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Quote: from Scottish Jamie on 9:20 pm on Dec. 18, 2006[br]I knew you’d be on my case about that one GC <br>
<br>…in the nicest possible sense, naturally.<br>
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.
Flat – Catterick<br>Jumps – Catterick<br>All-Weather – Probably Southwell, it has the least potential for staging good quality races though is situated in a nice place and does bring alot to the local economy (i have a full research project on it if anyone would like to read).
Has Towcester ever had anything other than heavy ground?
I’ve followed racing for the last 10 or so years, and can’t remember a single occasion when Towcester has been good/firm!
Flat: Chester. Not a racecourse anymore. Full of drunks and trap one wins every race.<br>Jumps: Uttoxeter. Going often dodgy. Fences and hurdles omitted (Newcastle good alternative)<br>Artificial racecourse: Ascot Like Disneyland racing.
Quote: from aphardy on 4:31 pm on Dec. 19, 2006[br]Has Towcester ever had anything other than heavy ground?
I’ve followed racing for the last 10 or so years, and can’t remember a single occasion when Towcester has been good/firm!<br>
<br>They were racing on good to firm there either last May or the May before. The first meeting held after its refurbishment was played out on firm.
It’s clay-based soil, there, so when it’s dry it’s very dry, and when it’s wet it’s… well, you know.
gc<br>
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.
Quote: from graysonscolumn on 8:42 pm on Dec. 17, 2006[br]After visiting Ascot for the first time on Friday, I have no hesitation in offering it as the Flat AND jumps track to lob into Room 101 for all perpetuity. Ye verily a racecourse for people who don’t like horse racing.
Full rant to follow on Thatracingblog <br>
<br>Said rant uploaded to the above blog this morning.
gc<br>
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.
Good piece…but a bit harsh maybe?
Totally agree with the sightlines issue…thats a disgrace…but the viewing at the jumps meeting i went to was fine. A little far away maybe, but no worse than Newbury
Atmosphere was nice and relaxed and the paddock and general layout around back of stand are superb.
Catering? Well, did it need every outlet open?
There are many worse course than this…
and the old grandstand was truely horrible. Im amazed an yone can look back at that and that ludicrous struggle to the paddock with any nostalgia
Fontwell, fakenham, folkstone and f****** plumpton! Quoted by some jockey on ATR a while ago. Forget who it was now!!! They’re apparently the worst courses to ride at but in my opinion i’d get rid of:
Wolverhampton,<br>Newmarket,<br>Lingfield.
Has Towcester ever had anything other than heavy ground?
I’ve followed racing for the last 10 or so years, and can’t remember a single occasion when Towcester has been good/firm!
Touareg Final day last season (the Monday night meeting which is run again in three days’ time) produced officially – and genuinely – firm ground.
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.
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So far I have seen Kempton Ascot Sandown and Newbury amoung the lists
Why not go the whole hog and close Epsom Cheltenham and Aintree?I never read everypost did anyone mention Perth? I really hope not
I was never too enchanted by Carlisle, Worcester is a bit of a dump or was the last time I visited it.Catterick I don’t like too much.
If this was for real it wouldn’t be an easy thing to do. If it was something I had to make a decison for real I woud have to do an awful lot of research first.
Cartmel doesn’t have great racing, the facilities are poor in comparison, it’s fairly difficult to get to. Some might think it should closed, but it means so much to the locals, who like up at Kelso and Perth many have farming backgrounds and hunting is/was part of their lives. They are typical racing types who look forward to every meeeting.
Racing started on the course way back in the 15th centuary when the local monks raced mules and the place is steeped in history which means nothing to outsiders but a lot to the locals.
I’m sure other courses have similar backgrounds, perhaps the 3 I have mentioned do, I really don’t know.
Closing 3 courses is not a job I would fancy if it came about that’s for sure.
One track that is sure to stand strong is Hereford, providing many a clue to the Scottish National it is integral to the jumps programme, clearly.
Hello Bud
10Feb08 – Her 31GS C4HcCh 4K 10-12 –
1/16
¾L, Potts Of Magic[12/1]10-12 Warren Marston
Gone To Lunch
20Nov08 – Her 26Gd C4Ch 6K 11-2 –
1/6
25L, The Cool Guy[8/15F]11-2 A P McCoy
Chiaro
16Mar09 – Her 31Gd C3HcCh 10K 11-12 –
1/10
2¼L, Fine By Me[6/1]9-12b Richard Johnson
L`Aventure
in 6th also placed 3rd in the Hereford National behind Chiaro, remember Hereford when you’re studying hard for next years Scottish National
Three to go:
1. Epsom: Seems as though no trainer wants to run their horses there these days. The ups and downs can’t do their bodys any good. Particularly coming around a turn while on the decent. Sadly, can only see the standing of the Derby declining in future as racehorses get ever more fragile. If they put in a plan today for a new racecourse with gradiants like Epsom, it would be thrown out. Move the Derby to Newbury (after extensive improvement to facilities) the fairest course in the country.
2. Brighton: Similar reasons to Epsom.
3. Beverley: Any course that needs to (allegedly) water parts of the track to change the draw advantage, does not deserve to exist.
Mark
Value Is EverythingBath (too high) Beverley (silly draw bias) and
Perth (too far north)
Damned southerners!
As a returning shot I ought to say Fontwell, Plumpton and Brighton, but I like all of them. If you dismiss Beverley for having a ‘silly draw bias’ surely that makes Chester ‘hung, drawn and quartered’?
Newmarket accounts for two of mine that can go. Rowley Mile and July Course are very poor for watching racing, though in the longer races they are at least decent for encouraging the art of conversation.
As a jumping enthusiast I ought to like Stratford, but the viewing is dreadful and in my experience the staff do obnoxious in spades.
Worcester is not my favourite, facilities are poor, but I would imagine trainers like the place as a very fair course to run their horses.
Rob
Why not go the whole hog and close Epsom Cheltenham and Aintree?
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