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Hate ladies days i really do. Last time went to one at York i was there standing watching the race, quite excited as mine was travelling nicely. A group of 3 women in front of me talked through the whole race and when it got to the final furlong one of them turned around and started trying to have a conversation with me about my shoes (they were nice shoes mind
) ! I could not believe it though. And of course i didn’t want to be rude so had to politely smile and thank her etc and blimmin missed the finish. Was quite annoyed.
However Cattericks ladies evening is quite a good atmosphere by contrast and the majority there do seem to be into the racing… however different courses so different people.In a very non-PC way Ladies Days can be good fun from a male perspective, although the one at Aintree can be particularly terrifying
I was at Aintree one Ladies Day, when it was a warm sunny day and the Scouse lassies were adorned in their best “belts” and little else.
For one of the races I was on the terracing in front of the stands, looking down on Tatts. After the race finished the conversation went something along the following lines:-
“What won that race?”
“What race?”
Let’s just say very few of the men were watching the racing.
As for Family Fun Days, I wish Marcus was right when he said one parent ends up looking after the kids – it does not always happen. All too often the kids are left to their own devices and become a right nuisance.
In theory Family Fun Days are a good idea as it does give the chance to attract the next generation of racegoers.
All too often it gives the minority of parents a chance to abdicate their responsibilities as the Sprogs are just allowed to run free as they please in the relative “safety” of the course. Of course it is not a safe environment – I have lots count of the number of times I have see unattended kids sitting on rails etc.
My other pet hate is at some courses Family Fun Day means the appearance of bouncy castles in the centre of the course, invariably at courses where the stands are low – thus obstructing viewing of racing on the far side of the course.
Aintree on Friday is different class. Wading through the scouse WAGS from paddock to betting ring is not the worst way to waste five minutes.
Hate ladies days i really do. Last time went to one at York i was there standing watching the race, quite excited as mine was travelling nicely. A group of 3 women in front of me talked through the whole race and when it got to the final furlong one of them turned around and started trying to have a conversation with me about my shoes (they were nice shoes mind
) ! I could not believe it though. And of course i didn’t want to be rude so had to politely smile and thank her etc and blimmin missed the finish. Was quite annoyed. Oh yes – another bugbear of mine (I must be in Mr Grumpy mood today) , although not about shoes in my case obviously!!!
No all Press Rooms offer brilliant views of the racing (indeed there are one or two where you cannot even see the racetrack), so at some courses I end up having to watch the racing from the stands.
So there I am balancing a stopwatch, bins and clipboard with pen poised, clearly standing there for a reason. Now sometimes I am asked before the race what I am doing and I have no problem with that – although it usually leads to the invariable question “what do you fancy in the race?”
I usually reply “nothing really stands out” – a safe neutral answer which saves grief after the race if the one I do fancy trails home last.
What really does bug me though is, mid-race, when I am clearly concentrating on the race and making notes, someone tries to strike up a conversation.
Often asking where the donkey they backed is and , more often than not, it happens just after the commentator has said it is off the bridle or tailed off – almost as if they want some confirmation the commentator has got it wrong.
Although I have also had people trying to strike up conversations about totally unrelated topics.
Unfortunately I have neither the patience, nor politeness of Kautostar1 – usually I give them “a look” which usually does the trick and I then apologise to them for not answering once the race is over. If the look does not work I just say, point blank, “sorry I am trying to watch the race, if you want to talk I will talk to you after the race.”
Unfortunately I have neither the patience, nor politeness of Kautostar1 – usually I give them “a look” which usually does the trick and I then apologise to them for not answering once the race is over. If the look does not work I just say, point blank, “sorry I am trying to watch the race, if you want to talk I will talk to you after the race.”
That is a talent!! I always pic up waifs and strays as can’t be blunt. I have tried but just feel so guilty, the funniest one was when it was raining at Catterick and was with my little boy so went inside the ‘god solution’ bar to watch the screens. Quite out of the blue this one guy gets on talking about having the ‘snip’ to me. I thought had misheard him so laughed and asked "Pardon?!" which in turn looked like i was interested… big mistake. Well he must have had a few to drink as he then went into detail about why he got it done (had 6 kids) and how they did it – the snip that is… ha. Ee my god i was highly embarrassed as he was talking verrry loud, and getting dirty looks from around. Half expected him to get it out and show me! Well i missed that race too didn’t i. But did win
Think will try the look and appology afterwards… Thanks
Think will try the look and appology afterwards… Thanks
My "look" is the stuff of legends
As a gay man they are my ideas of hell, wall too wall drunken wenches (allot of mutton dressed as lamb) with cigaerates and glasses of crab booze who wouldnt know if they werre watching a thoroughbred racehorses and or chariots drawn by Asian Kiang…
Its bloody sexist and I am frankly I am sick of it. If they hold a ladies day a days the the at a meeting with the same quailty of racing their should be a mens day at the same time of year.
The best dressed lady competiton with commetators like Tommo drooling jnto mircophone, pass me the sick bucket.They cater for scroats who want too drink beer and watch football tv on big screens, why question why have they come too the races at all.
