- This topic has 32 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by
.
- Posts
No courses should be closed because as much variety as possible is desirable. Jumping should be reinstated at Nottingham
Well said and of course the King George should be run at Nottingham too a course very similar to Kempton in design,flat and galloping.
as the crow fles) and Thirsk
Paul, you attack what you perceive as the politics of envy (in the article by Tom Kerr, who seems to come from a traditional working class background, directed against the stewards of JCR, who all seem to be personally rich) and now you have a pop at a couple of courses because they are situated in industrial areas which if closed would deny workers in those industries a local leisure opportunity. Isn’t that something similar in reverse?
Firstly I don’t recognise these so called classes – it’s an antiquated system encouraged by socialists, unions and Labour to attempt to justify their existence. Incidentally, having said that, I very much come from what they would defined as a working class background.
Going back to your point, not consciously – Southwell has Nottingham nearby 15 miles by road or 11 miles as the crow flies
Redcar has Sedgefield 23½ miles by road (15 as the crow flies) and Thirsk 34 miles away (28 as the crow flies)
So there are nearby alternatives for them to attend.
I’d close Cheltenham and move the races to Taunton
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
So what if people want to go racing and have a few beers? We can’t all be pro-punters or racing purists. Said people work hard and if they wish to let off some steam by doing their brains on the horses and having a few jars of lager then who are you or anyone else to stop them?
Nothing wrong with people having a few beers and enjoying themselves – it’s when they get bladdered and spoil the enjoyment of others it becomes unacceptable and, unfortunately, that is something that is becoming far more prevalent on too many racetracks.
Some will say it’s a reflection of society and most High Street’s on ant Friday or Saturday night – that doesn’t make it right.
I would like to see greater enforcement of the licencing laws and where licenced premises, including racecourses, continue to serve alcohol to those who have drunk too much they should lose their licence. The trouble is racecourses make too much money from booze sales so they take the “easy” route and continue to sell as much alcohol as possible.
Taking Chester as an example – I would be pretty hacked off having paid a minimum of £30 to get into tatts or a minimum of £40 for the County Enclosure to then have to face foul mouthed, loud, drunks.
It’s all well and good saying if you don’t like it don’t go – why should normal people be put of going because of the antics of an obnoxious minority?
I’d close Cheltenham and move the races to Taunton
You’re biased lol
I see Taunton have a date on ITV4 later in the year.
The drunken buffoons topic is very valid but possibly the wrong thread although I can fully understand Paul’s frustrations on the matter.
Amazing a lot of courses try and take water bottles off me when bag searched…..
Charles Darwin to conquer the World
Politics permeates everything, and so does class although not so clearly defined as in the past.
Horse racing is somewhat unique in that it has always attracted participation in and enjoyment of by all stratas of society.
The further back you go the more pronounced were elitist attitudes and the more extreme and capacious the amount of drunken/criminal/annoying behaviour.
To the present day and racecourses are pedantic about dress code and bringing in your own food and drink whilst allowing people to purchase alcohol without limit and behave accordingly. It is indeed all about money.
Modern day capitalism may have blurred class divisions but only to a certain extent. JCR would preserve historic heritage at a partly private members club, create an AW track at the same HQ and favour Esher over Sunbury/Feltham and the current, living heritage of Kempton that can continue to be added to. JCR would treat Jumping as snobbishly as their forefathers did 150 years ago.
There are probably some senior bods within the British Gaming industry (I wouldn’t call them Bookmakers these days) that would be happy if they shut the lot and replaced with a full fixture list of cartoon racing!
Seriously though one of the things I love about British racing is the variety and this is slowly but surely being chipped away bit by bit.
Oh dear Paul. Although I agree with much of your criticism of Chester, they don’t really add up to a reason to close it.
So many (perhaps most) of the crowd have no interest in the racing! True perhaps, but what would you have them do? Get the gateman to ask them to name two of Lester Piggott’s Derby winners and eject those who can’t?It’s a tight track! Yes. Great if you own a horse that loves that sort of course and there are plenty who do. Why shouldn’t they have a track which favours them?
Draw bias! True. And guess what? At Chester you know what the draw adavantage is to begin with so it should be a plus to the serious punter (some of whom do actually go racing there!).
Ever had a bet on a race with a large field on the course at….well,name a course….any course. Think Cambridgeshire, Royal Hunt Cup, Stewards Cup, Ayr Gold Cup, Lincoln Handicap…I could go on. Scrap those courses too? Why, I believe there are stats that show a draw bias in races like The Ebor and the Cesarewitch.Entrance fee too high. No it can’t be because they get big crowds who’d still come if prices were higher.
