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Favourite : Leoparstown on Irish Champion Stakes Day and Irish Gold Cup Day. Not mad about the Christmas Festival , attendance wise, huge crowds but great cards
Sandown for Flat racing, fantastic looking course,
Ascot, there twice; once for King George Day and once for the Clarence House Day . Great course for flat race. Love to go to Royal Ascot but sounds expensive
Kilbeggan for Jumps. Okay, never going to win any major prizes or attract major races, but one knows its summer when the summer jumping comes to Kilbeggan
Least Favourite: The Curragh. Don’t get me wrong, the Curragh has one of the best race tracks in Europe. Just, the facilities and the stand are outdated. The stand looks like it is ready to cave in. Derby Day was hell sometimes. Alas we are now getting a flashy new . Considering that The Curragh is the home of Irish Classics, (and superior horses, trainers, owners and jockies……..) what was dished out to the public for all these years was not acceptable.
Galway: The stand is great, the festival , which clashes with Glorious Goodwood , actually has improved with regard to quality of horses going (still note premier of course). Quiet a few horses would later go onto bigger and better things after their visit to the Galway Festival eg Carlingford Lough, Missunited – but the race track itself is horrendous. Ye thought Epsom was bad. LOL. Takes some horse to go around that tight track, large hill and short run in. Hard enough to get a winner and it is stall biased too.
Haydock – Pointless
I have never not enjoyed going to a racecourse (depsite some often dismal punting returns
) Been to about 10 from Aintree and Cheltenham to Bangor on Dee. Unlike most here I quite enjoyed Wolvo. Perhaps I was pleasantly surprised after hearing it constantly slated. To paraphrase something I’ve heard elsewhere, a bad day’s racing is better than a good day at work.
Favourites
Fontwell (enjoyed some lovely days there with good viewing)
Goodwood (great facilities and beautiful setting)
Wetherby (have enjoyed my visits there)
Market Rasen (good viewing and compact facilities)
Hexham (beautiful rolling countryside)Honorary mention
Folkestone (sadly closed but lovely to visit with goldfish pond and good atmosphere)
Least favourites
Leicester (bad head-on viewing and little atmosphere)
Nottingham (depressing and soulless)
Redcar (no character)
Stratford (very bad viewing wherever I tried to stand)
Chelmsford (nice buildings but appalling that the low-tiered grandstand is so badly placed that much of the viewing is obscured)Hate large crowds so prefer the bigger tracks on midweek fixtures.
Sandown
Ascot
Ludlow
Ripon
Down Royal
would be my favourite 5, though I used to like Wolverhampton (local track) when it was turf.No ones I dislike, though Kempton was always unlucky for me.
I like a good view of the action and to see all the way round the course without any obstructions which these days seem to be the huge screens they put up in the middle of the track that blocks your view of the back straight.
Worst viewing courses I have been to are.
1 Cartmel
2 ChepstowThe best ones.
1 Towcester
2 Sandown
3 Cheltenham
4 HexhamHave been to around 25 tracks in the UK (albeit some were around 20 years ago). Out of the ones I’ve been to here’s my top five?
TOP FIVE
1. Cheltenham – Incredible atmosphere with the beautiful backdrop of Cleeve Hill. Can be overcrowded during the Festival but with a bit of planning you can normally find a spot to get a half-decent viewing spot.
2. Fontwell Park – Cracking friendly little track. Love getting to the centre of the course by the final fence.
3. Ludlow – Again, a cracking little track. Terrific view from the roof of the stand.
4. Ascot – Quality racing in a quality setting (not done the Royal Meeting though)
5. Kempton – Probably a bit of a surprise this one but while lacking in a bit of atmosphere is functional and a pretty decent viewing track (with a bit of elevation). (Not done Boxing Day though).Others worth a mention:-
Goodwood – Stunning backdrops
Wolverhampton – dog race atmosphere with horses. Duff racing but good fun!Would be a bit churlish to post a bottom five as there are many tracks I have only visited once but these get a mention for poor viewing:-
Warwick – half the track out of sight due to the mound.
Aintree – loved walking round the National course, watched most of the races on the big screen viewing was so poor!
Chepstow – Actually not a bad viewing track (with decent bins), but spent half the day “humouring” annoying drunk blokes!Restricting it to courses I’ve been to…
My top 5
Cheltenham – Quality course – just need to rebuild the main stand now ;)
Ludlow – Quirky, brilliant course
Sandown – Great viewing
Market Rasen – Superb value in silver ring
Navan – My fave Irish trackUsed to love Wincanton but some of the quirkiness I liked has been lost.. Thurles is another brilliant course for its taste of untransformed Ireland.