Some gay men love watching all the rough trade in their suits at northern tracks (ala John smiths day at york or Eider day at newcastle) or the well turned out posh totty at places like York.
What about dressed men competion? Dp these sexists pigs who rybns
Do the these scroats realise what a racing gentlemen has too go through too get ready for a days racing?For those ladies among our ranks heres what some gentlemen have too concider when getting dressed for the races.
We too select a pair of shoes ( a black pair of clarks for comfort for flat racing, brown for national hunt), wellingtons may be needed for point too point.
Socks, a matching pair works.
Underwear, underpants, Thermal vest ( in spring,autumn & winter) long johns if one is going too lesser light track or point too point. At the 2002 Breeders Cup in Chicago, the thermal vest and long johns kept we warm on a very chilly day, my cousin laughted at me for wearing them at the days beginning was not doing so at the days end….
Over coat, it needs too be weather proof and as heavy as the season requires it too be.
Suit, peferably navy blue (flat or NH), or blazer with cream trousers ( for the flat), Tweed jacket ands cords for national hunt.Shirt, White, blue check or pink check ( for the flat), country type check for national hunt.
Tie, Blood red Salmon Pink ( the latter of a favourate among the ranks of civil service) or Gold, both codes, all three go with most shirt colors.
Cufflinks ( that should match the tie pin in terms the being the same metal).
Waste coat or sweater too be worn under the suit or jacket if the weather warrants it.
The hat ( always check the forcast for high winds or rains, being caught out with the wrong hat his a royal pain. Mid september too just after the derby depending on the weather ,a brown tribly which offsets ones eyes brows, if their are high winds in which case its a tweed cap. After the Derby too mid September, wide brimmed straw hat, great for keeping the sun off your eyes though you will get dick tracey comments from chavs.
I used to go racing on my own quite a lot a few years ago; one day I was travelling back from Uttoxeter on the train and got chatting to the guy next to me who told me that he had been ill; there had been a lot of flu around that winter so I asked him what had been the problem and he told me he had schizophrenia….I asked him if he was taking his medication and thankfully he replied that he was [even more thankful that he said ‘yes I am’ and not ‘yes we are’]…as we both got off at Derby Station, purely by chance my son was there..I have never been so glad to see him…
I can’t work out why just because a marketing department labels a day "ladies day" loads of "ladies" turn up. It’s not as if there is usually anything special on, its just the same as any other raceday, yet sure enough loads of them turn up. Often just to pay a lot of money to get in for the privilege of paying over the odds to get pissed.
If they held a "naked ladies day" I wonder if they would all play along like sheep …
Naturist days would be interesting
Made it madantory for all racegoers and staff to be naked at say wolves on a saturday in august, they would get a decent crowd..I agree about Ladies days having nothing specail on for the women bar the best dressed bit of female. Why not beauty counters and stalls selling racing theamed products?
Of course another thing I have discovered with all the racing I go to is that some women make a living out of ladies days.
There is a group of women who, I believe work or own a fashion store, who do the rounds at the ladies day race meetings and go with the sole intention of winning the best dressed lady comp – once the comp is over they are off.
There is one woman who appears, and often wins, the comp at many different courses around the country.
If they hold a ladies day a days the the at a meeting with the same quailty of racing their should be a mens day at the same time of year.
I’m not sure precisely what it entails, but there is one meeting each year at Brighton that is marketed towards the gay demographic, the late Stanley Clarke having identified that that town’s sizeable gay community was one worth trying to engage as racegoers. I suspect that’s not going to be the easiest of courses for you to get to from Yorkshire, though?
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.
I’m another "lady" who hates ladies days but sadly they are here to stay as they make heaps of money for the racecourses but are the bane of my racing life – given up going to Aintree Friday and York Thursday because of them. However I can see the attraction to you red blooded males out there! What really did it for me though was the "lady" at Aintree led prone out across the corridor of the Princess Royal Stand being sick into a champagne bucket – ugh! A sight never to be forgotten.
With the recession continuing and corporate budgets being squeezed, the racecourses will turn more to the Ladies Days and the Hen and Stag markets unfortunately.
We took a Classic Raceday badge at Newcastle’s Eider meeting last month and were disappointed with the tackiness of it all to be honest. I don’t think the racecourse is the place for blokes to be walking about dressed as Scobby-Do or a piano – I see the giggle in certain circumstances but if you pay for a Club Enclosure badge to watch the racing then you don’t expect to share a viewing platform with Batman or a drunken Roulette Wheel. Killjoy or snob I probably am in this case but I don’t care, there is something old fashioned about my fasination with a day at the races and the top attractions like Newcastle, Ayr or Aintree don’t fulfil that so if that’s their bag then I’ll stay away thanks. There are plenty of days racing that appeal to me. Too many tasteless tattoos on the Geordie women for my liking anyhoo!
I am disappointed with what others are saying on another thread about Haydock Park going to the dogs (excuse the pun if you will) as it is always a course I fancied visiting from watching racing there on the box.
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Ladies days are one of the most beautiful sights in racing, horses + nice women + good weather, I don’t care what anyone says if you don’t like ladies day you must be a bit gay imo.
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