Racegoer Groups

[ripsnorter]

Hi, anybody know of groups in South Yorks/North Midlands who meet up for race meetings? Groups could be informal or formal. My nearest course is Doncaster but I like to go elsewhere too. Be good to find a group of likeminded people.

[Tonge]

I’d also be interested in a South East group. If these things don’t exist, perhaps we should start them.

[ripsnorter]

I’m happy to try and start something in my area (South Yorks/North Derbyshire). Anybody interested please message me. Or, if anyone wants to meet up at Doncaster on Lincoln day let me know.

[Gingertipster]

Hi Ripsnorter,
Is it just a group to go to the races you’re after or more than that?

I used to be a member of West Berkshire Racing Club. It was nothing to do with owning racehorses, just a racing club that got together for social events. We had meetings first at Newbury and then Oaksey House. We had different racing people to come and talk / to ask questions, including with trainers, jockeys, BHA, Racecourse vets, RTV presenters, gamblers, etc. Also stud and stable visits as well as coach parties to the races.

There are / were other similar groups around the country, I’ve met some people from the Cheltenham And Three Counties. I suspect there’ll be at least one in Yorkshire.
If starting your own you might get some ideas from these:

Home

https://www.ctcrc.co.uk/

Could also be worth getting in touch with Doncaster, they might know a group already formed that you might be interested in.

Value Is Everything

[ripsnorter]

Thanks Gingertipster, it is not an ownership group I am after but one for going to meetings, stable visits etc. so your West Berkshire information is helpful.

I have investigated Doncaster but the members there, while perfectly sociable at Doncaster, don’t seem geared for trips to other courses. As an aside, I suspect this is partly a feature of ARC courses as they used to be quite organised on the social front, though happy to be advised otherwise. Also, interestingly I think the half price entry for Over 60s has given some members cause to question the value of their upfront membership but that’s another story.

I used to have a group I went racing with a fair bit but it has fallen away for the usual reasons (deaths, finance, location, enthusiasm) and it is hard to recreate. It is easier if you live close to a small racecourse which has an active membership but sadly Derbyshire is an equine desert. Doncaster is the obvious choice as my nearest course (still 50 minutes away) but as I say, it isn’t or doesn’t seem too active outside of Donny days.

I have taken out a ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ season ticket for the coming year (April to March), so I will get plenty of racing in. Perhaps that will lead to connections over time.

[Travelling The Turf]

There is a North and Midlands Racing Club still going strong.
Further south there is the Cheltenham & Three Counties Racing Club
The Racegoers Club is now under the umbrella of the ROA and has a wide geographic membership.

[Gingertipster]

There was a Yorkshire Racing Club that used to hold meetings at Pudsey, but seems it folded in 2019 due to lack of interest from the younger generations…

And as Travelling The Turf suggests, the North & Midlands Racing Club is now covering Yorkshire.

North & Midlands Racing Club, now Incorporating Yorkshire

Value Is Everything

[Author]

Posts