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Interesting. Particularly “you shall not use professional level photography or filming equipment”. Wonder what they class as “professional”. I’ve been taking photos at the races for years and the only restrictions I was aware of were the no flash rule and not allowed to use commercially. I’m pleased to say that nobody has ever challenged me regarding my SLR and, if it starts happening, I may stop going to the races altogether. It’s all part of the day as far as I’m concerned.
Shows you how stupid they are. Many compact cameras these days are way more capable than a basic SLR
Ah to me this looks like a rule that isn’t really a rule. If you’re heading to the races with a proper camera in future I’d just head to the door with the security guard who looks like he/she gives the least f***s, and if they put up a fuss just explain you’ve been going racing for years and love getting photos of the day out to decorate the house with. I’m 99% sure this will work.
They tried telling me I wasn’t allowed my bottle of water or tin of irn bru in at the gate yesterday
I told them I had a kidney transplant in December 2012 and I am happy for them to take my drinks if they give me the money to buy replacements and that I’m not happy with queuing for an over priced soft drink once inside or for them to get a manager down to phone my kidney specialist.
They let me in with drinks.
Not sure if that would work with the camera though…..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I tend to have a quick look over the course T&Cs before taking my SLR to the races, mostly so I know what the official position is in case anyone does challenge me. (It has happened but the “it’s just for me” defence worked a treat.)
There’s no way my entry level model is “professional level equipment” but I don’t expect security staff to know that.
And yes, my mum’s compact camera has nearly the same amount of settings! but as it doesn’t “look professional” I am sure she would be waved through without getting a second glance.
They tried telling me I wasn’t allowed my bottle of water or tin of irn bru in at the gate yesterday
I told them I had a kidney transplant in December 2012 and I am happy for them to take my drinks if they give me the money to buy replacements and that I’m not happy with queuing for an over priced soft drink once inside or for them to get a manager down to phone my kidney specialist.
They let me in with drinks.
Not sure if that would work with the camera though…..To be fair you’re probably right at a place like the Cheltenham festival it probably will be harder to get away with the sneak the camera in jobby, I had a Thursday summers evening night card at Sandown in mind, when it comes to the likes of the Wednesday night at Kempton AW card you probably won’t even get challenged.
I told them I had a kidney transplant in December 2012 and I am happy for them to take my drinks if they give me the money to buy replacements and that I’m not happy with queuing for an over priced soft drink once inside or for them to get a manager down to phone my kidney specialist.
I’ll be trying that one at the cricket Nathan!!
Mike
Cheltenham put the update re photography on their web site but from what I’ve seen and been told haven’t applied the “rules” … Aintree are apparently going to be (although I can’t see anything in their site or in the ticket packages …)
This is a crazy rule and one that is difficult to enforce. Many amateur and hobby photographers have the latest SLRs with zooms and as someone has already mentioned the high end compacts take very good pictures as well, having in many cases good zoom lenses. I use one of the compacts and many of my images (not racing) have been used in publications; so where do you draw the line?
Does this prevent amateur photographers posting their pictures from a race meeting on a photography sharing site such as Flickr?
Just another thing to put some people off going to race meetings along with drunken behaviour, inflated prices and paying for an unwanted pop concert.Aintree will apply the rules, they want to stop the terrible image of the drunken Liverpool girls.
Racecards have carried some mumbo-jumbo about photgraphy not being permitted in certain areas of racecourses for eons haven’t they?
When I traded-up from Kodak Instamatic to a lumpy Russian Zenith SLR, circa 1977 and took it to the races I was never apprehended, nor when I traded-up-up to these great little digital compacts and take mega-bursts of all sorts of action, not necessarily pretty horses and ugly jockeys
The rule banning flash photography is, of course, quite correct and it’s that that should be enforced
Other than that it’s unenforceable bureaucracy and just re-inforces the image that racing is aloof and unwelcoming
What’s the rule, if any, at other sporting events?
I told them I had a kidney transplant in December 2012 and I am happy for them to take my drinks if they give me the money to buy replacements and that I’m not happy with queuing for an over priced soft drink once inside or for them to get a manager down to phone my kidney specialist.
I’ll be trying that one at the cricket Nathan!!
Mike
I tried it at the cricket and the steward said “if you have had a kidney transplant then taking the 8 pack of cider off you will do you good.”……
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
What’s the rule, if any, at other sporting events?
No comparable rule for Point-to-Points as yet. Give it time…
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Oh dear, TAPK isn’t going to like it.
Ridiculous rules Ginge..I often get hassled by the Pro Photographers when they see me get my Big 400mm lens out.I was on course at Doncaster oneday when Fat Dan Abrahams and a couple of bravados came marching over to me shouting Get off the F***** course…Language like that is inappropriate so I politely suggested “Are you gonna make me yo F**** Fat C***”? Amazing how one person can stop a situation occurring with choice words…The Course Stewards came over to diffuse the situation and said they have more problems with Pro Photographers whining about the public with Cameras than anything else,they also said he was the worst for it.
Oh dear, TAPK isn’t going to like it.
Ridiculous rules Ginge..I often get hassled by the Pro Photographers when they see me get my Big 400mm lens out.I was on course at Doncaster oneday when Fat Dan Abrahams and a couple of bravados came marching over to me shouting Get off the F***** course…Language like that is inappropriate so I politely suggested “Are you gonna make me yo F**** Fat C***”? Amazing how one person can stop a situation occurring with choice words…The Course Stewards came over to diffuse the situation and said they have more problems with Pro Photographers whining about the public with Cameras than anything else,they also said he was the worst for it.
Nice one Gord :)
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