[dashingcustomer]

As I plough my way through Chapter 9 of ‘Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow’ in which each of today’s racecourses is matched against a nearby former course, Match 11 is Cartmel v Workington, Match 12 is Catterick v Richmond, Match 13 is Chelmsford City v Champion Lodge, Match 14 is Cheltenham v Gloucester and Match 15 is Chepstow v Cardiff.
http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/fundraising-news.asp?$=323&o=
More tomorrow when I get that far.

[dashingcustomer]

Given that Chris Pitt’s book ‘A Long Time Gone’ , which covered 90 former racecourses, was rated so highly on this survey, I wonder where the IJF recently advertised ‘Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow’ might end up on the list given it provides a history of almost 1600 former courses?
http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/fundraising-news.asp?$=323&o=
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. The Derby Stakes/The Oaks by Michael Church
3. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
4. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
5. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
6. McIllvanney on horse racing
7. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
8. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
9. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
10. Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow by John Slusar
11. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
12. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
13. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
14. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
15. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
16. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
17. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
18. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
19. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
20. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy

[dashingcustomer]

As I plough my way through the books I will list the Chapter 9 matches where the author matches a current racecourse with one nearby which has closed. He then presents a case why one closed and one remains operational.
Match 6 is Bath v Bristol; Match 7 is Bellewstown v Ashbourne (IRE); Match 8 is Beverley v Kiplingcotes; Match 9 is Brighton v Lewes; Match 10 is Carlisle v Kendal
It is remarkable how much affection there still is for Lewes racecourse. Anyone visited it?

[dashingcustomer]

As well as presnting the histories of more than 1500 former courses,the 4 volumes use a series of 85 matches to question why the current 85 courses have survived at the expense of former courses in nearby locations. Match 1 is Aintree v Maghull; Match 2 is Ascot v Reading; Match 3 is Ayr v Bogside; Match 4 is Ballinrobe v Ballina and Match 5 is Bangor v Wrexham
Do many readers still remember Bogside?

[dashingcustomer]

Those of you who still have fond memories of Lewes racecourse will enjoy reading about its history in Volume 2 and, in chapter 9, it is matched against Brighton, with reasons given why it folded when Brighton still thrives!? The author seems to have dugout particularly interesting facts about the majority of the 1500 ‘former’ courses, none more so than at Wigan Racecourse in Volume 1 when in one race two quite independent owners saddled the winner ‘Sweetest when Clothed’ and the third horse ‘Sweetest when Naked’.

[dashingcustomer]

Had a look in the Volume 3 Scotland and Wales edition for you and can report that there is a whole section on Dunfermline races which lasted between 1801 and 1876. Furthermore, there is a map linked to the article. Hope this helps.

[dashingcustomer]

Thanks for the reply. I contacted the IJF and there is some reason to do with their charity status which means that they cannot sell the books directly on their stalls at the various racecourses. However, they did acknowledge that the author has agreed to make a significant donation from the sale of each book. Hope this helps.

[dashingcustomer]

Thanks for the information. In volume 2, South of Hatfield, there is a whole section on Gatwick racecourse, including when the Grand National was run at Gatwick. Furthermore, in the colour page section there are many of the members badges from Gatwick.However, in my view the best section is Chapter 9 which matches the 85 current racecourses against 85 former courses, giving reasons why some survived when others did not. Match number 31 is Goodwood v Gatwick. You will enjoy reading why Goodwood survived when Gatwick didn’t.
Hope this helps.

[dashingcustomer]

Saw on the Injured Jockeys Fund website on Monday, under Fundraising events, a series of books called ‘Racecourses Here Today and Gone tomorrow’ and decided to buy all 4. Hope that they arrive today, for they purport to cover over 1500 former places where racing took place in the UK and Ireland. Given that Chris Pitt’s book proved so popular when covering 90 courses, it will be interesting to see whether books covering over 1500 ‘courses’ stands the test of time.
The link to the IJF page is:
http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/whos-fundraising.asp

[dashingcustomer]

As time goes on surely the two lists merge into one. If the same survey had been carried out in 1924 then ‘Men and Horses I have known’ would surely have made the list, and I am convinced, like you, that it will remain on the list for a further 8 years i.e. survived for a century. As you rightly say, others on the list currently being assembled are ones we believe will still be around in 100 years time. Chris Pitt’s A Long Time gone is now 20 years old, and most respondents believe it will still be being used in a further 80 years time, although no one can predict whether a more detailed reference book of old courses will emerge in the meantime.

