York Racecourse

Racecourse number: 2

First visited: 1985

Number of visits:7

York's Benson and Hedges Gold Cup Day meeting in 1985 is one of my favourite days racing. My first dozen or so trips to the races were to my local track Haydock Park and so this first visit away from Haydock would open my eyes to other horse racing possibilities. As good as Haydock was, York was simply better. In terms of scale, racing quality, atmosphere and viewing options this was something very exciting indeed. My family watched most races that day in a seated area way up in the stands overlooking the final furlong. What a view. Bourbon Boy was a winner I remember backing for Michael Stoute, Walter Swinburn and Sheikh Mohammed. On this particular occasion I noted the results in the racecard along with the winning distances. Not something I continued with but certainly helpful in terms of this record. The full colour cover of the racecard was as distinctive as the meeting itself, and at 40p a bargain.

The big race of the day which is now the Juddmonte International featured many racing superstars of the time including many future breeding superstars. Top of the bill and favourite for the race was Oh So Sharp who had already won the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks. She would go on to complete a rare triple crown by winning the St Leger. Other leading contenders were Commanche Run, Triptych, Bob Back and Palace Music. The later had previously beaten Pebbles in the Champion Stakes. I was very conscious of the importance of this race. I backed Oh So Sharp but she could only manage second. Racing legend Lester Piggott riding Commanche Run got first run on the favourite partnered by Steve Cauthan and won by three quarters of a length. These equine stars of the 1980's were bred from the equine stars of the 1970's. Sires of the 1985 renewal runners included Roberto, The Minstrel, Alleged, Bustino, Troy and Kris. What a race that would have been. This race was also to provide me with a link to Dancing Brave's Arc De Triomphe one year later in which Triptych competed. To me the 1986 Arc is the best race ever run and was won in thrilling fashion by a fantastic horse.

Perhaps one reason I enjoyed the day so much was some betting success which included a successful dual forecast on the final sprint race. I used to do the old dual forecast quite a bit in those days and with optimism I choose Dorking Lad and Mary Maguire in race seven. The payout was around £30 which was a decent amount for a teenager in the 1980s. The real thrill though was watching it take shape in a perfect way from this unfamiliar yet wonderful viewpoint. This day definitely acted as a major catalyst for my racing hobby to extend nationwide. I was fourteen years old and York had made a big impression on me. By the time I left school two years later my racecourses visited total would have increased to ten. My journey to all the British racecourses had begun in earnest.

Pontefract Racecourse

Racecourse number: 20

First visited: 1991

Number of visits: 7

The photograph above was taken at the pre parade ring at Pontefract in 2010. In shot are my two favourites seven year old girls from then. My daughter Rachel and my racehorse Smarties Party who was fancied for the upcoming two mile two furlong handicap.

Nineteen years earlier in July of 1991 I made my first trip to Pontefract races. Positioned right next to the M62 near Leeds it is a large square shaped flat racing track with a significant climb to the line over the final two furlongs. I have a memory of two horses from this day. After twenty one consecutive defeats Chaplins Club, a great servant to owner Peter Savill, was way off the betting radar but as an old favourite and winner of ten races was surely worth a small interest bet. Meanwhile, the previous season Timeless Times had set a record of sixteen wins in one season. I was thrilled to see this famous horse in the flesh and hopeful of a return to winning form. My two key resources for this blog are the Racing Post online database and the less well known my dads old diaries. Both are invaluable for this early period but what surprised me using the former was that the two horses above actually ran in the same race. My dads entry for this day began "We had a family day out at Pontefract races. Irene, Jason and I picked up Linda and Andrew (My sister's boyfriend at the time) from her flat and took them. We all backed one winner but showed a loss." Timeless Times disappointed carrying the burden of my wager whilst Chaplins Club flew home on the outside to spring a 33-1 surprise and provide me with that familiar racing sensation of if only, should have, could have, meant to but didn't!

