Brighton Racecourse

 

Racecourse number: 56 

First visited: 2021

Number of visits: 2

Having tried to get to Brighton more than once in the last few years I was absolutely thrilled to finally be there. On this middle day of their three day summer festival I was joined by the other Tomlinsons. In reality, of the three, only my daughter Rachel had any genuine enthusiasm for proceedings. In fact it was a big day for her too in a sense. Earlier in the summer she had turned eighteen and was looking forward to placing her first legal bets on course. Now, as a family arriving at a racecourse we have had some fun and games over the years so it was great that Brighton decided to contribute to this crazy collection of stories. Queueing to have our pre-booked entry tickets scanned and our bags checked we were approached by a serious looking gentleman who simply asked. “Are either of your children under sixteen?” I was unsure where he was heading with this, given our pre-booked tickets. In the back of my mind was a flicker of hope relating to free popcorn or ice cream vouchers. I replied with the truthful answer, one of them, very conscious he had probably already insulted Rachel by asking his question. Incredibly, I was then presented with a lost child bracelet for fourteen year old Jake and asked to fill it out with parents name and contact number before ensuring he was wearing it. This was frankly ridiculous. I could understand the benefit of this for much younger children on a busier family day but for a fourteen year old with a mobile phone. Really! Jake did not wear the bracelet and fortunately managed to avoid getting lost. We would soon discover the Brighton enclosures do not cover an enormous amount of space making the scenario even more ludicrous. Nevertheless once we were in I was keen to explore these spaces and find out what Brighton had to offer.

The course design, geography and structure have always been of great interest to me. The television camera footage has always been intriguing. A bit like Fontwell racecourse you really need to go there to fully appreciate its distinctiveness. Also like Fontwell going there surprised me to some extent but in a very good way. Over the next two days I would grow very fond of Brighton racecourse. Mainly because the characteristics of the racecourse are as distinctive and colourful as the residents of this quirky city by the sea. The final straight is unusually undulating. Initially it is a charge downhill which levels off before a notable rise approaching the final furlong. Close to the line the course levels off perhaps even slightly downhill again as they hit the winning post. Another significant aspect is that you can only see the final three and a half furlongs of the course unless you are way up in the stands. Otherwise the roughly horse shoe shaped track is obscured by a line of trees placed opposite the grandstand and viewing areas. What would normally be the centre of the course, behind the trees, is actually a residential area but one that sits much lower than the racecourse itself. What? The television image that always sticks with me regarding Brighton is the blocks of flats below the runners in the background as they approach two furlongs to go. I get it now but it remains a very unusual and interesting sight. The fact that the course is not a circuit is also quite unusual, as is how far the runners are from the grandstand when middle distance races are run. The former issue is resolved at the end of races by an odd two furlong uphill section after the finish line which allows the runners to pull up. Finally and wonderfully the fact that the sea can be seen in the distance at various vantage points really add to its unique flavour. A great example of why course diversity adds something to the different racecourse experiences. Hopefully my review makes some sense. Either way, a visit is highly recommended.

Before racing commenced Rachel and I headed to the parade ring to watch and listen to the advertised punters panel, a preview of the days racing. Something I normally enjoy and often take away some key information from. Three experts were on hand to point us in the right direction. Ex jockey Colin Brown, the raceday presenter was joined by excellent commentator Mark Johnson. The third member of the panel I did not know but seemed to be a locally well-known ex rugby player. The three of them proceeded to go through the card at a sparsely attended parade ring. Perhaps the regulars knew what I was about to find out. This would be a way below average effort not helped by an imperfect tanoy system and the need for the three of them to pass around the only microphone. Colin, flamboyantly dressed, did his best to organise proceedings but the presentation was far from slick. Often they would digress to irrelevant historical information, engage in tiresome banter/in-jokes between themselves and attempt almost pantomime comedy. "You always pick the favourite", "no you always pick the favourite". Annoyingly they did not seem tuned in to market movements overnight meaning their appreciation of the current betting markets was confused. Worst of all they took what seemed like forever to get to the real point of why we were stood there. What they thought would win each race. Rachel summed it up when half way through she simply stated “these guys are well boring!” Ironically there was some comedy gold coming right up, though it was very much unintended. When introducing the fifth race Colin thanked the sponsors Donatello restaurant stating they were a great supporter of the racecourse. He then quipped quite amusingly that his fellow panellist, the ex-rugby player, was a great supporter of the Restaurant. Amazingly the said panelist then talked briefly about the restaurant before concluding it’s not the best food there, but it’s certainly not the worst! Talk about looking after your sponsors! Shocking. He had stated that even when they are busy they always find him a good table. If word of this is passed on I think he will be sat next to the toilets on future visits, if they let him in at all. Possibly I was struggling to tune in to the southern style of these panels. Certainly I was longing for the likes of Gordon Brown who does this job brilliantly up North.

