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hi folks!as a passoinate follower of british racing(especially N:H.)for over two decades,i know every british/irish racecourse.BUT:only from the telly,because i live in germany,and for several reasons(one of them is my disease(if you want to know more,just ask..),until today,i never made to a racecourse over there.my absolute lifelong dream is to go to aintree for the national,and one day it will come true,i know!what is your favourite course in britain/and ireland,and why?see you at the races,
andy
Sandown is a very good racecourse to visit.
Excellent viewing of horses before and after racing, and excellent viewing of the racing from the stands.
The only negative for me is the five furlong course, it’s a long way from the stands and judging a close finish is almost impossible.
Colin
Plumpton. It doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. Perhaps needs a lick of paint here and there but it’s just lovely and cosy and makes me fell all warm inside!
Perth for me. Never been to another course quite like it although Hexam comes close. Everyone seems to know everyone and it’s like one big happy family. So many good memories and never had a bad day there yet.
It’s heven onearth in comparison to Gold Cup day at Chelteham which is a million miles away fom what I call an enjoyable day at the race. Great to see top notch horses up close but apart from that I’d rather watch it on the telly
Not original, but has to be Cheltenham for me
Always good quality racing and love it all, including the X-Country races and the Hunter Chase meeting in April
Steer clear of Bangor-on-Dee. If you do go take an umbrella (there’s no stand and it usually rains), take a packet of Victory-V’s or Fishermans Friends. Dress for wet windy and cold conditions, make sure you put your thermals on and three pairs of socks under your wellies.If possible go don’t go by car but hire a JCB so that you can get out of the muddy car park after racing. (Although you NH fans are such an odd bunch that all this may seem like bliss to you.)
Oh- and it’s in Wales too .
Nothing wrong with Bangor in the depths of winter.
Towcester is a fantastic viewing track as is Hexham
Chepstow is a terrible viewing track and the place to avoid is CartmelHave only been to a handful of the English tracks myself, but as far as the Irish tracks are concerned, Punchestown and Killarney would be my favourite courses. Punchestown is probably a biased choice because it is my local track but there’s always top quality jumping on offer. Killarney is without doubt the most picturesque track in Ireland.
Not a big fan of Galway. The festival is well overhyped. Its only an excuse for a booze up really, no harm in that
but it can be quite hard to pick a winner around there, unless there’s a Dermot Weld trained runner!Steer clear of Bangor-on-Dee. If you do go take an umbrella (there’s no stand and it usually rains), take a packet of Victory-V’s or Fishermans Friends. Dress for wet windy and cold conditions, make sure you put your thermals on and three pairs of socks under your wellies.If possible go don’t go by car but hire a JCB so that you can get out of the muddy car park after racing. (Although you NH fans are such an odd bunch that all this may seem like bliss to you.)
Oh- and it’s in Wales too .What a load of tosh. I have been a member at Bangor On Dee for 15 years & it is a wonderful course,
There is no stand, but a famous ‘bank’ & the views of the course itself & the Welsh hills are magic, with everything to hand. It doesn’t usually rain either & it isn’t windy, oh & I’ve never worn thermals or wellies in my life let alone at Bangor.
It gets a good average crowd too & many of them enjoy a picnic as they bask in the sunshine.
In 15 years we hve been stuck in the car park once, if we average 12 meetings a year that’s one out of 130.
There is something magic about Bangor I would recommend it.
Other favourite courses are Cartmel, Ludlow & Market Rasen.
The flat afficionados are a different species to the NH groupies, polite (if your lucky) applause when the winners come in wheras we’ll give a winner the adulation it deserves.
Hope your wish comes true soon.Newmarket July course, Goodwood and Ripon in the UK
Leopardstown, Ballinrobe and Punchestown in Ireland
and really enjoyed Deauville… especially the admission price
I havent been to too many but 2 that stand out are Goodwood for its stunning location and friendly clerk of the course who let us walk it before racing, a course designed and built by God. The other is Happy Valley in Hong Kong. The athmosphere at the night meetings is something very special, the setting layout and facilites all superb!
Im hoping to get to Cheltenham in December and a visit to Hexham is long overdue.
Imperial Call,
You didn’t mention Listowel; is there a reason?
Btw, I agree Killarney.
Two other good ones are Santa Anita and Longchamps.
Cheltenham has grown on me now – provided I manage a good view. Still cannot abide Newmarket or Goodwood somehow.Sandown is nice and easy, but like so many tracks nowadays, it’s too pricey, imo.
I like Southwell and Hereford and may well be at the dreaded Wolver tomorrow. It’s alright, I don’t pretend to be sane.
Big fan of Listowel too Seán. Much prefer the harvest festival down there to Galway. Always some craic around the town especially if Kerry are in the All Ireland Final. Really enjoyed the the five day national hunt festival there this year. The seven days with the mixed cards can drag on a bit.
Aintree for the first two days of the Grand National is a must for me as the quality is fantastic and you see some fantastic racing.
In the summer i would say York is a good racetrack although Windsor is a typically English Summer racecourse as anyone who goes must go their on the boat from Barry Avenue as it is such a quaint way to arrive at a racecourse.
In Winter places like Ludlow,Uttoxeter,Wetherby and Warwick are lovely with a small gathering of die hards and dafts braving the elements.
A few of my favourites…
Ludlow – local course, all the quirks and very friendly. Great view from stand roof
Cheltenham – not original choice but brilliant amphitheatre for sport
Wincanton – cracking country course; great buzz
Leicester – unexpected gem, good viewing & best beef rolls in Britain
Sandown – great views and facilitiesPunchestown – Festival has much of the appeal of Cheltenham but a tenth of the hassle
the place to avoid is Cartmel
If it were possible to sound a QI-style alarm on here, you can bet I’d have done so by now!
Favourite course: Cartmel
Reasons: http://thatracingblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/surprisingly-overdue-article-on-magic.htmlLeast favourite course: Ascot
Reasons: http://thatracingblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/where-to-go-racing.htmlgc
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.
but it can be quite hard to pick a winner around there, unless there’s a Dermot Weld trained runner!
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