My second trip to Pontefract in 1993 was with my later to be wife Claire who joined the Tomlinson family on a typical racing day out for the first time. Still keen to impress her at this stage I made a miserable effort in terms of my betting prowess on this day. Countless losing bets were followed by further betting misery when my banker of the day Lake Popoo, owned by Robert Sangster, was out battled and beaten a neck to deny me any strand of credibility. Even at this early stage Pontefract was destined to be a place of betting failure for me.

When Smarties Party ran in 2010 it would be the last time I would attend a race meeting as an owner with Chris Thornton as my trainer. Later that year he would retire following a fantastic training career which included horses like Shotgun, Path Of Peace and Flossy. Much was expected of Smarties this day which was reflected in the high number of syndicate members who turned up. I genuinely felt she would finish in the first three. She had come second on her previous two flat outings and hopes were high. One big obstacle to success was Sinbad The Sailor owned by Sir Alex Ferguson who would go off favourite. Shrewdly though, Sir Alex did not turn up to see his horse disappoint in fourth......... but he still beat us by two lengths. Patchy soft ground was touted as the excuse for a poor showing by Jockey P J MacDonald. My poor record at Pontefract continued nearly twenty years on. In truth though it was a great day out and we were well looked after by the Pontefract staff. It was a genuine thrill to be in the parade ring with my Dad, trainer Chris Thornton and other syndicate members on a fancied runner watched by my wife, my mum and my kids. Just a shame the hoped for visit to the winners enclosure was not to be.

This blog post is kindly sponsored by Guinness.

Uttoxeter Racecourse - Part One

Racecourse number: 18

First visited: 1990

Number of visits: 9

By my second year at university my interest in horse racing had become much stronger. Seventy five percent of my afternoons would be spent at the races or in the bookies. I was regularly doing two to three race meetings a week. Somehow my life had become a mixture of horse racing, playing football and drinking with friends (with the occasional lecture thrown in). Most of my studying involved racing form not my degree subjects. Leicester had regular race meetings but I needed more. The Midlands rail network allowed me to develop an additional small group of tracks which I attended regularly over the next few years. They were Southwell, Nottingham and Uttoxeter. Using my trusty student railcard I could cheaply and quickly get to these racing destinations. In the case of Southwell and Uttoxeter I was planted right at the racecourse entrance as the racecourses both have train stations adjacent to them.

Prior to 2015 my previous visits to Uttoxeter took place in the early 1990's. On my first visit in November 1990 I had £20 on a horse called Market Forces who won at 5-2. A couple of weeks later I backed him again when he won, this time at Leicester.  At the end of this first visit I helped myself to a Tote placepot poster which I displayed in my room at University for quite some time. For the next few years pictures of horses, copies of photo finishes, bookies posters and losing betting tickets would be my room decorations of choice. My biggest Uttoxeter winner from this time was Captian Dibble who easily won his first novice chase there. I had £50 on at 6-4 and he was never in any danger.  A couple of years later he would win the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. A year earlier I had witnessed his novice hurdle success at Leicester, beating my selection that day Upton Park. These form connections would be a prominent feature of my mini Midlands circuit.