Oisin Murphy was very much in my thoughts from a betting point of view. He was riding out of his skin at this moment. His five mounts all had chances and so I had him backed him to have at least a winning treble. Whilst he had only one winner at Windsor on Monday his week had got progressively better. The previous night at Kempton he achieved a fantastic five timer. Overnight, there had been a lot of betting support for today’s runners with four of his five rides now favourite.  Meanwhile, Rachel was also ready for her first bet. To make it nice and easy the first race had only four runners. I had narrowed it down to two. Unfortunately Rachel was tempted by the seemingly attractive odds on the outsider of four. Surely this contender could not be ruled out, especially wearing first time blinkers. Her first investment was thus on a 50-1 shot, though positively she managed to secure 66-1, the best price seen. Her Dad was therefore quite proud, before the race at least. When Swift Pusey finished a distant fourth of four no one was surprised and Rachel quickly began to re-evaluate her strategy. Her Dad however had backed his first Brighton winner on course. Over the next two days I would back quite a few more.

Race two saw Rachel place a more sensible bet. With her brother Jake she had evaluated the contenders in the paddock and was between the striking grey Rawyaan (who I fancied) and the Mark Johnston trained Turn Back Time. She backed the latter each way, on this occasion having to produce her ID to get the bet accepted. Turn Back Time ran a great race and looked all over the winner until the inexperienced Rawyaan suddenly got his act together and flew home at generous odds to make it two from two for Dad. Collecting her winnings for her second place eased her frustration a little having nearly backed Rawyaan. In the next two races she joined me in backing short priced favourites Big Boy Bobby and Ravens Ark ridden by Oisin Murphy. Earlier his first runner was well beaten but a treble from his four remaining rides was still a possibility for my overnight bet. We watched the run of Big Boy Bobby down at the furlong pole and as the runners approached us things were not looking too good for our bet. Oisin looked in a tricky position, seemingly trapped behind a trio of horses, though not too far off the lead. As he passed the Tomlinsons I had the audacity to shout “Come On Oisin, What are you doing!” His non-verbal reply was to switch his mount slightly, force his way through the crowd then grab firstly the rail and then, yards from the line, the lead. Absolute class. I should have known better. Quiet please Jason, genius at work. Half an hour later, Oisin had another winner, when Ravens Ark scrambled home from a similarly unpromising position. What a jockey! Enthused, Rachel stated she was really enjoying herself. So was I. She had now collected three times and was showing an overall profit of £11. Having recorded her bets on her phone she declared her betting was done for the day. Top effort Rachel.

The weather at Brighton was quite pleasant as the day began, though perhaps a little windy and unsettled. However it was clear as the day progressed that the increasingly menacing skies would eventually change things. In fact earlier in the day one of the locals had expressed concern for me that I was in a shirt and had no coat. He was unaware my wife Claire was carrying a jumper in her high fashion bag she had brought for the occasion. One of those bags that looks quite a sensible size but can contain an unfathomable about of stuff! He was right to be concerned about the weather though, soon after race four conditions began to deteriorate. In turn, so did the other Tomlinson's enthusiasm for our continued presence on course. Given I was coming back for more tomorrow I was quite relaxed about leaving early. We watched one more race without betting success before getting a taxi back to our hotel. There I watched the final two races on my iPad, including a third winner for Oisin Murphy giving me a successful, though short priced treble. I had backed five of the seven winners on the day with my conservative approach of backing a couple in each race and I was already looking forward to going back on Friday.

Just under twenty-four hours later, while the other Tomlinsons were busy shopping and playing mini-golf, I was back at Brighton racecourse. Three race meetings in one week felt really good but the strange weather that Brighton seemed to feature continued. I think conditions could be best described as sunny but changeable with high winds. Based on what I was wearing I spent various periods feeling too hot and then too cold. Unlike my previous racing days that week there was no Oisin Murphy to follow. Ironically he had targeted my local course Haydock Park for his winners. On my second visit to the punters panel they were still droning on using many of the same jokes from the day before, Mark Johnson having been replaced by commentator Simon Holt. No you always tip the favourite! Speaking of drones a new feature had now appeared at the racecourses of Great Britain, well above them at least. Just before the start of each race a group of drones would appear perhaps a hundred metres high ready to provide overhead camera footage for those looking to make bets on the in running markets. My understanding is that these provide a better angle and importantly split second earlier coverage than other options. The issue is that the racecourse have no control over their operation as they exist in legally free to enter airspace. There is no doubt this story will develop further and I am hoping that ultimately it will provide racecourses with a beneficial commercial opportunity. For now their presence is a new and intriguing part of the racecourse experience.

