Forum Topic

Horse Racing

Seeing some of the coverage of Cheltenham at the moment, I wondered if any of you had been to watch horse racing and whether you enjoyed it?  I have been to a couple of racecourses and found it all a bit disappointing.

Martine Guy ● 20d11 Comments

Drunk

Andy Pike ● 19d

what does 'p...d up' stand for? Poked up? Can't figure it out.

Gerry Boyce ● 19d

I have been to the races three times. First time I won quite a lot of money. Second time I won a small amount of money. Third time I lost a modest amount of money. Never went again.

Alexander MacLeod ● 19d

Mr Ixer'Now when a supplier offered to take me to an F1 race in Monza there was a sudden rush to rearrange meetings on the Friday ...'.I do hope this generous act by your host had no influence over your supplier selection !

John Hawkes ● 19d

Love the races go as often as I can . Prefer jump racing  ut hate the increase in youngsters p...d up or coked up but they can be avoided.These days prefer mid week quiet meets rather than the festivals, they are too busy for me these days.

Andy Pike ● 19d

Yes agree with Ed, I don't bet, but enjoyed Goodwood a couple of times years ago with the Fox and Hounds. Also the Openview Wandsworth, plenty of food and a laugh. More fun with a group and on the coach.

Barbara Stevens ● 19d

"or have hospitality"I'm not a sport spectator but going on a coach full of people to the races was very enjoyable. The coach also brought food etc.So really it's about the people you go with and sharing food etc and the racing is secondary.When compared with other sporting events the tickets seem very reasonably priced. Also there is no hatred or negativity etc that you may get with team sports.As far horses are concerned, they are very important part of our modern day lives, bus routes are still based on hay locations and many walls & ceilings still have horse hair in them.It's still a joy to stop for horses crossing paths/roads in Richmond Park.Of course improvements in race courses are also welcomed.

Ed Robinson ● 20d

Ivonne, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, it’s a great day out with horse racing in between.  I think you probably need to have other things going on or have hospitality to make it a fun day out.  I doubt I will ever go again.  The Grand National was something I had always wanted to go to, but it was such a disappointment.  Horse racing just isn’t my thing.

Martine Guy ● 20d

Hello Martine,I was invited to Ladies' Day in Ascot.  It was a great day out, with horse racing in between!  I love horses but am not a horse racing enthusiast.  I do watch the Grand National on TV and do cringe sometimes. There is something about Cheltenham, the Grand National and the Boat Race that is very special.  Perhaps, hand in heart, it means spring is round the corner!

Ivonne Holliday ● 20d

Michael, thanks for the reply.  It’s one of those things that never really enters into conversation, and I have often wondered if it’s just me who found the actual experience of going to watch a race, a bit boring. Members of my family loved horse racing and it was always on the tv back in the 1960s, when I was a child.  I thought I would l enjoy horse racing and when in Liverpool about 25 years ago, the Grand National was on and I was thrilled to be able to watch it live in the crowd at Aintree.  We stood by the first fence and it really was something seeing all the horses go by, but that was it  as far as we were concerned for the whole afternoon.  I have also carried on the family tradition of having a bet on the National, but have decided not to anymore, as I have totally lost interest. My family would love to watch motor racing.  Young people are interested in it.

Martine Guy ● 20d

I've been a couple of times, Martine; once in Dublin when I was visiting friends around four decades ago, and then circa ten years ago on a works trip paid for by the company. I've no interest in it at all (or gambling) - fortunately the second time I went those of us not interested in racing could just chat in the bar over a drink (or two ...). Normally I'd avoid going but on those two occasions I think it would have been considered unsociable to refuse. Now when a supplier offered to take me to an F1 race in Monza there was a sudden rush to rearrange meetings on the Friday ...

Michael Ixer ● 20d