Piss-heads? Can’t argue with that. It does have a larger than average number compared to most courses.
The thing is it’s financially successful,innovative and gives the public (not just the form-book studying geek) what it wants at a price they’re prepared to pay. Much of the profits made go back into higher than average prize money for a track that has no race above GP3 level. Furthermore, it looks after connections. Racecourse catering usually means over-priced dross. The owners & trainers restaurant at Chester is of a REALLY high standard. If your horse runs appallingly you might still return just to take advantage of the hospitality. AND you’ll be re-imbursed a few hundred quid if you don’t get any prize-money! They know how to look after the important players.
Chester’s not for everyone (not me nowadays either). But it’s successful and has a winning formula. Many (maybe most) racecourses that don’t stage top-class races that would naturally attract large numbers are envious and would happily tolerate a few more drunken natives to get a whiff of Chester’s revenue.
Congrats on starting a thread that animates so many. Now I’ve defended Chester, it’s time to nominate tracks I’d give the chop to. (I’ve been to most courses over the years.) 1) Beverley and 2) Bangor-on-Dee.It never ceases to amaze me how people who claim to be racing fans can actually advocate the closure of racecourses that form part of this country’s uniquely diverse and rich heritage.
Courses variously nominated here for arbitrary closure by supposed racing enthusiasts include the homes of the Derby, the Grand National, the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas and, in Chester, a historic and uniquely attractive course situated near the Roman walls.
Enthusiasts from other sports such as football or cricket would never openly advocate the closure of even the most dire ground because even the grotty and unfashionable ones are all part of the rich tapestry of the sport. What is it with so-called racing fans with their death wishes?
How many football fans would nominate Anfield, Old Trafford or White Hart Lane for closure whether they supported the teams or not?
As long as the courses are profitable enough to keep going and enough people want to go racing there to make it viable, with non-racing activities helping to subsidise running costs, I can’t see why any should close.
It’s ridiculous to suggest that drunken behaviour should be an excuse to close courses. The answer is to tighten up on security, ban troublemakers and ensure drunken antics are not tolerated rather than penalise the businesses that run the courses and deprive the many well-behaved local racegoers of a day out.
If the Jockey Club, which should be fighting to save courses, not advocating closing Kempton for housing, and racing enthusiasts who claim to love the sport are quite happy to see the venues that host their favourite sport closed down, then we have come to a pretty poor state of affairs.
Who needs enemies with friends like these?
I would hate to see any course close. It’s always a shame when any course closes.
Folkestone was a lovely place to go racing, I always thought. The racing may not have been overly thrilling but it was an attractive place, with the goldfish pond, and had a bit of character.
Leicester, Nottingham and a few others are dreary places but they are all part of the character of British racing.
Keep them all open. There might be some ugly ducklings but they all add up to the rich tapestry and history of Racing. Hope the local authorities can stop this nonsense idea for Kempton.
Echo the previous post regarding Folkestone. Crying shame it closed.Wolverhamption and Chelmsford City (if they don’t get their turf track). We don’t need dedicated AW tracks, use the flat turf tracks instead. Leicester’s hurdle course uses some of their flat course with no problems. If we must have flat racing in the winter (and yes, I’d prefer the old flat summer/jumps winter scenario) then use the tracks that are there already. With proper management the courses will be fine as we probably wouldn’t have as much flat racing scheduled in the winter in the first place.
What about people like me who only follow and make money from the flat? AW is a good thing.
Imagine the flat turf starting and every horse had atleast 180 days off wouldn’t be worth betting the first 2 months! Too many people have got nothing better to do than moan
Keep them all open. There might be some ugly ducklings but they all add up to the rich tapestry and history of Racing. Hope the local authorities can stop this nonsense idea for Kempton.
Echo the previous post regarding Folkestone. Crying shame it closed.I would agree with nearly every word except for the football grounds. Those three I would happily demolish. During the game too
<p abp=”107″>What about people like me who only follow and make money from the flat? AW is a good thing.<br abp=”108″>
Imagine the flat turf starting and every horse had atleast 180 days off wouldn’t be worth betting the first 2 months! Too many people have got nothing better to do than moanYou would still have Lingfield, Southwell and Newcastle – Kempton too if it doesn’t close. Plus whatever flat racing may be run on turf tracks during the winter. Still too much for me.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.