Hence my boarding a train from Paddington heading to Bedwyn, which if you had asked me before I booked the tickets, I would have assumed was a mining village in the valleys of South Wales. At least I know now it's in Wiltshire.
I had decided to base myself in the even more prosperous (than Bedwyn anyway) Berkshire market town of Hungerford, for my trip to the Hennessy meeting at Newbury.
Sadly Hungerford is now forever associated with tragedy, being the location of the first American style mass shooting to have occurred in this country back in 1987. It's very grand these days, so smart that its high street contains a dozen antique shops, organic butchers (x 2), more designer women's dress shops (of the type which do not seem to have many clothes in them) than you could imagine in fashion heaven, and a nail bar where men (admittedly still Vietnamese) do the lacquering. Fortunately I also found a kebab van parked down a side road, and a pub which sold Greene King IPA. That beer is not totally to my taste but I forced down a couple of pints in honour of it now being China's favourite real ale.
Hungerford was chosen as it is handy for Newbury racecourse, and a lot cheaper to stay in than Newbury town when the racing is on.
Sadly Hungerford is now forever associated with tragedy, being the location of the first American style mass shooting to have occurred in this country back in 1987. It's very grand these days, so smart that its high street contains a dozen antique shops, organic butchers (x 2), more designer women's dress shops (of the type which do not seem to have many clothes in them) than you could imagine in fashion heaven, and a nail bar where men (admittedly still Vietnamese) do the lacquering. Fortunately I also found a kebab van parked down a side road, and a pub which sold Greene King IPA. That beer is not totally to my taste but I forced down a couple of pints in honour of it now being China's favourite real ale.
Hungerford was chosen as it is handy for Newbury racecourse, and a lot cheaper to stay in than Newbury town when the racing is on.
My 'single' room at the Rising Sun had 3 beds, and Don the landlord had 2 Staffordshire bull terriers which happily seemed friendly enough. They did also make mightily effective guard dogs on the landing outside my room, meaning I could safely leave my laptop behind when setting off for the racecourse in the morning.
The Hennessy at Newbury is the last long standing sponsorship left in racing. Most races now are sponsored by bookmakers or Qatar. It's sad that the Schweppes (Captain Ryan Price's legendary 'plots' still excite me today), the Whitbread, the Mackeson and even the Benson and Hedges are gone. Of course I still take great delight in calling these races after the original sponsor, which inside feels like a tiny victory against the Bet365's of this world.
The Hennessy at Newbury is the last long standing sponsorship left in racing. Most races now are sponsored by bookmakers or Qatar. It's sad that the Schweppes (Captain Ryan Price's legendary 'plots' still excite me today), the Whitbread, the Mackeson and even the Benson and Hedges are gone. Of course I still take great delight in calling these races after the original sponsor, which inside feels like a tiny victory against the Bet365's of this world.
And in addition to this small victory there is no better way to study the form than over a full English. Don's breakfast did him proud. My instructions were clear. Eggs with runny yolk, bacon (well done and fried, not baked as is now the fashion in some hotels), sausages (grilled), baked beans (Heinz), black pudding and buttered (Kerrygold) toast (white obviously). He was delighted that I wasn't one of 'those vegetarian hippy types' which cheered me up no end.
In the first race at Newbury there was an interesting horse. See the World had run once before but was clearly something of a character (I was going to write Madame but it was male and indeed gelded!). The Racing Post reported that 'turning round the home bend four furlongs out he was cruising in the lead when he stopped. He let the other horses overtake him before starting again and sprinting up the straight to win easily.' Despite the 'not one to be trusted' label I steamed in, hoping Emma Lavelle had ironed out the idiosyncratic traits. She had, but he still finished 4th.
Entrance to Newbury was a bit pricey at £30 for a premier ticket but it's only fair to report that the tea and coffee were only £1.60.
Entrance to Newbury was a bit pricey at £30 for a premier ticket but it's only fair to report that the tea and coffee were only £1.60.