In the winter of 1991 I saw Stay Awake trained by Jonjo O'Neill run on three consecutive occassions. First was a gallant second at Cheltenham on Mackeson Gold Cup Day (My first visit there). Then a cosy success at Leicester. The third run was at Uttoxeter and the race was somewhat memorable, particularly for me. There were only four runners in what was a top novice chase contest with Stay Awake a marginal favourite over a couple of strong rivals. My involvement in the outcome of this race was both unexpected and ironic. At this time in my gambling journey I would often go to the races and have one big bet or no bets at all. On this day like the previous run at Leicester Stay Awake was my one selection and I had £50 on at 5-4. Positioned at the second last fence I watched the race unfold. Going racing as often as I did at that time I enjoyed mixing up where I watched each race and was not content to simply watch in the stands. From early in the race I could tell this would not be my day. Stay Awake did not jump with the previous fluency I had witnessed and jockey Mark Dwyer did well to keep the partnership intact and keep the horse in contention as they turned for home. As the runners approached me at the second last the three leading contenders were locked in battle but with Stay Awake clearly under the most pressure, but still with a chance. As the three of them jumped as one Stay Awake made another mistake and crumpled on landing right in front of me catapulting Dwyer forward into the turf. Unusually the horse simply stood up and did not follow the other runners allowing horse and jockey to be quickly reunited. Now stories of my interaction with jockeys are few and far between but a most interesting and unexpected one then took place. In a surreal twist it became very clear Mark was coming over to talk to me. Surely an apology was not necessary, these things happen in racing! Holding Stay Awake by the reigns he simply asked if there was prize money for fourth place. Somewhat flustered I checked and confirmed that there was. He was somewhat unconvinced and pressed the matter. I again confirmed and was then supported by another race goer who had joined the conversation. Finally satisfied Mark remounted, jumped the last and claimed the fourth place prize money to the ironic cheers/geers of the crowd. Should he have known? Certainly this was an unusual circumstance and of course today he would not be allowed to remount.

There are two other significant memories that stand out from my visits to Uttoxeter. The first was witnessing the filming of a scene for Coronation Street. In it Don Brennan enjoyed a visit to the races with his new redhead girlfriend. I was very close to one scene (Don placing a bet with an on course bookmaker) but on the wrong side of the camera! In 1995 I would attend the first Sunday meeting with on course betting. Desert Orchid was the star of the show, there on parade to promote the big day. Racing seven days a week is so much taken for granted these days but I was there when it all began.

Exeter Racecourse

Racecourse number: 7

First visited: 1986

Number of visits: 1

My summer holiday in 1986 was at Pontin's Torbay holiday camp in Devon. Simply fantastic. Even better, this gave me a prime opportunity to visit, with my Mum and Dad, one of the local racecourses. Like trips to the races, holidays to Butlins and Pontins were a big feature of my childhood. At some of the bigger camps there were on site bookmakers. At Torbay the arrangements for placing a bet were simply fantastic in there outdatedness. You would write out your bet at reception and hand over your stake prior to 11am. The camps collective bets would be taken and placed at a local bookies and winnings picked up for collection the following day. There was racing on TV at York that week and I remember my Dad collecting his winnings following a success from an old favourite, Triptych. This was in the days when newspapers and teletext were the main source of racing news and information. In fact, without teletext whilst on holiday, we nearly made the mistake of going to Exeter races a day early. We were all primed to go when I realised via the day’s newspaper that the meeting was the following day!

Exeter would be my seventh racecourse. Significantly, the notion of going to the races whilst on holiday would be the key to me attending so many courses throughout my life. This day was thus a catalyst for some brilliant trips to the races throughout Great Britain. Exeter is one of the largest racecourses in terms of its circuit distance so I was impressed when my Dad, having got us there quite early decided to walk the course. I must have decided against it for some reason. Certainly it was a warm day and the ground pretty firm. Past the winning post, I recall the massive loop the runners had to take before entering the back straight. A traditional looking course but a little more pear shaped than oval. Horses I remember from this day are Razzle Dazzle Boy, Britannicus and Melendez though in truth I cannot recall the winners, any betting successes, failures or otherwise. I have no help either from trusty racing online databases, as they do not go back quite that far. 

On examining the racecard, which I have kept all these years, I found a number of significant jockeys and trainers who were there that day of great interest. Riding in race one for example was future champion trainer Paul Nicholls. Training in race four was ex-champion jockey John Francome. Others with rides that day were Brendan Powell, Richard Dunwoody and Simon Sherwood. Martin Pipe had just the one runner that day in the last race. Within a few years, he would totally dominate such southern jumps meetings with runners in every race and most of them as favourite. Possibly of most interest in the racecard to me was that the commentator was Mr. L McKenzie. I am assuming this was a very early call from Lee McKenzie who I have seen at the races as an announcer or commentator many times over the years. Indeed nearly thirty five years later so many of these names or their children remain a major feature of today's horse racing circuit. Like me, they and their families keep coming back for more.