[dashingcustomer]

That is an excellent, very useful appraisal. Have you also purchased a copy of ‘The Oaks’ by Michael Church?
I am sure that one of his Derby books will still be used in 100 years time, and include it in the list without reference to a particular edition.

[dashingcustomer]

I totally agree that people will want to still research The Derby/Oaks in 100 years time and few books on the subject are more comprehensive than the Michael Church pair. The same is almost certainly true about the Grand National, but which of the Grand National books is still likely to be referred to in a century?
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. The Derby Stakes/The Oaks by Michael Church
3. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
4. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
5. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
6. McIllvanney on horse racing
7. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
8. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
9. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
10. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
11. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
12. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
13. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
14. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
15. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
16. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
19. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
20. Foinavon by David Owen

[dashingcustomer]

Over 600 views and opinions and still ‘A Long Time gone’ is judged to be the most likely book to still be used in 100 years time. A book which contains a detailed history of 90 former courses.
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
3. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
4. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
5. McIllvanney on horse racing
6. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
7. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
8. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
9. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
10. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
11. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
12. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
13. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
14. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
15. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
16. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
19. Foinavon by David Owen
20. Not by a long shot

[dashingcustomer]

Thanks for the reply. The question is ‘which books will stand the test of time?’, not ‘which are the best written?’. I think it is more likely that, in 100 years time, racing historians will want to read about Dawn Run, Champion Hurdler and Gold Cup winner, rather than Captain Christy, and will seek out Anne Holland’s book irrespective of whether it is well written or not. However, if more people propose the book you suggest then it will force its way onto the list.
Many thanks for replying.

[dashingcustomer]

I have adjusted the list, taking account of your views and those of many other people.
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
3. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
4. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
5. McIllvanney on horse racing
6. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
7. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
8. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
9. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
10. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
11. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
12. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
13. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
14. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
15. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
16. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Mince Pie for Starters by John Oaksey
19. Foinavon by David Owen
20. Not by a long shot

[dashingcustomer]

I have adjusted the list, taking account of your views and those of many other people.
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
3. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
4. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
5. McIllvanney on horse racing
6. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
7. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
8. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
9. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
10. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
11. Neck or Nothing: The extraordinary life of Bob Siever by John Welcome
12. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
13. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
14. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
15. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
16. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Foinavon by David Owen
19. Not by a long shot
20. Timeform racehorses of ….

[dashingcustomer]

Thanks for your reply. What has become obvious over the past 24 hours is that, whilst people admired Henry Cecil as an exceptional trainer, few would put Brough Scott’s book in the ‘memorable’ category. However, the difficulty of including the Timeform books is that many will still be remebered in 100 years time, in the same way that very old Racing Calendars are remembered and prove useful, but is there one which stands out so much that it deserves a place on the list. I have adjusted the list, taking account of your views and those of many other people.
1. A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt
2. Seabiscuit; Three men and a racehorse by Laura Hillenbrand
3. Men and Horses I have known by George Lambton
4. Eclipse; The horse that changed horse racing forever by Nicholas Clee
5. McIllvanney on horse racing
6. Arkle by Ivor Herbert
7. Brigadier Gerard by John Hislop
8. A Jockeys Life by Dick Francis
9. Queen of the turf by Quintin Gilbey
10. Mr Darley’s Arabian by Chris McGrath
11. Neck and Neck by John Welcome
12. Horsesweat and Tears by Simon Barnes
13. Frankel, edited by Andy Pennington
14. Dawn Run by Anne Holland
15. When Birmingham went racing by Chris Pitt
16. Winner: My Racing Life by A P McCoy
17. Masters of Manton by Paul Mathieu
18. Foinavon by David Owen
19. Not by a long shot
20. Timeform racehorses of ….

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