into booking tickets in advance. Being a frequent visitor to Cheltenham I have learned thet Tatts are the only way to go but i havent been to Kempton yet and am looking to book the tickets tomorrow. So, the cheap seats or the mid range package including grand stand seats or the ‘christmas cracker’ package including ‘comfy seating!’.?? Id love and appreciate your experience.
Don’t know where you are coming from but leave very very early.(obvious advice but I’ve said it anyway.) Can’t help with seats though. Have a good time!
Thx a lot Crizzy i’ll be coming from Bristol. Its obviously a busy day then and understandably so, Ill make sure we leave in good time to sit in traffic…!
Id leave on Xmas day as soon as the Queen has said her piece to us waifs and strays then drive up and camp overnight in Surbiton or Esher.
My local course and Im a jumps member there, so may be able to help
Viewing is good from either enclosure, but if you can reserve seats, would suggest its not a bad idea
As for the travelling, start early and maybe head down towards the river at lower sunbury for parking (avoiding the snarl immediately around the course) and walk back up
What if Kauto Star does not keep his side of the bargain ?
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I would advise sleeping in Clacket Lane travel lodge, wake up in morning and take a nice walk over the bridge with a nice coffee watching the trafic go by.
Milbear0,
I wrote about arriving early as those others have also mentioned because, whist I have never attened the boxing day meeting, I remember one year (or is it every year?!) seeing the tv cameras from above glued after the 3rd race onto cars still queuing up to get parked, thus ruining their days entertainment….Set that alarm clock!!!!From my experience of Wincanton on Boxing Day… Don’t go!
Kempton must surely be worse for crowds than the above mentioned,if that is possible.
Watch it on TV.
New Year’s day at Exeter was also quite hideous the one time that I attended on that date.
Useful comments from all, thanks once again. I can’t stand another day of tv tor, I will go crazy. That being said if it’s anything like gold cup day I know exactly what you mean!
Himself, shame on you.
Seriously though Kauto owes me nothing. It’s rare to find a horse with such heart and ability that the layers find a reason to take on so frequently. Avoid aintree and this fella will pay for Xmas every year! That being said it’s IC EW for the gold cup this year.
Thanks again to all the posters, it will probably save me a day in traffic.
It is one of the best jumps meetings of the year and an excellent way to clear the Christmas cobwebs. Great racing and a knowlegeable crowd. Been going for many years having seen Dessie and Silver Buck win there. Don`t miss it. If you are arriving by about 10.30am you will be fine. I do always order my parking spot though.
Leave the M 25 on the M3 towards London and come off on the first exit,under the M3 and your there.Worth also remebering that the second day of the Kempton is an excellent days racing too, with a very decent (been increasing in recent years) crowd but not completely packed out.
In a similar vein, could anyone give a rough idea how much greater the Wetherby crowds are likely to be on the 26th than 27th, please?
Astonishingly I’ve still never been racing on Boxing Day in any capacity, but it looks like I’m being entrusted with taking three generations of Column to the A1 track this time around. High time the 11-year-old nephew got the taste, I think.
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.
Boxing Day is very busy but with a pleasant ambience as it tends to attract racing folk and families: the ideal combination. Nicer, though more crowded than Charlie Hall day
Second day usually much less crowded and hence even more pleasant, though as it’s on a Sunday this year and precedes the ‘boxing day’ bank holiday it may attract more than usual.
Presumably you’ll be driving GC. Get there early on Boxing Day to secure a place, or park somewhere on the town side of the A1 and walk to the course over the bridge, which is guaranteed to excite an 11yo boy even if the racing doesn’t
Haven’t been to either day for a few years, so whether the cards’ decline in quailty has affected the gates I don’t know
Regarding racing generally over Christmas, I’m keeping a watchful eye on the weather forecast. Two weeks is a meteorological eternity but there are signs it is going to be very cold
indeed its a very cold forcast and as we saw today at folkestone the ground can freeze during the day when of course the covers at ascot,kempton etc will be rolled off on the day of racing.
im planning trips to ascot,kempton,taunton,cheltenham,folkestone and plumpton over chrimbo….doubt many of them will survive.
re:kempton i find the free park and ride service from the hq of bp very good and reliable though last year the driver got lost and gave us a tour of feltham.Much obliged, Drone! I did the second day of the two-day meeting last year and it was very manageable – a good few thousand in, but still minimal queues for everything.
I’ll definitely be driving, yep. Hadn’t thought of parking on the town side, so that might be a handy tip if said 11yo’s procrastinations delay us as only they can!
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.
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