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Picturesque Racecourse on TV

an capall

an capall

Senior Jockey
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
5,775
Location
Dalkey
Watching racing from Ayr this afternoon for some reason my mind settled on this topic.

What courses suit your eye on telly? (not in attendence, just TV)

Mine:

1. Killarney
2. Goodwood
3. Cartmel
 
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Definitely Killarney for me. I went there in 1981. The day before racing my wife and I were walking past the course and a very courteous chap asked if we intended going racing. We said we were and he offered to give us a guided tour of the course. He turned out to be the course secretary (Finbarr Slattery from memory, an absolute gent} There was an article in the local paper the next day about it. That and the breathtaking scenery makes it the number for one for me.
 
The summer evening meetings at Worcester. Many a pissed evening spent in W Hills admiring scenery, ignoring the retreat of my horse.
 
I always loved watching Sandown on TV but when I went there in 1999 I was totally shocked as it looked like a dump.

I only watch on my PC don't have a telly
1. Perth
2. Hexam
3. Sedgefield
 
The Parisian courses are beautiful.

Domestically, Hamilton is picturesque and beautifully maintained but Goodwood probably is the best.
 
Tanlic said:
I always loved watching Sandown on TV but when I went there in 1999 I was totally shocked as it looked like a dump.

I only watch on my PC don't have a telly
1. Perth
2. Hexam
3. Sedgefield
Click to expand...

I specifically stipulated TV. PC doesn't count. Can you immediately remove this disrespectful contribution.
 
First time I went to Cheltenham I couldn't believe that it wasn't anything like as flat as it looked on the TV (same with Ascot)
 
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I was really impressed with how Tramore looked over the Christmas period. Proper mud, interesting small and tight undulating course, small rickety looking stand right on top of the course, people going balubas in the crowd. Looked a right hooly at a course with "character."
 
Tanlic said:
I always loved watching Sandown on TV but when I went there in 1999 I was totally shocked as it looked like a dump.
Click to expand...

It’s much improved these days

Cartmel is the one in the UK I’d most like to visit

Killarney looks fantastic


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Happy to row in with Killarney.

Tramore is a good call in that it's much better on TV than live.

Ballinrobe and/or Sligo?

In the UK, Goodwood is better on TV and Kempton is a hole however viewed. Towcester was great both live and on TV.
 
viking said:
It’s much improved these days

Cartmel is the one in the UK I’d most like to visit

Killarney looks fantastic


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Click to expand...

I went to Cartmel the day Gay Future won with Don Nolan to back Harry Bell's horse Tychee who won on the same card

It was a bank holiday and a shockingly bad road to get there and it's more like a flapping track than a racetrack...reminded me of Hawick Mair common riding races

Must say it makes good veiwing on my PC which I am not allowed to mention or AC will have my guts for garters:lol:
 
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Killarney is the most picturesque track that i've been to, but I would also give a mention to Gowran Park as a lovely track.

Sligo looks a beautiful track on tv, hopefully I'll make it there in person in 2022.
 
I often try to compare the Irish tracks to how they would have looked even a few decades ago. Many of them have been significantly impacted, and not always for the better, by economic and population growth. I'm thinking of the motorways at Leopardstown and the Curragh, the huge quarries in the background at Punchestown and Navan, the factories beside Listowel and Naas and new housing around plenty of others such as Tramore, Sligo and Wexford. Galway has changed most of all because now sits in the middle of industrial estates and offices, but even the other tracks give a good illustration of what is happening to our environment in general.
 
Navan is my favourite track in Ireland

Gowran is my local track and it's a nice country course where a complimentary shuttle isp ut on from Kilkenny castle on days of racing which is a nice touch for those wanting a weekend in the marble city
 

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