Not so favourite 5
Chepstow – needs investment
Newbury – poor viewing, nightmare getting in and out
Newmarket July – poor viewing
Chester – not my bag at all
Wolverhampton – nearest course but not interested.NEWMARKET –
It’s only an hours drive from where I live and am a Member there. Every year I get to see most of the horses that are going to contest the Classics of the Season having their first outings, have already seen Eminent, Churchill, Winter, Rhododendron, Hydrangea so far this year and looking forward to racing on the July Course and the July Stakes where I hope to get to see Blue Point and Caravaggio contest the July Stakes.How can you say Newmarket is souless Paul, it’s the home of horseracing, the place where dreams are made (and lost) and along with Ascot and Epsom has seen the best horses in the world grace it’s turfs.
Ascot –
However, would avoid going for the Royal Meeting purely for the fact that access to the paddock is difficult (for this meeting) and also getting from paddock to racetrack to get a good view of the race due to the crowds. The only way I would attend would be if I had tickets for the Royal Enclosure (and that’s not going to happen) so content to enjoy it all on ITV.Chelmsford –
My least favourite and the only other track I have visited apart from Leopardstown during a weekend trip to Dublin a few years back (loved it).Even though Chelmsford City racetrack is only half an hour drive from where I live, I don’t like AW and find it bleak and characterless, I have ventured there twice since it opened in Summer and Winter, but the viewing from inside is limited, you might as well be sitting in a betting shop. The horses pass you going to post and then again as the race finishes. If you can’t go outside not worth bothering and only 5 bookies available, most of the betting takes place inside with Betfred (who own the track) and on the Tote.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Top 5 UK
Ascot – simply the best – have to be in grandstand, at least, for best views. No silver ring.
Cheltenham – day one of the festival every time – great views from the grandstand.
Yarmouth – family holidays and tradition
Sandown – easy to get to, great racing and good views
Lingfield – first track I ever went to and many family days outLeast fav 5 UK
Stratford – viewing is pretty poor unless you pay for the best ticket.
Lingfield AW – again, no where to stand and the AW track is some distance from the turf track.
Newmarket Rowley and July – can never seem to back a winner ane overall a nightmare to get to.
Brighton – only been there once. Everything was ok but the standard of racing was terrible, so very hard to back a winner. Will give it another go and thay may sway my opinion.Top 5 ROW
Meydan – hands down one of the best racecourses I have ever stepped foot on. Not only do you getba lush holiday in Dubai, thw Dubai World Cup is the cherry on top of the cake. If you havent been you must.
Chantilly – visited first time last year for the Arc. Get there early for a good view of the course but the track itself and background scenary is amazing.
Longchamp – clearly theres a new grandstand being built but again, get out there on Arc day and you wont be disappointed. Great bands playing and top class racing.
Leopardstown – easy to get to from Ireland, good craic and good racing.
Curragh – again, I havent been since the renovations but this is a track well worth visiting. I went on Champion day two years back and got to see wonder horses Minding and Order of St George. Not only that but they perade ex horses in the paddock before racing for you to see. Hurricane Fly was one when I went.How can you say Newmarket is souless Paul, it’s the home of horseracing, the place where dreams are made (and lost) and along with Ascot and Epsom has seen the best horses in the world grace it’s turfs.
I meant souless more in terms of the architecture, drab grey concrete. The stand, to me, is just unattractive, uninviting and unappealing, it feels cold.
Contrast it with the July course and it’s quirky stands and buildings and the two courses are a world apart.
Regardless of the infrastructure though viewing at both courses is appalling with anything beyond 1m 2f invisible from the stands and the remainder of the racing head-on – both courses a prime example of where you really do see more on TV.
Top 5 UK
Ascot – simply the best – have to be in grandstand, at least, for best views. No silver ring.
Cheltenham – day one of the festival every time – great views from the grandstand.
Yarmouth – family holidays and tradition
Sandown – easy to get to, great racing and good views
Lingfield – first track I ever went to and many family days outLeast fav 5 UK
Stratford – viewing is pretty poor unless you pay for the best ticket.
Lingfield AW – again, no where to stand and the AW track is some distance from the turf track.
Newmarket Rowley and July – can never seem to back a winner ane overall a nightmare to get to.
Brighton – only been there once. Everything was ok but the standard of racing was terrible, so very hard to back a winner. Will give it another go and thay may sway my opinion.Top 5 ROW
Meydan – hands down one of the best racecourses I have ever stepped foot on. Not only do you getba lush holiday in Dubai, thw Dubai World Cup is the cherry on top of the cake. If you havent been you must.
Chantilly – visited first time last year for the Arc. Get there early for a good view of the course but the track itself and background scenary is amazing.
Longchamp – clearly theres a new grandstand being built but again, get out there on Arc day and you wont be disappointed. Great bands playing and top class racing.
Leopardstown – easy to get to from Ireland, good craic and good racing.