Chepstow Racecourse

Racecourse number: 45

First visited: 2009

Number of visits: 1

One evening in the summer of 2009 my family crossed the Severn Bridge on route to Chepstow racecourse. This would be an ordinary flat meeting and in truth I would have preferred to go to a jumps meeting. I have always enjoyed the early ones in October which to me signify the start of the jumps season proper. Also the Welsh Grand National over the Christmas period is such a great race. However one big advantage would be the good weather. Given we were on holiday not too far away it was an easy decision to go. An evening at the races and another racecourse off my list.

On arrival we were struck by the vastness of the track and its facilities. As it was a low key meeting there was only a small crowd and there ended up being very little atmosphere in truth. The course has the  parade ring in front of the stands which I think is a nice feature in general but on this night it contributed to the "where is everybody" feel. Undaunted we began with a chippy tea to set us up for a great night. Chepstow has a play area tucked away behind the stands which was ideal for my two kids and they visited quite a few times over the duration of the evening in between races.

On the betting front it would not be my night. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do. The early indicators were not good. I picked the wrong one of two fancied runners in the first then saw my selection in the second beaten a head. Not to worry, I knew of a sure thing in the fourth. Criticize, for trainer Roger Charlton, owner Khalid Abdulla and jockey Richard Hughes would turn things around for me. Backed from 8-11 to 8-15 others obviously agreed. Not a great price but at least I would have a winner. The Racing Post analysis probably reads something like this: Criticize, settled in behind, travelling well two out, found nothing. My certainty finished fifth of six and nothing is what I would find in my pocket at the end of this evening. Incredibly things got worse in the next race. Watching the runners walk around the paddock for race five I was anxious to identify the winner and had not given enough focus on the needs of my then toddler Jake. I was holding him up to watch the horses go past when his pull-up overflowed and my t-shirt got pretty wet. Like many of my selections that night I was a bit slow to react! Sensibly we did not stay for the last. 

It is always disappointing not to have a winner but not many downtrodden punters get pissed on by their son as well. Cheers Jake. One positive on the night was the picture above which is one of my favourites. Too rarely do we have a full family shot as usually you have to rely on the kindness of strangers. So thanks to whoever took this picture. Four years later it looks so dated, but I remember the evening and the period in our lives fondly. Hopefully I will go back and appreciate the Chepstow I know best at a national hunt meeting some time soon. You never know I might even back a winner.

Goodwood Racecourse

Racecourse number: 50

First visited: 2013

Number of visits:1

Goodwood is self billed as the worlds most beautiful racecourse. A bold claim indeed, but quite quickly after arrival at this grade one track it is clear the claim may have some merit. The immaculately presented parade ring and winners enclosure are only outdone by the amazing backdrop to the course which itself has impressive stands and spacious viewing areas. Truly an impressive racing set up. Thinking about it I am uncertain I have been to a more beautiful racecourse. Best in the world? Possibly.

This lovely sunny Friday evening in May began well with a winner in the last race at Catterick's afternoon meeting. A loyalty bet on one of Philip Kirby's horses Just Paul was rewarded. Earlier I had had £2 on Betfair at around 25-1. This 14-1 winner set me up for a great evenings betting.  My wife however on hearing the news of my early success was somewhat dissappointed to learn the winnings were on Betfair and not real! I can't complain too much though. Once again she had worked her magic and lined up a great deal by pre-ordering online. We saved a few pounds on entry plus received a free racecard, a £5 free tote bet and a £5 food voucher. This deal looked even better when my £5 free bet on Balmoral Castle in the amateur riders race resulted in my first Goodwood winner on course. It would not be my last. Later though I would be less thrilled with the deal when my £5 food voucher reduced my £26 bill for three burgers and a portion of chips. How much!

