A warm welcome, even for the Greens, in the twilight at Kempton

After a spot of tomb tourism, it was time to take in the delights of a 'twilight' meeting at Kempton Park on Wednesday.

In truth I expected my report to be short (hurrah says the dedicated reader) and direct. Something along the lines of 'All weather racing put on to give bookmakers something to show in their shops on a winter evening. A form of horse bingo. Low expectations of low grade sport comfortably met.'
4.25pm is a strange time for a first race (twilight geddit?) but I was early enough to stop off in the nearby Jubilee Public House for a pint and some diligent research of the Racing Post. It was just my sort pf pub. Large England flags, saloon bar shut, 'the coldest lager in town', pool table and a menu consisting of-
Burger
Burger and chips
Cheese burger and chips
Pork scratchings
Chips, and
Cheesy chips.
I went for the exotic (cheesy chips) and delicious they were too. Apart from a nervous moment when a shaven headed pool player with tattoos on his neck mistook his pint for mine, it was a perfect pre-race experience. I admit I may have looked a touch out of place in my tweed coat and trilby but the landlord wished me luck as I left, and his alsation/huskie cross even barked his support.
Are the Green Party still for banning horse racing? Natalie Bennett can certainly go to Kempton as part of her review, for not only does the racetrack have its own railway station ('trains only stop on racedays'), but there are also electronic car charging points in the car park and dedicated bike parking near the front entrance.
From the moment I arrived I was given a warm welcome, with the receptionist even asking me "Are you an owner?" 
By the start of the first race the 'crowd' had swelled to about 200. Service in the bar was swift. They sold Caffreys, which from memory was fashionable about 20 years ago. It tasted disgusting then and time had not improved it. It was nice though to have no queues, and without exception every member of staff was friendly and helpful.
As for the racing itself, it was of remarkably good quality for a wet evening in mid November. The maiden (a race for 2 year old horses which had not previously won a race) included a horse called Amanita. He had cost 280,000 gns as a yearling (Sheikh Hamdan had just outbid me!) and duly bolted up after a slow start.
Prize money for the 6th race on the card was in excess of £22k, prompting John Gosden to saddle Richard Pankhurst (at one time amongst the favourites for the 2000 Guineas).

The main drawback for Kempton is the strength of the betting ring. You can understand why a bookie might not be overkeen on a pitch in the dark and rain outside on a late autumn evening, but with only seven bookies standing the starting prices can be potentially manipulated to the benefit of the large off-course bookmakers.

Kempton Park will never be a pretty racecourse. It is functional and has a dedicated set of regular supporters. Trainers like running their good young horses there because the running surface is fair and safe. This gives the opportunity to see future stars on the first or second starts.
Whilst observing a bloke with a broken leg snorting coke in the gents after the 7th race was slightly disturbing, I left Kempton with a favourable impression overall. If I lived nearby I suspect I would be a regular visitor.

Kempton marks (out of 10)
Welcome/friendliness 10
Atmosphere 5
Betting ring (size, competitiveness) 3
Racecard (cost, quality) 6
Queues for bar 9
Viewing 7
Standard of racing 8

Total (out of 70) 48
Punting success - down