Curragh – again, I havent been since the renovations but this is a track well worth visiting. I went on Champion day two years back and got to see wonder horses Minding and Order of St George. Not only that but they perade ex horses in the paddock before racing for you to see. Hurricane Fly was one when I went.If one is fortunate to be one of the 6,000 odd who will get a ticket to the big days at the Curragh this year, give it a miss , unless the weather is great. It is a joke right now.
Would like to see Longchamp remove as much as possible the obstacles from viewing the far side of the track. (tents, big screens etc – obviously not the trees)
How can you say Newmarket is souless Paul, it’s the home of horseracing, the place where dreams are made (and lost) and along with Ascot and Epsom has seen the best horses in the world grace it’s turfs.
I meant souless more in terms of the architecture, drab grey concrete. The stand, to me, is just unattractive, uninviting and unappealing, it feels cold.
Contrast it with the July course and it’s quirky stands and buildings and the two courses are a world apart.
Regardless of the infrastructure though viewing at both courses is appalling with anything beyond 1m 2f invisible from the stands and the remainder of the racing head-on – both courses a prime example of where you really do see more on TV.
Understand what you were getting at now Paul and agreed the stands on the Rowley Mile can appear a little bleak on a rainy day, but the ground staff do pull out all the stops to make the areas around the pre-parade and paddock area look appealing to the eye with beautiful flowers and neatly cut Hedges. The entrance has also been cheered up with flowers and new seating areas.
With regard to viewing it’s not the best even if you are in the Members I often stand on the steps looking straight up the Rowley Mile and last meeting I almost threw away a winning ticket on Taamol as I thought Larchmont Lad had beaten him the angle was so bad..
However I still consider the quality of racing on both courses top class and I see horses I would never get the chance to see in the flesh sometimes running as 2yo’s before they achieve their fame and glory. (Frankel winning his Maiden at a Newmarket Night on the July Course
)When I can I always record every meeting on TV to get a more in depth view of the races run as even with the best view of the race you will always focus on the horse you have backed and miss out possible improvers and those unlucky in running.
Back on the July Course from 10th June..cant wait for The July Cup meeting
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Top 5 in Order
1 Pontefract (A fine example for others)
2 Ludlow
3 Salisbury
4 Kelso
5 Bath (No watering)Bottom 5 No Order
1 Newcastle AW
2 Sandown (2 winning posts)
3 ChesterBet- BangorBet – RiponBet
4 Ffos Las
5 BrightonOooh, not done one of these for a while…
Favourite five (Rules)
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1) Cartmel (quirky, improbable, but very dear to me)
2) Hexham (breathtakingly sited)
3) Pontefract (proudly municipal and a joy to visit)
4) Market Rasen (the first to take summer jumping seriously from a prizemoney perspective)
5) Southwell (Flat or jumps, a humble and unpretentious pleasure)Least favourite five (Rules)
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1) Ascot (antagonistic, elitist, overzealous guarding of many halfway decent viewing places)
2) Kempton (too often appears half-heartedly maintained on any but the biggest racedays)
3) Haydock (lairy clientele)
4) Stratford (viewing mostly hopeless for all but beanpoles)
5) Doncaster (unless the needlessly strict dress codes have been relaxed since last I visited)Favourite three (point-to-points)
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1) Dingley (the best natural grandstand you’ll find at any venue, Rules or ptp)
2) Hackwood Park (imperfect viewing but another place I have a major emotional investment in)
3) Lower Machen (best-appointed Welsh course, and very scenic with it)Least favourite three (point-to-points)
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1) Brafield-on-the-Green (soulless, featureless, and source of the worst food poisoning I ever suffered)
2) North Carlton (prison grounds lookalike, needlessly zealous restrictions on where to view)
3) Higham (too flat for satisfactory viewing, fences too variable, loss rate too high)gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
At least Chester Racecourse is extremely easy to get to unlike Ffos Las which is in the middle of nowhere!
Top 5
Hamilton – first ever track when I was a lad, love it to this day and it deserves every plaudit it gets
Laytown – fantatstic experience on the beach, never seen anything like it (except Southwell flooded)
Cartmel – impossible to see most of it, but what a day out
Listowel – gorgeous track in a beautiful town with super friendly people, a must visit
Perth/Kelso – great atmosphere, friendly staff, warm welcome
All of these are smaller tracks, the big boys could learn a thing or twoBottom 5
Yarmouth – ok it rained, it was freezing and I backed 6 losers, but it was naff
Newmarket Rowley – loutish behaviour on Guineas day, dreadful viewing, lack of atmosphere
Haydock – full of pissheads not interested in the racing
Doncaster – I found it a soulless barn of a place
Chester – only because of the huge draw bias, races can be decided on declaration day
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