I would complete a hat trick of successful betting days starting with a comfortable win for Spreadsheet ridden by Charlie Bennett. In the winners enclosure I watched on as the victorious jockey returned to applause and was then interviewed by Hayley Moore for Sky Sports Racing. She had performed these duties on the Thursday also and one thing had become clear to me as I observed her work at these two meetings. She loves her job which she is very good at. She is constantly smiling, happy to interact with racegoers when she is free and can even sometimes be seen skipping around the paddock in between interviews. It was great to see and I am certainly a fan. My other three winners on the day were Pagan, an impressive short priced favourite, Merlin’s Beard who out battled the also well named Hooves Like Jagger and El Camino. Being on my own I watched on from various new vantage points, often within the Premier Enclosure which I seemed to have free access to. David Probert was the star jockey on the day securing a treble, Murphy style.

The most notable and dramatic incident of the day though took place in the feature event, the five furlong “Brighton Bullet” which was won emphatically by my selection Pagan. Just as the winner crossed the line, Tin Hat ridden by apprentice Georgia Dobie was in last place and seemed to swerve violently left hitting the rail on the opposite side from the grandstand. The result was both the horse and jockey did an uncontrolled summersault before hitting the ground. The horse, twice tried to stand up but could not and this gelding’s efforts were distressing to see. Meanwhile Georgia had not moved. Now this kind of thing is unusual on a racecourse, especially at a flat meeting and whatever you think of the issues surrounding racehorse and jockey welfare, the reaction of all concerned was impressive. Within seconds the horse was attended by stable staff who had sprinted to be aside him. Similarly the course vet who follows the runners by car was quickly parked next to the horse sensibly obscuring the scene from the full grandstand. Interestingly the horse was attended by four individuals before anyone even checked on the jockey who was now beginning to sit up. Security staff put up the familiar green screens around the stricken horse and we waited. Pretty much everyone did. As it became clear the jockey was fine two thoughts dominated my thinking as this scene played out. Firstly, I was hoping that the initial failed attempts of the horse to get up were due to exhaustion and shock rather than significant injury. Whilst I am no vet my instinct and previous experience of this scenario told me all could be well. Secondly, what a terrible incident this was to happen right in front of a packed stand. I could only remember this happening once before in all my racing days at a Leicester flat meeting back in 1990. Then a horse called Easy Prep had broken a leg in the final furlong. That was not a happy ending. Here, we waited and hoped. After about five minutes a ripple of applause way up in the stand was followed by a more convincing and then vociferous one when Tin Hat’s head appeared above the screen. Within a moment the horse jogged away uninjured, the screens were removed and the horse ambulance withdrew unused. A great result but a startling reminder of the dangers to horse and jockey engaging in the sport I love.

Meanwhile, about five hundred miles further north, at Musselburgh I had backed Wise Eagle for new trainer Adam Nicol. Adam had fairly recently hung up his riding boots following various injuries as a jockey and was now focused on establishing himself as a trainer. If he can find a few more to train like Wise Eagle he will go far. Another win for his stable star, his sixth of 2021 and another one for me. No sneaking off early today though, I stayed to the seventh and final race before meeting up with the other Tomlinsons at a not quite as nearby as I thought Pizza Hut. I waited for the last race as I had a confident selection in King Crimson. With effective urgings from Grace McEntee my selection seemed to have the race in control as they passed me with a hundred yards to run. Not for the first time though, an opponent charging up the far rail got some important final momentum forcing a photograph, a close one. On a day for well named horses, the slow motion replay showed we had been out nodded on the line by Breezyandbright. Ouch. A short head defeat would end my wonderful visits to Brighton racecourse. I hope to be back, just don’t tell the wife, who after our eight hour return journey the following day, has absolutely no plans to return!

Approaching The Final Furlong - A Horse Racing Nostalgia Book

Following nearly ten years of writing, the book is here. A story that became a blog. A blog that is now a book. This is the front cover design for Approaching The Final Furlong. A forty year journey around the racecourses of Great Britain featuring tales from the track and horse racing nostalgia. A father and son who share a love of horse racing and the son's quest to visit all the racecourses. A special edition book produced as an unusual eightieth birthday gift for the man who inspired these adventures. A story which began at Haydock Park in 1981 and is now approaching the final furlong!

Aintree Racecourse

Racecourse number: 11

First visited: 1988

Number of visits: 4

Dad and I visited Aintree, the home of the Grand National, the day before Mr Frisk’s 1990 record-breaking victory. For me it was watching the Grand National as a child that really sparked my interest in horse racing, so I was absolutely thrilled to be there. The best part of the visit was definitely the two of us walking one circuit of the National course before racing started. Seeing the iconic fences up close really put the challenges of this unique set up into focus and I felt privileged to follow the path taken by Red Rum, Aldiniti, West Tip and other National legends. One day I hoped we would return for the big race itself. Without realising at the time, I would see two future Grand National winners competing at Aintree at this Friday fixture. Seagram, who would win the following year, came second in the opening handicap chase. Later, Miinnehoma was the beaten favourite in the concluding novices hurdle. Four years later, back at Aintree, he would more than make up for it with victory in the big one. In truth, this was not my first visit to Aintree. A couple of years earlier I had travelled there by train with Paul, a friend from College. We attended the Thursday meeting prior to the Grand National and witnessed a victory for one of the all-time national hunt greats, Desert Orchid. Of course, I knew better thinking he was unsuited to going left handed and unsuccessfully backed KIldimo in the race. Other memorable runners on my first visit to Aintree included Rapier Thrust, Brown Windsor, Villierstown, Delius and The West Awake.

