- This topic has 40 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 22 years, 4 months ago by
.
- Posts
talking about doncaster another one for the prince regent axe would be the person responisble for building the corporate stand that obliviates the first three furlong of any race longer than 10f
If it had to be just one, then my vote is for Nottingham, but if it went would anyone notice?
I’m with Mesh when it comes to Perth.
I’m not arguing with the "lovely course, great atmosphere" comment. On my one visit there I found it an attractive course and there were lots of people there having a good time.
However, I found it completely useless from a punting point of view. With a big crowd and those narrow winding lanes it took an age to get to the paddock to the grandstand.
Forget even thinking about seeing both the horses in the paddock AND the horses going to post.
Once I finally got to the grandstand, it was hellishly difficult to get up the steps as these seemed reserved from picnics/carryouts belonging to people who were paraniod that I wanted to stand on their food/bevvy rather than just find a place to watch the race and wouldn’t make way for people to get past.
And don’t even get me started on how long it took to get out the car park……
Or the state of the toilets…..
The people who run Perth should go down to Musselburgh to learn how to really run a racecourse.
Steve
I feel I must defend my (current) local track Brighton.<br>There are several things that make Sussex’s finest racecourse great.
Enjoy glorious views of the Whitehawk council estate (when the sea mist decides to disappear).
Socialise with other racegoers in the spacious and airy main betting hall (known affectionately as ‘The cattle shed’), where you can enjoy a thirst quenching pint of lager-style drink and partake in some mouthwatering local dishes – and still have change from a £20 note!
Listen to the informative banter of the lovable and eccentric Brighton regulars, speaking in a rarely heard local dialect – which mainly consists of words of no more than four letters.
Gasp in wonder at the consistent accuracy of local psychic Dave "The Judge" Smith – who regularly calls the result of a race well before the runners cross the finishing line.
Chuckle as the jockeys inexplicably decide to race stands side on firm ground, ruining your placepot and ballsing up hours of form study in which you discounted everything drawn high in the big field sprint handicap.
After the thrilling afternoon’s action has sadly ended, relax for hours in the comfort of your car as you get stuck in the middle of Brighton town centre in rush hour.
What more could any enthusiastic racegoer want?<br>
(Edited by Happy Jack at 4:29 pm on Sep. 18, 2003)
I haven’t been to  enough tracks in the UK to have a vote, but I have this urge to unleash some puns about Worcester and its leading position in this poll. It’s like trying to hold in a fart.:o
<br>ian
at the risk of turning this into another oft debate
aa i dont see the logic if we cant sustain the courses we have now in adding further courses as they will have to be paid for
bb many of us whom object to the oft ruling is not on the basis that all courses will be saved in the future economically viable or not. the objection is made on the basis that we want all interested parties to have their say in racing so they can come up with a coherent plan for the future. rather then leaving it the hands of one interested (bookies) so they can repair the damage to their bottom line caused by the exchanges by getting their product (horse racing) at a cheaper price
so i dont find it odd at all
in fact i think it makes economic sense to close some courses but not 29 which i think is the figure someone banded about (i wont remind you that i think ,but not certain ,it was in one of your postings:biggrin: :biggrin: )
again i will say that in my belief racing should be lead by a central body which serves all parties interestss and not just one.
and of course this central body with a leader capable of negotiating with all representatives would have to make economic decisions one of which is that in this day and age 59 courses are unsustainable
and yes if there are courses which in general do not sustain support from either spectator. owner,breeder, punter for what ever reason then they will have to go
<br>
Interesting thread this. <br>Hands up all those going to Nottingham tomorrow then.:) <br>Southwell may not be a very popular place but we went last Friday and had a great day. Especially at the sweet stall under the stand!
Sorry bigtony but perth has to go for me,was at the last saturday meeting.Traffic jams,poor viewing,outdated facilites,small betting shop and worst of all people drinking out off glass bottles then disgarding them in the old stand,an accident waiting to happen ? <br>Were their any stewards.
Tony
My post was (deliberately) a little excessive.
Obviously, the overcrowding and other problems are going to be worse on a Saturday.
I could go up midweek sometime but, the experience was so bad on the Saturday, I dont really feel the inclination.
You mentioned Ayr as one of your five. I actually like Ayr.
I know it’s a pretty ugly place but it’s big enough to hold a crowd.
Even on grand national day this year, there wasn’t half the crowding there was at Perth.
And you can always see the horses in the paddock, watch them going down to post, get to the bookies and into the stand in plenty of time.
I guess those are the things that I look for in a course (apart from half-decent racing).
Ian:
If we happened to live in a world where the racing industry actually gave a damn about the race-going public, then this "hit list" could actually be taken as feedback.
Or a warning to get their act together before they go bust….
We might even see racecourse representatives asking exactly why their particular course was so unpopular.
Of course… we’re talking about life in some parallel universe….
Steve
How about closing Cheltenham and redistributing its major fixtures across the calendar to ensure a balanced jumps season?
I usually go to that Perth meeting you spoke about Steve and in the past it has always been ok..maybe just a bad day this time round..was at Musselburgh last Saturday and once again it was a great day..even a free programme thrown in:biggrin: ..they look after everyone ..if you are with a coach party and have to park on the far side car park they have mini buses lined up to take you round to the main gate..it is only a 5 min walk but the thought they have put in for the elderly and disabled is 1st class..i will be going down to Ayr in November for the 1st time in 3 years to see if things have changed for the better..last time i vowed i wouldn’t go back as it was a tip..but you have to give the new owners the chance to sort it out..can’t make this weekend or i would have went..Hamilton and Kelso are also 1st class .
I really can’t understand what people have got against Perth. I’ve been to the April Festival, evening meetings in June and to a meeting in August and have enjoyed every one. Yes it’s been busy, but never uncomfortable. I’ve always been able to get a place at the paddock, get around and find a place in the stand. The racing’s of a relatively low standard but normally competitive without it being a difficult place to find winners.
The setting is delightful, there can’t be many better settings for races in Britain. There’s plenty of parking and although there are queues to get out of the course, the traffic is well policed and normally moves smoothly , certainly better than the snail paced queue up to the lights at Salisbury or trying to get out of the centre of the course at Plumpton, or the exit on to the ring road at Leicester!
Robnorth
I can only talk about the meeting that I attended, but it fit the description that Micky P gave, not the Perth that you describe.
For example, I took the racecourse bus from the centre of town. After the racing, it took over an hour to get out the carpark. I think it was advertised to leave at 25 mins after the last race.
There was a lack of space in the stand because people had put out rugs for their picnics.
Getting around was a nightmare because the paths are very narrow (banked on either side by food vans etc) and blocked by people standing around eating, talking etc.
When it comes to things like that, nice surroundings don’t compensate much for lack of organisation.<br> <br>Maybe Micky P might want to chip in on this and give his version of events. Or indeed, anyone else who happened to be at this meeting.
Steve
Thumbs up for Perth from me.  I really enjoyed their Festival and thought Sam Morshead had done a great job encouraging so many Southern stables to bring a team and ensuring that there were parties and evening activities for visiting race fans. ÂÂÂ
I agree it was really crowded but this added to the atmosphere, which I did not find oppresive like some mid-summer flat meetings.
Its also in a gorgeous location and playing golf in Scone beforehand is a real treat.
If we had to scrap some courses then I’d start with Brighton – had a runner there once, never again – I just don’t like the camber.
Bad memories of Catterick – but only because when I arrived for my first and only visit it was shrouded in thick fog and the meeting had to be abandoned.
<br>
(Edited by Adrian at 2:51 pm on Sep. 19, 2003)
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.