Our series continues with David Ord and Ben Linfoot talking about their favourite racecourses. We want you to get involved in the discussion, too.
We want your feedback. Which is your favourite track and why? Check out details of how to contact us towards the foot of the article - and the views from our racing team.
Ben Linfoot - Ripon
This is like choosing between your kids, isn’t it?
So many. My favourite tracks to have a bet at are Ascot, Chester, Epsom, Haydock and Sandown. My favourite tracks on a sunny afternoon are York and Newmarket’s July Course.
For favourite topography there is the Goodwood of the north, Hamilton, and the Goodwood of the south, Goodwood.
Favourite sporting arenas include Cheltenham and Happy Valley. Favourite tracks to have a good drink at with your mates include Aintree, Doncaster and Newcastle.
But if I had to pick one alone it would be Ripon.
I grew up down the road and this was the first track I ever saw. It was the first place I ever saw a racehorse and the first place I ever smelt horse shit. It was the first track I ever placed a bet at and it was the first track where I had a pint.
It was the track where I fell in love with racing.
I was amazed that the top Newmarket trainers came up to little Ripon, but they did so on a regular basis.
Henry Cecil had his first ever winner at Ripon, they tell me, and there seemed to be a never-ending stream of the top stables coming up the A1… Stoute, Haggas, Gosden, they still come now.
The track itself is sharp and a certain type of horse thrives there. Inexperienced horses learn plenty. No wonder the action is supported from far and wide.
But the charm of Ripon is its surroundings. Its nickname of Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse is well earned. The shaded paddock area is gorgeous and Mrs Linfoot took little persuading when it came to having our wedding reception there.
So it had to be Ripon for me. But what’s your favourite track and why? Let us know by sending in an email – details below.
David Ord - York
It could have been Cheltenham. Cheltenham is very special. An amphitheatre like no other. The atmosphere, the magic of the place. And the horses.
Dawn Run, Istabraq, Badsworth Boy, Sea Pigeon, Kauto Star...yes it could have been Cheltenham.
It might have been Goodwood. A glorious place in name and nature. Aintree is unique and wonderful, very wonderful during the Randox Health Grand National meeting.
Epsom on Investec Derby day is magical too, as is Ascot amid the top hats a couple of weeks later.
But I first went racing at York in August 1977 to see Haveroid win the Nunthorpe. I was four at the time, admittedly soon to be five, but since that day the Knavesmire has been a very special place.
The Ord family holidays were always scheduled to leave the three-day (as was) Ebor Festival clear and the place has never disappointed.
As you get older, you appreciate it more. The flat, sweeping, fair track with its long straight and thrilling finishes.
The charm, the warmth of the crowd and the staff; the spacious parade ring allowing racegoers to see the equine heroes up close - and now a wonderful pre-parade ring for the eager early birds. And then there's the racing.
Dayjur's Nunthorpe and Frankel's Juddmonte are just two of the days that will never fade - but every trip to York is special. From the rich promise of the Dante in the spring, through to the finale in the chill of October, it's a wonderful ride.
Grab a ticket if you can once the show is back on the road. You won't regret it.
Send us your views
Send your comments and contributions on your favourite courses to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.
Quentin Beasley: As with the others who have answered the question about favourite racecourses, it's difficult. I have enjoyed 50 plus years of attending my local track Huntingdon, positioning myself in the stand on the landing side of the open ditch has never lost its appeal for me. I have enjoyed racing in Australia and once witnessed racing on three consecutive Saturday's in NZ, Hong Kong and then finally at my beloved Towcester. The course has everything for me (had) and I fondly remember visits from the stalwart of all stalwarts, the Queen Mother, and the historic day when a certain man recorded 4000 winners. My enjoyment nosedived when the hideous dog track was created obscuring the view of the all important back straight! My favourite visits were those quiet mid winter weekdays when there was the odd Cheltenham hopeful to entertain the small knowledgeable crowd, on occasion one of which was non other than Benny from ABBA, yes we've seen it all at Towcester ! Incase you hadn't guessed it TOWCESTER gets the nod. Please someone, step forward and save it, and when you do, remove that hideous dog track!
George Goodenough: Newbury - My first day's racing as an 8 year old was Greenham day 1973. Bold Boy won the Greenham, Rheingold the John Porter and Mon Plaisir 1 of his 2 Spring Cups. More recently I was there in 2008 when Denman ignored the cross fence in the Aon and Master Minded won the Game Spirit. A couple of years ago I saw Altior win the Game Spirit and Denman and Sprinter Sacre were on parade. Great viewing and catering. Happy memories.
David Parker: Being born in Warwick and playing football in the centre of the racecourse when I was a boy obviously I have fond memories of the course. Racing memories came later the Brooke Bond Oxo chase with horses like Bonum Omen , locally owned with Kevin Mooney riding. Lester Piggot riding against John Francome in a flat race , Pat Eddery , Willie Carson the list could go on and on. Since those days I have to say Cheltenham is just fantastic which ever meeting you go to and I was lucky enough to have been to all the gold cup meetings through the eighties and early nineties. Now living in the West Country and older these days Wincanton is my favourite course. Good viewing easy access to course not to far to walk always a friendly crowd with a great atmosphere. And some very good meetings especially The Badger Chase meeting with real good horses running.
Chris Maloney: My favourite racecourse has to be York, there is nothing like the August ebor meeting for top class flat racing especially the Tuesday card, brilliant.