I still have the original racecard from 1990 as a fantastic momento of the day with my Dad, which makes this account much easier to put together. Once again, my Dad also supplied another great source with his personal diary entry from the day. This read, “Linda rang at 7.30am to let me know she was not coming to Liverpool with me and Jason. I was up anyway sorting out my horses. We set off at 9.30am and it only took us an hour. Jason and I walked the course at Aintree and we managed an odd winner each. Meals out consisted of fish and chips (£2.45 each) and soup for me (£1.20). Other expenses included parking (£4), entrance (£14) and £10 for Jason’s betting money. The day cost just over £60.” Once again, there was more detail about the food than the horses but his last point was never lost on me. My Dad spent a lot of money taking me around the racecourses and he would need a very successful betting day just to cover his costs. He never highlighted it as a big issue though. Two horses in particular stick out in my memory from that day. An old favourite of mine Giolla Padraig ran with merit over the national fences finishing third to Lean Ar Aghaidh. Giolla Padraig won plenty of races for me around this time. My main selection of the day though was Young Snugfit who I backed with confidence in the big novice chase. Trained by Oliver Sherwood and ridden by Jamie Osbourne, they just failed by a diminishing head to catch the winner Boutzdaroff, who had made a mistake at the last.

Exactly twenty-three years later, my Dad and I returned to Aintree but this time for the greatest race itself. Grand National Day 2013 was a very special day. We had bought tickets for my Dad as an early birthday present and what a great decision this was. In fact, two superb things happened even before the official racing began. Firstly, my Dad and I walked the course again, though this time we were restricted to half a circuit for security reasons. Nearly a quarter of a century on you could see the changes that had been made for safety reasons. The fences remained challenging but were much fairer with some of the extreme elements, like the big drop on the landing side of Beechers Brook, removed. It was great to now retrace our own steps, especially on the big day itself and I have some cherished photos of the occasion. Secondly, the meeting began with a legends race, with many former top jump jockeys taking on their flat counterparts. An almost unique event. The race was won by Tony Dobbin on War Singer, with Richard Hills in second. Most surprising though was the involvement in the race of Fred Archer! It was in fact the racehorse of the same name, not the famous 19^th Century jockey. The race was run in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. I was lucky enough to meet Bob at a more recent Grand National preview event. His stories about his life and racing career were great. His tips unfortunately were not. In fact, I think one of them is still running now!

The official racing started in the best possible way for my Dad. He managed to find the 25-1 winner of the first race. Fantastic. Now my Dad backs plenty of winners but very few are in this kind of price bracket so it was a real thrill to cheer home Ubak who won easily, despite the long odds. Ubak was in the capable hands of father and son trainer and jockey combination of Gary and Jamie Moore. The racecourse was beautifully presented for its feature day and though it was very busy, the crowd level was manageable. You could just about get to the paddock and back to the stands between races if you were patient enough. It was a thrilling experience enhanced by a successful days punting. Later we both confidently backed Battle Group who was going for a second win of the meeting having already won two days earlier. Victory was never in doubt as he stalked the leaders and came through for a comfortable success at around 4-1. By the time of the Grand National itself, we had built up some profits to invest in what was our annual conundrum, selecting the winner of the most difficult race of the year. My biggest challenge here has always been restricting the number of my selections to a handful from the forty contenders. It would be very easy for me to select ten or more. On this occasion, I had three main fancies. They were Teaforthree, Cappa Bleu and Imperial Commander (who my Dad backed too). The favourite was Seabass trained by Ted Walsh and ridden by his daughter Katie. Could we be about to witness history, with the first winning female jockey? We were positioned opposite The Chair on the run in, in what proved to be a great vantage point.