As usual I entered into the Placepot (it's almost a tradition) having not been put off by it only paying £2.60 at Lingfield the day before, and as usual I lasted one race. Mind you that's is still better than winning it and only collecting £2.60.
Newbury was once a great racecourse but there is a feeling round the circuit (I am almost part of it these days) increasingly that it has declined in recent years. The awful incident where two horses were electrocuted in the paddock was probably the nadir of its fortunes. I expected the worst but things are perking up, mainly as a result of an 'enabling development.'
Newbury is a desirable place to live, and the course therefore sold some land to build new homes. This housebuilding is paying for a revamp of the whole course.
It has even led to racing themed road names surrounding the course. There's Denman Drive, Hennesey Aveneue, Mill Reef Lane and (I hope no one paid for this suggestion) Racecourse Road. And the new management needs to be congratulated for its efforts to improve the facilities for stable staff. These unsung heroes (and more often heroines) of the game have to put up with awful facilities at may racecourses (Brighton being probably the worst example of all). I admit at first glance I thought the Lodge might be a meeting place for 'Larrys'*. On closer inspection it is an excellent hostel and cafe for the all too often undervalued stable lads and lasses who devote themselves to the horses we love to see run.
Inside the course there is a whole wall papered in old Racing Post newspapers. One of them was from February 7, 2012 highlighting the potential of the emerging talent, Darren Egan. Sadly today's Racing Post (obviously not papered to the wall) lamented the waste of the talent of Darren Egan - banned as a rotten apple.
It was good to see Dave Nevison in the betting ring, providing commentary for RUK. Mr Nevison wrote a very entertaining account of his life at the races (including an intriguing mention of a liaison with a Conservative MP!). He tells it as it is, and is willing to put us off betting each way in the 'jungle' when there is a solid odds-on favourite.
The third race on the card included a 'handicap certainty'. Unowwhatimeanharry (Carpenter and Bruno presumably?) had won with a first time tongue tie (basically a bit of old stocking which helps a horse breathe) in a Cheltenham handicap two weeks earlier. That was a race for conditional jockeys (bear with me here non-racing pals please) so he could run in this race without a penalty - i.e. carrying a weight much lower than he really should.
I am always sceptical about these handicap certainties. I duly backed the second favourite, which came second to the handicap certainty, who won 'hard held.' Obviously death and taxes can now join with any horse trained by Harry Fry carrying a weight considerably less than the handicapper thinks it should as the remaining certainties in life.
Despite these betting losses I was cheered by Newbury's proper fish and chips shop (with mushy peas and jellied eels).
And I even spotted the legendary Stephen Little in the betting ring, although sadly not wearing his rabbit skin coat.
Seeing Stephen reminded me of the other missing great 'professional gambler', Harry Findlay. For reasons I have never been able to understand he jointly owned Denman who triumphed at Newbury in an 'I was there moment.' Goodness knows what made the gentleman dairy farmer and point to point trainer, Paul Barber, team up with 'arry, but sadly he did. I am left wondering if Mr Barber knows where Mr Findlay is now?
On balance then my conclusion is that Newbury has had difficult days but it's recovering nicely. And I suggest underrated trainer Evan Williams' horse John Constable is worth following for the rest of the season. Unfancied for the Gerry Fielden hurdle he still finished a close second carrying a high weight. Lump on at the Festival.
On balance then my conclusion is that Newbury has had difficult days but it's recovering nicely. And I suggest underrated trainer Evan Williams' horse John Constable is worth following for the rest of the season. Unfancied for the Gerry Fielden hurdle he still finished a close second carrying a high weight. Lump on at the Festival.
Newbury marks (out of 10)
Welcome/friendliness 7
Atmosphere 6
Betting ring (size, competitiveness) 6
Racecard (cost, quality) 6
Queues for bar 9
Viewing 9
Standard of racing 8
Total (out of 70) 51
Punting success lost badly - 3 2nds (hit the bar in football terms I guess) but at least I found 2p on a seat on the train back to Hungerford!
* Larry Grayson - masons
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