Flat caps, whippets, cockles and the ATR cameraman bidding for the winer of the seller - Fakenham

This year I decided to eschew Champions Day at Ascot for the delights of the first meeting of the new season at Fakenham, and what a wise choice it turned out to be.
Gate staff at Fakenham, the North Norfolk racecourse are friendly. In fairness the bowler hat brigade at Ascot have got better in recent years but it was nice not having to dodge the tie police.
There was something of the first day of term about today's meeting. Friends who had been their separate ways over the summer were meeting up again, and everything was freshly painted, I mean, creosoted.
To be honest I did not know exactly what to expect. I knew Fakenham, by virtue of its location, is out on a limb a bit. That probably explains why a chap called 'Maurice' was interviewed before racing. Maurice had made it his mission to visit every racecourse in the UK and Fakenham was the last one on the list. I think if I was involved in the track I would want to know from Maurice why he'd had left my track till last, but far from being offended the Fakenham folk even arranged for him to present the trophy to the winner of the big handicap chase on the card.
There was part of me that thought it would be all a bit rustic. The course is the tightest jump circuit in the country; Chester with obstacles. I even made a feeble joke about NIN - the old doctor shorthand, normal in Norwich - which went justifiably flat en-route. 
Turnips and tractors it is not. This is a course that makes you welcome, lets you watch the action in exciting close up and attracts some top class names. Grand National winning (x2) jockey, Leighton Aspell was there. Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls blooded highly promising novice chasers that could easily feature at the Cheltenham festival next March, and all this was watched by a large, knowledgable crowd.
Obviously the bookies were understandably nervous 

seeing a reputable judge like me turning up (I've always been faintly deluded!) but it was possible to get a good bet on in what seemed to be a robust and competitive ring, with even some layers willing to back their judgement rather than just arbing on the exchange.
Anyway enough of the technical punting/racing stuff - I heartily recommend Fakenham. Tea and coffee for £1.20, nissan huts containing a packed turn-up and eat seafood restaurant,

home made scones, cockles £3 a punnett and exciting racing.
There were flat caps a plenty, 3 whippets being walked and (Sir) Robert (er, umm Bob) Cooper was extolling the joys of the course in his own idiosyncratic style on At the Races. 
Even unflappable Bob seemed momentarily alarmed when his cameraman made a bid for the winer of the seller after the first race. But he is right - Fakenham is a country course, with Norfolk charm and excellent facilities. There's no face painting, bouncy castles, hen or stag do's or after racing pop concerts because it is the horses who are centre stage. I heartily recommended a visit.

Fakenham marks (out of 10)
Welcome/friendliness 8
Atmosphere 8
Betting ring (size, competitiveness) 6
Racecard (cost, quality) 6
Queues for bar 5
Viewing 6
Standard of racing 6

Total (out of 70) 45

Punting success - profit!