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My favourite course is Perth, delightful setting, good racing.
Second favourite is Sandown, top class racing, superb viewing, decent facilities.
Least favourite is Newmarket. Any course where it’s talk amongst yourself for part of many races is no fun.
Sandown is the best all rounder. The management there in recent times hasnt been great and it has looked alittle tatty in parts sometimes…but its naturally so well laid out and the racing decent both codes
Goodwood is wonderful. Probably my fav. They make an effort there
Cheltenham is atmospheric but can be frsutarting on big days
Kempton on a nice jumps day is my sentimental choice. My very local venue. sort of home really
i quite like both newmarkets for diferent reasons. .
Overseas, Chantilly is lovely and Happy valley a bit special
Dont like Epsom much. Ripon needs work and Sedgefield wasnt up to much frankly
GC, as usual a super blog on Cartmel.
However having been to a large number of our wonderful racecourses over many years, my comments are about the ability of having a good and unobstructive view of the racing .
The viewing from the stand at Cartmel is limited to say the least when I went and would now only increase with the aid of the huge TV screens that courses now use.
However there is a charm to the course but for viewing, the best place is the betting shop.
Both Nottingham and Doncaster are superb for viewing the whole track and are easily accessible! Both tracks have seriously deteriorated in the
catering department! Particularly Doncaster now they have stopped creating their unique Chicken Curry! It certainly made up for watching ORIENTOR get beat every year in the Cammidge trophy!!The viewing from the stand at Cartmel is limited to say the least when I went and would now only increase with the aid of the huge TV screens that courses now use.
If I may, can I ask whether it was a few years ago when you last went? A giant screen is indeed deployed part way up the run-in nowadays.
It’s a bit dizzying watching it, as it doesn’t fully block out the sodding great waveswinger fairground ride right behind it, but it nevertheless covers the parts of the course the naked eye can’t reach quite acceptably.
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.
I.m surprised nobody has given Huntingdon a mention yet (it is now). Well run, friendly course unpretentious, easy to get to by road and rail (bit of a walk to and from the station, though I understand there is a bus service for its bigger meetings now) and the distinct advantage of the Grange at nearby Brampton which I can heartily recommend for pre racing lunch.
Towcester is good too with free admission for most meetings and the stiffest finish in the country.
If you want to give point to points a try there are stacks of good venues. Charing in Kent, Dingley near Market Harborough and Dalston near Carlisle are excellent meetings that I have been to over the years and are worth a visit.
I’d say well over half the courses I go to are in Germany (got to mention Baden-Baden, it’s fantastic), but away from Germany, I would say that Cheltenham and Sandown in the UK, Chantilly in France, and the amazing steeplechase course at Waregem in Belgium would have to be my favourites.
This might all change next year though as Deauville and Pardubice have sneaked their way into my 2009 diary!!
Darren – AngloGerman
________________________________________‘The Hungarian’s going hell for leather’ – Jim McGrath
I’ve only been to half a dozen courses in my life, but I do love my local, Leicester. It’s small so you don’t have to trek far between the parade ring and the stand. You can stand right next to the last fence, which is a fantastic place to be as they thunder towards you with 100 yards to go, and it’s just cosy and friendly. Never so busy that you can’t see what’s going on, which is important when you’re only just over 5′! And yes they do fantastic beef rolls!
I’d stay away from the Grand National and watch it on telly – You can’t move, can;t get a bet on, can’t see most of the track.. All you can see is orange scouse skin and plastic beer glasses..
Sandown is excellent – Probably the best viewing i’ve seen on a standard ticket.
Haven’t read Jeremy’s blog yet but I actually really liked the new Ascot – However I stumped up the extra money for premier admission which means you get good seats up in the stands and can see everything from there.
Towcester is an all round great course although you won’t see too many class horses running there.
York is probably my favourite though.
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Lingfield and Newmarket are the best going.
I’d stay away from the Grand National and watch it on telly – You can’t move, can;t get a bet on, can’t see most of the track.. All you can see is orange scouse skin and plastic beer glasses
Went to Aintree for the first time this year on the Thursday. I was disntinctly underwhelmed. Viewing is poor and the crowd is a very odd mix. Big crowd but somehow not what i would call a big atmosphere. Whereas when you first visit Cheltenham and Goodwood you are in a bit of awe as to how beautiful the setting is and the ambience lives up to expectations, Aintree is definately better on the tele. Facilities are decent to be fair
The new Ascot is fine. I quite happy with it. I dsiliked the old ascot frankly. That tunnel and the low ceilinged cramped stands
I.m surprised nobody has given Huntingdon a mention yet (it is now). Well run, friendly course unpretentious, easy to get to by road and rail (bit of a walk to and from the station, though I understand there is a bus service for its bigger meetings now)
As much as I agree it seems quite well-run, I found Huntingdon solid yet unspectacular in just about every way. It’s a nice viewing track, though.
I’ve heard all of these stories about Aintree for the National meeting, and can well believe them, but I was there for the first time on Old Roan Chase day and found it to be a wonderful venue (actually got a bit emotional the first time I walked under the stand from the paddock to the course).
GC,
It was indeed many years ago when I last went long befroe the advent of the big TV screens, hence my comments.
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