- This topic has 20 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 4 weeks ago by
.
- Posts
Played host to arguably the best three-runner hurdle race of all time:
I’d love the course to reopen – it’s one of the few that I haven’t visited, so it’d be nice to get there one day.
I think it will be a long process. Schooling and maybe a few point-to-point meetings to start with.
Main problem is they sold all their fixtures to ARC.
Might be a few fixtures going spare if Chelmsford closes for good, but of course it won’t be that simple.
If by some miracle it does re-open, I’ll be first in the queue at the opening meeting. It was my local course for decades, great viewing and the stiffest course in the country, uphill all the way from the third last.
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
Early days and the issue that caused its closure originally may still be a big stumbling block but fingers crossed it can be brought back especially given the Chelmsford news and the Sword of Damocles that continues to hang over Kempton.
I hope it does reopen. It is a proper National Hunt track and has been missed.
I have only attended it once but thoroughly enjoyed the visit. I would have attended more often but it is not the easiest track to reach via public transport.
Now please move the Greyhound Derby back to a proper dog track.
They have been putting it out in the local press about 12 months ago that is available for track gallops.
For me its great, but I dont see it happening for a few years. The Carp lake in the centre would probably take more https://towcesterlakes.co.uk/
Would be funny if one was fishing while the racing was on.CAS, ” it is not the easiest track to reach via public transport”. For me its the nearest, Bus 9 miles, a few pints in the Monk and Tipster, walk up to track, then taxi home. I wish they could for the next NH season.
“For me its the nearest, Bus 9 miles”.
Fair enough but Towcester is one of those fairly large towns without a railway station. I wonder if that is due to Dr Beeching?
I dont believe they ever had a train station, they are close to the canal system and the Romans had a fort there, as its on the old A5 Watling Street. So its always been a major route back in the day, plenty of rumours of Highway Folks in legends and folklore.
Over the last 20 odd years, its grown a lot, due to the County Council imposing new house scheme/projects on them.
But yes, I agree for anyone trying to travel via public transport, very difficult. Northampton or Milton Keynes are the nearest main line stations, with a local bus onwards to Towcester. Which are not frequent and probably about an hour or so in duration.That was my experience travelling to the course, which must have been something like 25 years ago.
I got the train from Euston to Northampton. I walked into the town centre and found some bus stops but the timetable suggested there wasn’t a bus to Towcester until midday, which would have been too late for the first race.
I walked back to the railway station and got a black cab to the track. After the last race, I figured I was better off walking into the town and looking for a bus or a taxi, rather than calling a cab out from Northampton.
I walked out through that rather ornate gateway which was seldom shown on the television coverage. I walked down the hill to the town, found a bus stop but my heart sank when the timetable showed the bus had departed 10 minutes before with the next service in 2 hours!
I looked round and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw a Northampton bus approaching. It must have been running late. It was back in Northampton in about an hour and connected with the London train. It worked out well but it was pure luck – I could easily have got home at least two hours later than I did.
Maybe it is better now but the absence of a railway station does make Towcester an awkward venue to reach. Sedgefield is similar but there are plenty of taxis at Darlington station and the drivers are usually happy to come back after racing.
Used to enjoy Towcester ,was doable for an evening meeting from London . Good viewing . Super Sausage Cafe near by was good too .
Strange i find the horses that stick in the mind as you age , the one horse i can remember backing there in all my visits with my Dad was a horse called Christian Soldier in a seller , I think it was first race of the day on a mid winter Saturday .
Didnt win . Why i remember it ive no idea at all , but it was a grey old day .The Super Sausage, south of Towcester on the A5 is still running and a proper little gold mine for the owners.
Just North of Towcester, there is the recently re-opened Jacks Hill Cafe which was an old truck stop back in the day. I was talking with some friends pre Christmas about it opening again and that all we needed was the Horse Racing to return.
Ive never been to see the dogs there.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.