My betting progressed nicely. Firstly, with an odds on winner Wahaab for Richard Hannon. More enjoyably a bit later a £20 bet at 2-1 on Stock Hill Fair produced a great family winner. Selected by my five year old Jake, jockey Keiron Fallon was seen at his best when employing great front running tactics to hold off all challengers and complete a double for him on the night. The cheering from our group as Fallon held on was worth much more than the £60. It is great getting the kids involved with selecting a few horses and cheering them on. Especially on this particular night as there was no kids entertainment. We went straight down to the winners enclosure to welcome back the victorious pair. Over a month later Jake still talks about Stock Hill Fair.

This was no ordinary race meeting though and certainly no ordinary racing crowd. The majority of racegoers had come to watch Rudimental play a DJ set after racing. The first of 'Three Friday Nights' when racing and music would go hand in hand. Another growing trend at modern race meetings. Many turned up with only a race or two to go which seemed bizarre to me but totally normal to hundreds of southern party goers. By the end of racing the hardy racegoer was outnumbered four to one by the youngsters with many already quite drunk. A strange but happy atmosphere prevailed as the meeting drew to a close. We did stay to see the start of the after racing show but were disappointed both by the long wait and the dire noise that ensued. Perhaps I am showing my age but it was total crap.

The final race of the night saw a classic Stoute versus Cecil clash in a typical Goodwood middle distance maiden race. I have watched a good few of these over the years and probably hundreds on the TV or in the bookies. From the moment the declarations were made it was always my intention to back debutant Integral for Sir Michael Stoute. When the vibes about her were positive on the day she became my bet of the night. Prior to the race all the money was for the more experienced Henry Cecil trained Magic Of Reality. With two furlongs left in the race it was looking likely to be a duel between the two betting principals (Integral having gone off at a generous 4-1). Suddenly Integral burst through on the rail and delivered a very impressive and decisive turn of foot to seal the race within a matter of strides. My tally of real money and Betfair money had swelled significantly. A horse to follow for sure. Sadly this would be the the last Stoute versus Cecil classic I would see as a couple of weeks later Sir Henry would lose his battle with cancer. I remember fondly his partnership with Steve Cauthon and horses like Oh So Sharp and Bosra Sham. He had a great attention to detail and was obsessed with things like the size of horses ears. The bigger the better apparently. On a happier footnote next time out Integral stepped up to listed company and again delivered the same decisive turn of foot, this time from last to first, again at 4-1. 

Did I back her this time? Is Goodwood beautiful! A wonderful course and a brilliant evenings racing.

Fontwell Park Racecourse

Racecourse number: 49

First visited: 2013

Number of visits:1

Fontwell and in particular its figure of eight chase course had always intrigued me. I believe you can only really appreciate it and understand it by going there. I had long been confused and excited by the different camera angles, the constant turning and the final straight. The course has a really unique perspective with two different tracks merging on the approach to the finish line. Upon visiting it was the final furlong or so that was the main thing I had not fully appreciated on TV. Fontwell is mainly a flat track but there is quite a steep uphill climb to the finish to test even the hardiest of stayers. The new Premier Grandstand looked impressive but we decided not to pay the extra to use it. Partly because I wanted to experience the traditional Fontwell, including watching some races from within the track. Partly because the new stand is situated beyond the winning line, giving a poor value perspective, compared to us money savers in the old stands watching the final furlong battles side on. Partly because naturally I am a cheapskate!