The roar of the crowd as the race began without a hitch was electric. Unusually there were no fallers in the initial set of fences that by Dad and I had walked past earlier. When they all cleared Beechers as well, there was a great cheer from the crowd in reaction to the commentators update. Jumping the chair at the end of the first circuit AP McCoy unseated right in front of us from Colbert Station, a fancied runner now out of the contest. As the field gradually whittled down on the second circuit my confidence was growing around Teaforthree who was well positioned in the first few and jumping well. When he took the lead two out with only a few left in contention, I really thought I was on a winner. This would have been a great thrill as I rarely pick the National winner, let alone when I am actually there. I can only think of about four winners I have selected since Mr Frisk in 1991. However, it is still a long way from the second last to home and as they approached the last Auroras Encore, who had briefly looked held, renewed his effort. At the same time a now tiring Teaforthree, hit the last, losing crucial momentum. On the run in there was only one likely winner, the Sue Smith trained Auroras Encore extending away from his opponents for a great victory for jockey Ryan Mania. The strangest element of this finish was the quietness of the crowd. With still a furlong to go but the race pretty much decided there was very few people now cheering in what was now a strangely eerie atmosphere, especially after the initial frenzy. Clearly few had backed the winner. I could literally see (and hear) the only two who had near my vantage point. Close to the line, one of my other selections Cappa Blue rallied well to take second, with Teaforthree in third both giving me some worthwhile place returns. As is often the case after the big one, I was a little hard on myself for not backing this big priced winner. I had read a good report about the horse’s wellbeing on the day and he did tick the key box of having proved himself over this extreme distance. Ultimately, you cannot back them all though and I soon got over it, especially based on such a fantastic day out with my Dad. Katie Walsh completed the course on Seabass but they never really looked like making history.

The best thing about this race was that all forty runners returned safely to their stables afterwards. In fact, only two horses actually fell, though quite a few unseated their rider or pulled up. The safety improvements have undoubtedly made a difference. Realistically of course, the dangers for horse and jockey have been reduced rather than removed and I can understand the concerns of those who see this as their yearly example of horse racing. In truth, horse racing is dangerous though I believe a lot of hard work goes in to minimising the risk. As my previous trainer Chris Thornton once explained to me, horses are not really built to jump, given their heavy bodies and fragile legs. Indeed, my own racehorse Smarties Party, trained by Chris, fell only once in her long career. That was over hurdles at Aintree and she was not quite the same horse afterwards, struggling with a niggling back problem, before a graceful and long retirement. My Dad and I returned in 2016 to Aintree for a December fixture that featured another future national hero in One For Arthur and a courageous win for previous 2014 champion Many Clouds. Aintree has a brilliant set up, usually holds high quality racing and though it does not have numerous fixtures per year we really should go more often given our proximity to it. Rachel has expressed an interest to go the National one day so a return visit could be on the horizon sooner rather than later.

Cartmel Racecourse

Racecourse number: 4

First visited: 1986
Number of visits: 12

Cartmel racecourse describes itself as a most unusual racecourse in a truly unique location. I don’t disagree but in some ways this description does not do justice to the wonder of the place. As a teenager, Cartmel was my favourite racecourse, perhaps even my favourite place full stop! 

Even arriving at Cartmel is something of a special yet unusual experience. The closer you get to it the more rural your surroundings become. To enter the course enclosure you approach via a tree-lined path through a scenic forest. A beautiful setting where honestly Hansel & Gretel would not look out of place! Queueing in this area when I was younger only added to the anticipation of getting there. On arrival, there would be no wicked witch but certainly a place straight out of a fairy tale! Now I already loved horseracing but imagine a racing setting that also combined the tranquillity of Center Parcs, the excitement of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and also hosted a traditional market. For our 1980s family unit this meant something for everyone. Throw in the six or seven horse races on a track that surrounds and bisects this fantastic set up and you are at Cartmel racecourse for an amazing day out. 

This national hunt fun takes place inside a sharp left-handed oval circuit, which uniquely has a run in that bisects the centre of the track. The stone walls surrounding the track also give it a very unusual, yet brilliant backdrop. The course is also famous for having the longest run in over fences, around half a mile. In truth, viewing is probably the worst on offer in Great Britain. There is only a small stand adjacent to the run in and even then trees, small hills or fairground rides, obscure a lot of the action. Somehow, though this is a wonderful novelty, with mere glimpses of action adding to the spectacle, rather than detracting from it. Given that the entire crowd are inside the track, there is a great opportunity to get very close to the racing action next to the inner rail. My favourite place to watch during my early visits was down at the final hurdle. You would see the runners emerge from the back straight, charging towards the last. After jumping it they would take a sharp left hand turn heading slightly uphill and out of view with a furlong or so to the winning line. Brilliant. 

One additional thing that sets Cartmel apart from many racecourses is the limited number of fixtures it has. In practice this meant visits were less frequent and thus felt somewhat exclusive. You could race on a Saturday on several weekends a year at Haydock Park but only two at Cartmel. I always found it hard to understand why. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Cartmel had only five fixtures a year set in two periods, the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend in May and the August Bank Holiday. Going back further in history, until 1947 racing was held only annually on the Whitsun Monday. Over time as the popularity of the course has progressed the fixture list has expanded. Moreover, in recent years there have been notable structural improvements and an increasing professionalism about the place that indicates good management. Cartmel now has nine annual fixtures but this still feels quite limited compared to other courses and given the wonderful set up it has. 

