The Racecourse thread

[Old Vic]

I think the list below is a complete of UK and Irish courses.

You can test yourself here http://www.sporcle.com/games/g/uk_ir...racingcourses;)

I have always found a day at the races with a local or racecourse veteran who knows the best viewing places and eating and drinking spots on and off course is more likely to be a success than paddling your own canoe.

l would like to try and gather a bit of local knowledge from the forum on each of the courses below It will probably take a bit of time to get through them all but interested to get your feedback on them.

Has anyone visited them all ?

Aintree
Ascot
Ayr
Ballinrobe
Bangor
Bath
Bellewstown
Beverley
Brighton
Carlisle
Cartmel
Catterick
Cheltenham
Chelmsford
Chepstow
Chester
Clonmel
Cork
Curragh
Doncaster
Downpatrick
Down Royal
Dundalk
Epsom
Exeter
Fairyhouse
Fakenham
Ffos Las
Folkestone
Fontwell
Galway
Goodwood
Gowran Park
Great Yarmouth
Hamilton
Haydock
Hereford
Hexham
Huntingdon
Kelso
Kempton
Kilbeggan
Killarney
Laytown
Leicester
Leopardstown
Limerick
Lingfield
Listowel
Ludlow
Market Rasen
Musselburgh
Naas
Navan
Newbury
Newcastle
Newmarket
Newton Abbot
Nottingham
Perth
Plumpton
Pontefract
Punchestown
Redcar
Ripon
Roscommon
Salisbury
Sandown
Sedgefield
Sligo
Southwell
Stratford
Taunton
Thirsk
Thurles
Tipperary
Towcester
Tramore
Uttoxeter
Warwick
Wetherby
Wexford
Wincanton
Windsor
Wolverhampton
Worcester
York

[Old Vic]

Rather shamefully I have only been to 21

[Bayoffreedom]

Thanks for the list OV; somehow I have managed to get to 60 of them. Not sure how many more of the UK courses I will get to but want to complete the Irish ones as soon as possible (have been to 21/26 so far). I made some comments on the 21 on the website: http://www.cheltenhamdream.com/new-page-3/

[Old Vic]

Thanks for the list OV; somehow I have managed to get to 60 of them. Not sure how many more of the UK courses I will get to but want to complete the Irish ones as soon as possible (have been to 21/26 so far). I made some comments on the 21 on the website: http://www.cheltenhamdream.com/new-page-3/

60 is very impressive.

I have done most of the festival meetings but never been racing in Scotland.

Been to a few of the Irish ones you missed.

Thurles is I think an essential visit for the Irish jumps fan. The all weather track in winter. A real hard core jumps place. The Watermill is ex-jockeys Ken Whelan's pub in town. Horse and Jockey probably best overnight option http://www.horseandjockeyhotel.com/

I have also been racing in Killarney a few times. A scenic course and good town afterwards - plenty of food options. Fences can be tough. Seem to get more than their share of fatalities there.

[Istabraq]

I've sneaked 34 in.
If the net was cast wider (Far East, Aus + NZ) I'd probably make the half century.

Anyone heading to Clonmel beware, it's possible to drive past the racecourse entrance 3 times before realising there's a racecourse nearby !

Impossible to say which ones I prefer most because I love a days racing but of the lesser tracks I love Stratford, Salisbury and Warwick, less keen on Fakenham, Ffos Las, Bath and Newmarket.
Most courses now have diamond vision screens these days but I've been to a couple recently that haven't, trouble is I can't remember which ! May have been Towcester ?

May be worth a series of questions to grade each track OV, access, transport, parking, bars, betting ring, food etc etc etc

[mayo]

24 here. Anyone got Galway advice Know the Raddisson was the sport. Latin Quarter and maybe a day out at http://www.moransoystercottage.com ?

The Galway Races get underway next week, with eight days of top class racing to look forward to.

Galway city centre will undoubtedly be rocking throughout the entire festival.

The event sees people from all around Ireland and further afield descend on the city.

Those going to Ballybrit can expect to pay a hefty fee for a hotel room though, with hotel costs rocketing to €220 during the festival, according to Trivago.

Here is everything to need to know about the seven-day event:

When is it?
The Galway Races get underway on July 27, with seven races taking place on the opening day.

The first race starts at 5.15pm on Monday and Tuesday, 3.00pm on Wednesday, 1.50pm on Thursday, 5.10pm on Friday, 2.40pm on Saturday and 2.15pm on Sunday.


Where can I watch it?
RTE will be showing a number of races live each day throughout the whole festival.

At The Races will be showing every race from Galway live.

How to get there

When is Ladies Day?
Ladies Day takes place on Thursday, July 30 and Maura Derrane is the celebrity judge.

The prize for the Best Dressed Lady Competition is worth over €10,000.


It includes a shopping spree at Kilkenny, a 5* luxury break with Bluebook Ireland, a new wardrobe courtesy of Aideen Bodkin, jewellery by Maureen Lynch, a bespoke crystal trophy by Waterford Crystal,€1,000 haircare from Peter Mark and a cosmetics package worth €1,000 from Lancôme.

Tickets
Admission is €20 on Monday, Saturday and Sunday, €25 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and €30 on Thursday.

A seven day admission ticket costs €130, while a seven day ticket with reserved seating costs €170.

Tickets can be purchased from GalwayRaces.com.

[Istabraq]

Mayo

I did the Galway festival around 12 years ago.
I recall the racecourse being some distance from the town and you need bus/taxi to ferry to/from the course.
I recall the racecourse being very tired, no new infrastructure and just about everywhere could have done with a lick of paint, I remember the best bar being on the very top level of the grandstand, a long bar but very easy to get served.
There were scores of bookies but this would have been before the exchange invasion and I would have expected a number of bookies to have given up the ghost by now.
Those admission fees are excellent - I paid £20 to get into a desperate meeting at Brighton a few weeks back.

Have fun !

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Where did you go overseas Istabraq ?

Have done Sha Tin and Auckland Cup day on my travels. Both were excellent events. Tourists are really well looked after on Hong Kong courses.

[Istabraq]

RN

I have a son in Aus (Gold Coast is the local track) and have travelled there a number of times so done a few of the Queensland and NSW tracks, used to make a point of travelling a different route so I could sneak in a different country, made HK, Tokyo, Singapore (trotting).
Also was fortunate enough to go on a cricket tour to NZ so managed to take in the NZ Derby (Boxing Day 1987 !).
Went to Auckland racetrack (not sure if there's more than 1) some time in January so not sure what meeting that would have been, but we are going back 27+ years, things change !!!


Never made Sha Tin, it looks awesome.....

[Yeehaa]

Anyone ever gone to Auteuil or Deauville?

[Istabraq]

Can anyone offer any advice for first time visitors to Donny ?
Looking to do the first NH meeting there at end Nov.
Cheers

[Captain Christy]

Anyone got tips for a trip to Wincanton ?

Best to stay in the town or is there somewhere better nearby ? Pubs ? restaurants?

Thanks

[Istabraq]

Anyone got tips for a trip to Wincanton ?

Best to stay in the town or is there somewhere better nearby ? Pubs ? restaurants?

Thanks

Only even done Wincanton on a day trip so can't help much.
It is however pretty much remote from towns, there's the village of Wincanton that you drive through to get to the course but I couldn't tell you whether there are pubs/restaurants.
I guess the nearest big town is Taunton but that's a fair treck.
The course is walking distance from the town, probably 15 mins or so

[Captain Christy]

Istabraq - thanks. Didnt go in the end.