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The Jockey Club’s hold on Nottingham racecourse – and even the track’s future survival – could be in doubt after the venue’s local authority owner said it is considering selling the 134-year-old
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Henry Cecil I believe liked to run his 2yos there, not with Cecil but King Of Steel and Adayer both won there as 2yos.
The more I know the less I understand.
“Henry Cecil I believe liked to run his 2yos there”
Indeed: in 1984, both Oh So Sharp and Slip Anchor broke their ducks there (the former on debut, the latter in his second race) before going on to far better things.
Nottingham also had some good jumps races back in the day, including both Champion Hurdle and Arkle trials. It was a pity that the jumps track closed, and the shutdown of the entire racecourse would be a terrible loss.
I went to the racecourse in October 2014 and remembered a horse called Golden Horn winning the Class 4 maiden there.
We had a nice 3 course lunch there which was very good value compared to some other tracks.
I remember watching Viking Flagship’s first ever appearance over fences. The horse was traveling strongly when it fell at the last.
Loads of trainers from the North sent their horses there, but also the likes of Pipe, NTD and the Duke had their share of runners at the rack.
Don’t sound good , I doubt racing will outbid housing .Always seems a fair track and can see why they start good ones there .
One thing in its favour is that the majority of the land is apparently designated green belt and situated within a flood warning area, which would make it far more difficult for developers to dig it up and build housing on it.
Arc is also one of the interested parties in taking over the freehold so it might not be all doom and gloom. Hopefully Arc have no potential plans to turn it into another AW course if they do get it.
Royal Gait won twice at Nottingham before he won the Champion Hurdle. The venue has been half the track since it got rid of the jumps.
On my one and only visit to the track, Kind won the fillies Listed race. A few years later, her appointment with Galileo produced Frankel.
As pointed out, a lot of good Flat horses have either started their careers or had their first win at the track. Vandeek, later to win the Middle Park, is a more recent example. However, in the main the standard of the racing is moderate nowadays.
My feeling is the track will be saved. I hope the greyhound track alongside it will be OK as well. However, I believe Nottingham is a track which ought to be a bit better than it is now.
I cannot see ARC turning it into an all weather venue. Would there be any demand for it, with Southwell just down the road?
Full Choke. Lester Piggot had his last ride at Nottingham , before his other last ride years later , but two retirements not a lot nowdays , retirement tours and seasons now .
Always liked my visits there very friendly staff and a fair track.My only problem was finding the track
So the greyhound track will go, too. That means there won’t be any tracks that do flat racing near to where I live. I must admit to not going there these days but that’s only because we have a lockdown dog that can’t be left. Michael Stoute also used to run his youngsters there, too. Great little track. Both horse and dog racing is slowly dying in this country. Used to be a great jumping track, too. Didn’t Foinavon run there at one time? He fell and they found him lying on his side happily munching the grass? ( might be getting him mixed up with another horse though).
TAPK will have to put his hand in his pocket and keep it going
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
“So the greyhound track will go, too”.
I fear it would but I hope not. It is one of the best running tracks in the country, maybe the very best. A two time venue for the Greyhound Derby final no less, during Towcester’s temporary closure.
“It’s on a flood plain”.
So was Wimbledon Stadium and it didn’t stop them building there.
The opening night of the stadium had to be postponed back in the 1920s when the River Wandle flooded and it happened on plenty of other occasions as well.
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