Based south of the Lake District, Cartmel is not too far from my home here in Lancashire. It takes around an hour and a quarter by car. As such, I have managed to be a fairly regular visitor since the 1980s, despite the limited number of meetings. It was the fourth racecourse I attended and the initial visits were very much based around family fun days out. Several fantastic features combined in one brilliant day. Like many families, we often brought a picnic to enjoy, which you are still encouraged to do today. As long as you got there early enough you could park inside the track and use your car as a base, or as a refuge from inclement weather! For some reason it seems to rain a lot at Cartmel! I loved the slot machines, the prize stalls, the rides, the market but most of all the racing. 

In the early 1990s, I attended the May Wednesday meeting alone, travelling by train and taxi. Following a good days punting I shared a taxi back to the station with two random racegoers who became convinced I was a professional backer. I was very happy with their inaccurate conclusion. In 1995, I attended the August bank holiday Saturday meeting with my future wife Claire. This young couple had travelled up by train and stayed in a local B&B. The meeting, which had only a small number of runners due to the firm going, featured some great northern jockeys from that era. In action that day were Peter Niven, Tony Dobbin, Richard Guest, Brian Storey and Kenny Johnson. I believe all of these jockeys went on to be trainers. It is hard to give up this fantastic racing bug. One horse I remember backing that day was Nishvamitra, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by David Wilkinson. Against only two opponents, this grey could only manage a distant second place. Fast forward to August 2008 and the two of us returned, this time with two young children in tow and an ownership interest in novice hurdler Smarties Party trained by Chris Thornton. My Mum and Dad also attended that day.

Despite attending as a part owner, I received a less than warm welcome when I arrived. I was quizzed, despite my name being on the owners list, before begrudgingly being granted a couple of owner’s badges. Partly my fault as I was dressed more for the weather than the occasion. To be fair though as good as Cartmel is it is not Goodwood! Ironically, soon afterwards I witnessed two trainers bemoaning the fact that some of their owners were cutting back on their racing interests owing to the growing economic crisis at that time. Owners are so important to the success of racing, yet do not always get looked after on course. The weather was also less than welcoming with regular showery outbursts dampening the occasion. This would benefit Smarties Party though who ran a promising and solid race finishing third. I remember watching the kids enjoy the funfair rides that day, despite the weather. I also took my daughter Rachel to the highest vantage point on the course, the owners viewing area, to cheer on a horse called Moon Melody I had backed in the selling hurdle. My selection came out on top after a thrilling finish to the race.

My most recent visit was with my Dad in 2015 when the accompanying photos were taken. This was one of the additional new fixtures in July. Typically, the good weather abated as we arrived and we experienced a showery afternoon. However, an early success for my nap of the day Slipper Satin, enterprisingly ridden by Henry Brooke, set a good punting tone for the day. It would be an enjoyable and successful afternoon for both of us. It was also a day I greatly reflected on my many previous visits to this wonderful racecourse. It got me thinking about Cartmel itself and todays changing racing customer base. Certainly, the setup there has been less tarnished by the growing drinking and corporate culture that has impacted so negatively on other courses. Yes, drinking is more prevalent and there are plenty of marquees hosting corporate guests, but the original core is still there. The fairground, the rural setting, the quirky racing circuit, the picnickers and families remain. The Cartmel I loved as a teenager largely continues with a growing fixture list and a place at the very heart of what makes British horseracing diverse and thus so special.

Nottingham Racecourse

Racecourse number: 19

First visited: 1990
Number of visits: 12

Nottingham is one of my favourite racecourses, despite not always being the luckiest of places for me. I attended ten times in the early 1990s whilst a student at nearby Leicester University. The train journey between the two cities was pretty short but the racecourse, unlike Uttoxeter and Southwell was a good walk from the station. Not that I minded. I always really enjoyed this walk which takes you past the Notts County football ground. Walking to Colwick Park, as Nottingham racecourse is known, I always had a great sense of anticipation of the day ahead. I often went on my own though sometimes with my racing friend Andy. On one occasion after racing we stayed on for the evening greyhound meeting which is adjacent to the racecourse. I had many special days out at Nottingham. At the time it had very modern stands with good facilities. Being a standard oval track, viewing was also good. Writing this account of my visits to Nottingham evoked an emotional reaction in me, more significant than many other courses. Perhaps a strange thing to write, especially to a non-racing fan, but my memories of Nottingham are special.

