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This is written in the light of what have been posting in recent threads alluding to the drunken atmosphere at many of our race tracks.
Just something to ponder. Last weekend I spent four wonderful days at Burghley Horse Trials, an event I first went to in the late 80’s. Throughout the four days, drink was wideley and, in the case of the Burghley food walk, freely available from 9 in the morning till well gone 5 at night and even later. On the Saturday over 150,000 throng the cross country course and the trade stands.
The biggest queue at the famous fence the Trout Hatchery was not for the coffee and tea (it has never been easier to get one in fact) but for the Champagne and Pimms Bar – one of four along the track – about the distance of the Welsh National. I saw many people walking with bottles of champers and huge jugs of Pims to their picnics nearby.
After the last horse had completed the cross country there were many boozy picnics in the car parks many running on from lunch time.
My point is this at no time was there any apparent excessive drunkenness or rowdy behaviour, no raucous renderings of John Peel or Drink Puppy Drink. My non-horsey teetotal wife never felt any threat from an obnoxious beer sodden twit and wandered off shopping leaving me on the cross country with out any worry. If Burghley can do it year in year out why cannot racing do it. Why cannot our big festivals not feel "edgy" as many allude to and not just racing, but cricket, rugby and football too. It can be done and needs to be done before our sport becomes the domain of the hardened drinker.
I imagine Burghley horse trials isn’t a the top of the list when Mr Punter and his drinking pals want a horsey day out. There’s not much to wonder.
Glad you and the Mrs had a wonderful day out.
Fortunately , pretty much everyone who goes to Burghley is there for the horses, unfortunately the same cannot be said about racecourses on Saturdays .
Somehow I can’t envisage a time when every single Working Men’s Club north of Watford Gap meets to arrange their annual coach trip and chooses dressage day at the Burghley horse trials over John Smith’s Cup day at York
Glad you had a good time but although this may come across loutish, I love a good jolly up at the races, it’s half the fun. You’ll never see me’ abuse anyone, just like to get merry with my pals and try and back a few winners.
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Not looking forward much to Doncaster on Saturday for said reason, especially after my latest two visits to the place. Worse than Babylon under Belshazzar when the brewery burned down. But for dear old Dandino, of course, the Newark Nijinsky, I wouldn’t be braving the shower. But how could any self-respecting Elitist miss being there?
I was at Donny yesterday. The pleasant, relaxed atmosphere that has long been the hallmark of the early part of the Leger meeting was again in evidence
Lovely old race the St Leger and the day itself is steeped in tradition, but it’s too much for me nowadays. Truth is it’s always been rowdy. Possibly rowdier now
Do you like the new stand Pinza?
More than satisfactory IMO, though I miss the spartan cavernous hall behind and beneath Tatts
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I like it too. Less labyrinthine and more user-friendly. I’m with you though on missing the Grand Cavern – somehow it was austerely impressive and … well,
serious
. Wish I’d been at the first couple of days too, rather than Saturday, but … duty calls!
Not looking forward much to Doncaster on Saturday for said reason, especially after my latest two visits to the place. Worse than Babylon under Belshazzar when the brewery burned down. But for dear old Dandino, of course, the Newark Nijinsky, I wouldn’t be braving the shower. But how could any self-respecting Elitist miss being there?
Well, I won’t be, can’t afford it… Can’t believe the funny fluffy dun foal with the black head I was skritching is going to line up for the St Leger (or turned out so handsome!).
Kirtlington foaled Midas Touch, too, so a very exciting race for them.
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