The day started and ended well from a betting point of view. In the first I had a big bet for me on Jojabean at 9-4 for Alan King. He obliged quite comfortably despite some initial tentative hurdling. In the last I had a decent bet on Nicky Nutjob at 4-1 who helped send me home very happy with my gambling performance. Looking beaten as they entered the straight Nicky stayed on well up the aforementioned climb to the line to claim the prize. In between, a plethora of losers were accompanied by another winner, Full Of Joy ridden by A P McCoy. One of those many McCoy winners over the years that few others would have won on. I also had a winning bet at an away meeting, Cartmel. It really struck me as odd this day that the away meetings were Cartmel and Nottingham and I was at Fontwell! I have attended both Cartmel and Nottingham on numerous occasions when Fontwell and its unique set up would fill the gaps for me between the main live action.

The modern race meeting has many features that were unheard of when I set off on my journey around the racecourses of Great Britain in the early 1980s. Not all of them are welcome. One positive feature though, which seems to be pretty standard these days, is an expert preview discussion of the days racing. On this occasion I was privy to the thoughts of Simon Holt and Lee Mckenzie who did not disappoint. In fact they were no doubt an influence on my betting success. We were on holiday during half term and as such this midweek meeting was a family raceday.  My kids, for free, were able to enjoy a bouncy castle and some cricket fun in a happy family environment. The day was really good value. My wife had also shrewdly taken advantage of the online pre-ordering option for which we paid £10 each for the £15 tickets. The kids also really enjoyed visiting the winners enclosure after the races, especially when Dad had the winner. Twice we started the clapping for the winners arrival. Despite the patchy weather for the end of May I really enjoyed my visit to Fontwell Park. It is a great and unique course and I am certainly jealous of those on the south coast who can visit on a regular basis.

Background & Introduction

Growing up horse racing was a special part of my family life. As a young adult it became my focus, my friend and nearly my career.  During my working life it has become my main hobby, a positive distraction in a crazy world. I would sample the joys and frustration of racehorse ownership, enjoy race sponsorship and corporate hospitality which I would share with my growing family. This is the story of my journey to the sixty (or so) racecourses of Great Britain starting at Haydock Park at the age of ten and concluding in a few years from now at Sandown. That's the plan anyway.

My Dad had always loved a bet on "the nags" and in my early years I was exposed to the wonder of horse racing; the highs, the lows the excitement of it all, but only through the medium of television. I loved watching racing on the telly with him on a Saturday. Forget the Scoop Six the old ITV seven will be forever etched in my memory. The thrill of a win, the prospect of big returns, watching for results coming through from other meetings and seeing your favourite horses and jockeys battling for success week by week. There was the occasional big win too  where me, Mum and my sister Linda would get a "treat". For me that usually meant toy soldiers. 

The Grand National was a big event in our family. One of my earliest horse racing memories is of Red Rum. Not the usual ones though of his first dramatic victory over Crisp in 1973 or his thrilling third victory carrying top weight in 1977. No, mine was simply one of overwhelming confusion. It was 1978 approaching my seventh birthday and Red Rum was not running in the Grand National this year. Why was Red Rum not running? What do I choose without him running?  

Along with big wins was the big occasional disappointment too. One dramatic twist I remember clearly was when my Dad's Yankee had hit all four winners only for Cyrill's Choice to be demoted to last place following a stewards enquiry. The updated result came through as we were discussing what to spend our money on. Racing can be cruel like that sometimes but I was hooked even before I stepped foot on a racecourse. When I did it would shape my life.

Over the years I have witnessed some great races and seen some great racing moments. Being able to say I was there is something wonderful about my journey around the racecourses. I was there when Arazi ran at Royal Ascot, when Lester Piggott came out of retirement at Leicester, when Dunwoody and Maguire clashed at Nottingham, when Master Oats won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, when Desert Orchid won left handed at Aintree, when Oh So Sharp was beaten at York, when they first tried all-weather chasing at Southwell, when Kauto Star won his third Betfair Chase at Haydock  and when there was betting on a Sunday for the first time at Uttoxeter.

At the age of eighteen in 1989 Leicester would be my final choice of Universities from a short list comprising Exeter, Leicester, Warwick and Newcastle. Only Leicester had halls of residence 500 yards from the racecourse!