My betting exploits at Nottingham produced mixed results at best but I remember them so fondly. In June 1991 I backed a 25-1 winner there, Red Rosein. I had to mention this one as I don’t back many winners at that sort of price! Gary Carter did the steering and she would end up winning five more handicap sprints that season and the Wokingham at Royal Ascot the following season. In October I placed what is still my lifetime largest bet on a horse called Grand Master, trained by Paul Cole and ridden by Alan Munro. Having previously run well in a Group race the horse was dropped into a lowly Nottingham maiden and looked sure to gain a confidence boosting win before going on to much bigger and better things. The opposition looked mediocre at best. Ready with my wad of cash I swooped in when the already short price looked like collapsing. I was on at 4-7. However, quite quickly 8-13 and 4-6 was readily available. In the end the best price I saw was 8-11. I remember being very frustrated at my inefficient betting but the key was still very much the outcome of the race. The price didn’t matter if he got beat but I was sure he would win. Tucked in behind the leaders three out Munro was motionless, his mount travelling sweetly. However just as he was about to make his move he found himself closed in by runners around him. The second favourite Castillet had contributed to this crowding of Grand Master. Ridden by the canny Steve Cauthen he suddenly kicked for home with an unexpectedly impressive burst of speed. Munro was in trouble and by the time he had manoeuvred out into the open Cauthen had gone four lengths clear. This all happened right in front of me just before the furlong pole, in what was always a great vantage point for this kind of action. As he passed me Grand Master then showed why I had backed him with such confidence with his own burst of exciting acceleration. Watching the finish from behind, in what seemed like slow motion, it was all about whether he would catch Castillet in time. It was clear he was closing fast. The roar of the crowd indicated it was going to be close but Grand Master did not make it. Watching the replay Grand Master would have won for sure in another fifty yards or if he had avoided getting boxed in. I was not the only frustrated punter that day as it was reported in the following day’s newspapers that Allan was jeered and spat at by the crowd following this flawed riding performance. Ironically in researching this writing I found it was Steve Cauthen’s wonder kid fame that had inspired teenage Alan Munro to become a jockey in the first place. Cheers Steve! The race certainly taught me the pitfalls of backing odds on shots.

The following June I attended another Nottingham flat meeting. Alan Munro was there too, this time riding in a two horse race on another of Paul Cole’s, Dilum. As the jockeys mounted in the parade ring and got ready to go to the start I shouted “don’t get boxed in Alan!” It was meant as banter and Alan saw the funny side turning to me with a smile. I backed him at 6-4 and this time he and Dilum, following a much easier passage in the race, quickened clear for victory approaching the final furlong. Another winner for me that day was Just Bob who won the apprentice claiming race. Looking back at the race it seems strange to see that TV presenter Claire Balding rode in it, in her days as an aspiring apprentice jockey. During this wonderful period at Nottingham I even backed a 5-1 winner after a photo finish. I was level with the line right up in the stands waiting for such a close photo to occur. The camera angle there is quite tricky and to me it was very very close and I thought my 5-1 shot may just have put his head down when it mattered. I was rewarded with a rare, after the race was won, winner. For days I honestly felt like I was Alex Bird, a well-known professional gambler from way back and I spent many meetings waiting for this situation to be replicated. It never was. Quite a few of my visits to Nottingham in this period though were to national hunt fixtures. At one of those I had another big bet on a sure thing in a novice chase. I lumped on at 5-4. Single Shooter was the only horse I backed that day and I was once again very confident of victory. He made a slight error at the first fence and was pulled up before the second fence! Like I said Nottingham was not always the luckiest of courses for me.

One great feature of my visits to Nottingham in the early 1990s was the rivalry between two sets of jockeys. One on the flat and one over jumps. Two up and coming flat jockeys had emerged in this period. Both had won the champion apprentice title and then in 1994 fought out the jockey’s championship. The big meetings are where the headlines are made and fortunes are won and lost but it is during the midweek action at places like Nottingham that champion jockeys are made. I was there to get a taste of these midweek battles between Jason Weaver and Frankie Detorri. Often this season, both would have winners on the card and plenty of rides. Both could be relied upon with your investment for sure. Despite having over two hundred winners that season Jason had to concede defeat to Frankie. Of the two it was Jason who I felt was perhaps the stronger jockey and would be the next big thing in horse racing. Unfortunately, my thinking was literally correct. Whilst he did enjoy great success in a shortened career Jason retired in 2002 after losing his battle to manage his natural weight. In contrast Frankie would grace the weighing room well into his forties. The other rivalry of note had played out over many seasons across the national hunt circuit. I was at Nottingham when this rivalry between Richard Dunwoody and Adrian Maguire boiled over in dramatic fashion during a run of the mill hurdle race. The two were competing in a great tussle for 1993/4 jockeys title. Approaching the penultimate hurdle Adrian riding Mr Genealogy tried to sneak up on Richard’s inside. Richard was having none of it and somewhat over-reacted forcing Adrian and his mount through the wings of the hurdle. The incident would result in the loss of the Nottingham race and a fourteen day ban for Richard who missed that year’s Cheltenham festival. It would not cost him the title though. The two pushed each other hard and the contest went to the last day of the season but Richard prevailed by three wins. He did concede that without Adrian he would not have been driven to ride so many winners. In truth the two were friends, reportedly going for a drink together even on the way home from the Nottingham incident.

