Lightning strikes at the Craven, but one beer drinker was happy with his bonus

Having carefully consulted the dress code, I was all ready for my visit to the Headquarters of racing on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. 'As a gentleman' I chose to wear formal smart trousers and smart formal shoes, and avoided the 'rarely seen' jeans and trainers. The rebel in me was put off by the weather, so did not breach the ban on swimwear or bare chests. I was forced to leave my 'Brexit You know it Makes Sense' tee-shirt at home for fear of falling foul of the 'common sense rules' on clothes with slogans.
The vastness of Newmarket is the first thing that strikes you on arrival. Despite all the recent rain, the gallops which make up the heath were still springy under feet. It is easy to understand why so many trainers are based here.
In recent years the prestige of the season opener, the Craven meeting, has dropped somewhat. The centrepiece are the trials for the first classics of the season, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, but trainers have increasingly bypassed these races and chosen to go straight for the big races. 
The Jockey Club have tried to redress this by introducing more valuable sales races and handicaps, allowing gallops before racing which are visible to the public and are even commentated on, and returning the meeting to its original 3 day format. It's a shame that Channel 4 have still not reinstated their coverage, but this maybe an opportunity for ITV to prove their commitment to the sport next year.
Looking round the paddock before the first race most of the big owners were there - including Sheikh Hamdan and his large entourage of young princes, and the new kid on the block Sheik Fahad Al Thani from Qatar. Security was solid, if discreet, with muscular ex-Army types talking into their sleeves and scanning the horizon for threats secret-service style. Rumours that they are armed with more than just radio technology are obviously completely unfounded.
Sadly one well known owner, Sir Alex Ferguson, was missing, perhaps still recovering from his losing bet on the Masters.
The Craven Stakes, after which the meeting is known, took place in horrendous conditions. Just before the off there was the most enormous clap of thunder, coinciding with lightning striking the big screen and putting it, and the commentary service, out of action. 
It was dark, hailing and raining. The start was missed by most of the crowd. 
A man with binoculars shouted "I think they're off. No they're not. Oh yes here they come. Frankie's in front. It's 4. Baker."
Checking my drenched racecard I was able to establish that the Craven had been won by the tallest jockey in the world, George Baker. How he can ride at 9 stone when he is 6 feet tall is beyond me, and it is good to see him being rewarded for his daily super human self-denial. The replay shown between races an hour later with the restoration of power revealed that Baker's mount, Stormy Antarctic, beat the favourite, Foundation, rather easily. Foundation is the horse partly owned by Sir Alex, so his absence may have enabled trainer, John Gosden, and jockey, Frankie Dettori, to escape the traditional hair dryer treatment after an unexpected defeat.
A combination of the weather, the track conditions and the comparatively unfashionable nature of his trainer, Ed Walker, may have led bookmakers to underestimate the merits of the well named Stormy Antarctic's victory. If the going is still soft for the 2000 Guineas in 16 days time, then the 20/1 available represents a good value each way bet.
Ryan Moore has clearly replaced Lester Piggott as the punters' friend but we had to wait till the last for his first win of the day. The by now 'well refreshed' crowd in the Adnams Cask Bar were clearly on, but were also forced to queue in teeming rain to collect their money from some rather unhappy (haha), and very wet (snigger), bookies.

One happy man went out with half a pint of strong beer and returned even happier five minutes later waving his winnings and still holding what was by now a pint of rather less strong beer.
Spring has sprung. Happy days.

Newmarket - marks (out of 10)
Welcome/friendliness 8
Atmosphere 8
Betting ring (size, competitiveness) 9
Racecard (cost, quality) 7
Queues for the bar 9
Standard of racing 9
Viewing 7


Total (out of 70) 57

Punting success - lost (but get it back on Stormy Antarctic in The Guineas!)

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