Sadly jump racing was cancelled at Nottingham in 1996 which was a great shame. The wonder and diversity of British racing continues to diminish but I will never forget those Nottingham national hunt fixtures from the early 1990s. One particular fixture was ultimately of great significance to me. Following a successful days punting on Friday 4^th December 1992 I met my future wife Claire in a Leicester University Bar. I was always at my happiest on racing days and the confidence this day gave me no doubt helped me impress this young lady. I would soon realise she was the perfect woman for me. During term time she lived near Leicester racecourse, while the rest of the year she was at home in Gosforth, Newcastle!

Fast forward to June 2002 and Claire and I, now married, returned to Nottingham as 5% owners of Pic N Mix, a two year old trained by Chris Thornton. I had been thrilled to name this daughter of Piccolo and it would be exciting to find out if she had inherited any of her fathers speed. On her debut at Haydock the indication was that she had not, finishing last of seven. However that was a decent race and in calmer waters here at Nottingham, Chris was hopeful of a good run second time around. This fantastic day also featured a World Cup fixture for England which we were able to seamlessly fit into the sporting action. We watched the comfortable three nil win over Denmark in the owners and trainers area just prior to our big race. Strangely Denmark, Nottingham and Pic N Mix would maintain their unlikely connection. More on that soon. Our race was a six furlong maiden for fillies which had attracted sixteen runners. In it our horse ran well and came sixth, encouragingly finishing well. She was only beaten a length by the third placed horse and only three lengths overall. It was Golden Nun who finished third. She had been favourite for the race but threw away her chance when swerving violently left in the final furlong. She ended up being very talented and went on to compete in and win some very good races. 

Following this promising run from Pic N Mix a new race began. Could the owners and trainer of Pic N Mix catch up with the jockey before he goes to weigh in? If you are in the first four home there is a dedicated place for this conversation. If you are not, very often a chaotic scramble can result as all involved are keen to hear the immediate feedback. As I ran to catch up Chris to witness this conversation, in the corner of my eye, I caught sight of another member of the Pic N Mix syndicate, taking an embarrassing tumble as she tried to duck under a rail. This left me with a very awkward decision. Do I assist my stricken comrade or press on in search of feedback. I am ashamed to say I took the latter option but in my defence I believe this middle aged lady may not have welcomed any attention during the aftermath of her fall. She soon joined the back end of the trainer jockey feedback moments later, unhurt but somewhat ruffled. The feedback was highly promising, a good run and confidence of further improvement. Had the race been over seven furlongs we would surely have been placed. As we shared a post-race drink with Chris and the other owners in the bar afterwards I reflected positively on what had been a fantastic day. Ever the optimist I believed I had a racehorse with promise and that England might go on to win the World Cup.

The following April Claire and I returned again to Nottingham to watch Pic N Mix make her seasonal return. Claire herself was now heavily pregnant with our first child due in June. In terms of our runner there was already now a question mark over whether she would make the grade as a racehorse following a disappointing first season. The run at Nottingham had been followed by a solid fourth at Beverley but then by only one more, disappointing run. We were hopeful a new season would bring about improvement and perhaps a change of luck. Blinkers were added for the first time and the owners had renewed hope. The jockey, Lee Enstone, was to be positive on our filly, make the running if he could and kick for home three furlongs out. Simple. The first part of the plan was well executed but from the three furlong pole to the winning line she went from first place to last. Did she go off too fast, did she need her first run of the season or was she simply not good enough? This would be the last time we attended the races to watch Pic N Mix. We would soon have our hands full at home, but in a wonderful way. By the end of this second season Pic N Mix had still not troubled the judge. A close fifth at Musselburgh was not enough to convince the doubters that we might still have a winner on our hands. I was disappointed that tentative plans to run her on the all-weather over the winter were shelved and she was put up for sale. We had never really got to grip with what was the right trip for her and perhaps she had been unlucky not to race on her preferred good ground too often. Chris summed up the situation well in a letter he sent us at the end of her British racing career. The story does not end here though as the Denmark connection returned. Pic N Mix was sold to race there. Thanks to the research of fellow racing enthusiast Graham Stirling I have recently confirmed that Pic N Mix did in fact race in Denmark the following season and managed to win a race at Klampenborg (near Copenhagen) over 7 furlongs. I was thrilled to find this out and so pleased she managed to win a race. I always felt she had a small race in her and the winning distance totally makes sense. This knowledge just adds a little more gloss to the experience of those two wonderful days at Nottingham watching her run and my memories of this brilliant racecourse.