Roy Cullen: Living about 5 miles from Haydock Park I feel very fortunate to be so close to what is surely one of the country's top courses,competitive racing all year round and one of the best group 1 races of the flat calendar. I do confess though that I really enjoy my annual visit to Ripon on august bank holiday monday ,good racing, two year old trophy and a very competitive class 2 handicap.This year will be my 16th consecutive year, a great day out.
Mark Osborne: Like Peter Pinnell, my earliest racing memories are of trips to Towcester. in my case it was in the 1970's when the family spent many a bank holiday on the inside of the track - facilities were still limited! I remember my dad placing my first winning bet on a horse of Josh Gifford's, Warrenbayne Prince - Josh was my favourite trainer from then on! I also remember other track favourites from that time - Osbaldeston and Dolge Orlick. I also recall seeing future great Badsworth Boy running in a novice hurdle and, in later years, another Cheltenham Festival winner, Brief Gale, winning at the track. Nowadays as a resident of Epsom, my racing tends to take place at tracks in the South East and there are no better places to be in this part of the country than Sandown and Plumpton. Sadly my last experience of a day at the races for while yet was at Kempton a couple of weeks back; Kempton's another place where I have enjoyed many happy afternoons but it feels in need of some TLC these days.
Steve H: Chester. From being a young boy of 16-17 taken there by some older mates to the 3 day May meeting was just Magical. It all started with the Lily Agnes Stakes (still going) on the Tuesday, then the Chester Vase, Chester Cup, Ormonde Stakes, Cheshire Oaks, We even saw Shergar win the Chester Vase by a huge margin ( Beautiful Horse)! But the whole feel of the place, the horses walking down the street to the course was unique, and the views around the course for a spectator were amazing, sadly I have not been there for 20 years or more due to my geographical status, we moved South down to Sussex and got involved as a member at Brighton, not the best horses, but what a stunning setting on a nice day! Great views over the channel, 3 Day meeting in August was a must every year, along with Glorious Goodwood ( stunning) . A mention to the other courses in the county of Sussex, Fontwell and Plumpton, lovely small tracks where you get up and personal with everything! Royal Windsor on a Monday Night a must as well, go on the boat down the Thames to the course! Royal Ascot tops the lot, what an unbelievable place that is! Great memories.
Nick T-W: Tokyo (Fuchu) with Bill sensei, without a doubt. Nearly every Sunday for 15 years. Bill sensei is still at it, another 15 years later! Great viewing, nice long wide straight where we first encountered Narita Brian flying down the middle to win the Derby by a mile, many moons ago. Fuji san and cherry blossom from your seat, weather and season permitting. 2 or 300 yen (£2) entry even today. For a big G1 like the Japan Cup, or the Derby, 100,000 plus passionate and well-behaved fans who love their horses. Easy access to the paddock on a normal weekend and a free seat if you get there early and sprint! 12 races to enjoy: Paddock, bet, beer, watch.... Paddock, bet, beer, watch..... Paddock, bet, beer, watch... Pirrock, bot, burr, botch....beer and gambling. You know it makes sense! Still racing over there btw, albeit without Bill sensei and 48,999 others, for a while. Takamatsunomiya kinen (try saying that after 12 beers) on Sunday at Chukyo. Come on Gran Alegria! Kanpai!
Peter Pinnell: Like so many racing enthusiasts it’s difficult to get away from the first course you visited, where the seeds of a lifetime’s commitment to our absorbing sport were sown. In my case that is Towcester which is no more. The facilities in the 1950s were very limited and I have an abiding memory of sheltering from the rain between races at the back of one of the fences. Also of the amateur tipster on the Midland Red bus which took us to the course wearing a red carnation in his buttonhole when a horse of the same name won. And Stalbridge Collonist winning at the track before later bettering the magnificent Arkle.
In later life I was able to afford grandstand admission and viewed the runners at this magnificent course, with it’s challenging fences and long uphill finish, from the top of a wooden grandstand. When health and safety decreed that the stand be pulled down I was devastated.
Doug: Could probably split this into a couple of sub-categories. I could say York or Cheltenham as they are the top tracks. But I think the best course to go racing is Musselburgh, it's small, everything is close together, it's reasonably priced and quality of racing is reasonable especially in mid summer. And as someone who lived in Edinburgh area for 10 years I had many good days out there solo or with friends. I haven't been to lots of tracks by any means so I am probably not in as good a position to judge this as others.
Best from punting perspective for me are Cheltenham, Ascot, York, Goodwood and Doncaster. Essentially the bigger tracks where the better races and better horses race. You have to love the festivals at these courses.
Alan K: I love Huntingdon, easy access in and out a good knowledgeable crowd good view of the horses all the way around. And it's not a front runners course, very few horses that lead rarely win.
Nick Milne: For me living only a few miles from Newmarket a summer's afternoon at the July Course is hard to beat. Walking across the member's lawn before the crowds arrive is lovely as are the seats along the paddock where you look back down the course . The undulating nature of the course has to be seen, you do not appreciate the climb to the line that there is. The weighing room flower displays are fantastic every year and are a credit to the team of gardeners. I just hope that we are racing there again this season , for me the July meeting is the highlight of Newmarket's year.
Mark Heritage: It has to be Fontwell. A track with lots of character and one of the very few where you can into the middle of the course and get close up & personal with a steeplechase fence during a race.
An honourable mention goes to Southwell's facilities.
Michael Bradbury: My favourite racecourses are Cartmel in the north for the special atmosphere and the beautiful setting and it’s the first racecourse my late father took me to which sparked a life long interest in racing And in the south it’s Fakenham which has a lovely and friendly feel to it and again a lovely setting and it’s the first racecourse I’ve taken my mum to since my father passed away.
Tim Williams: Market Rasen is a lovely track (I have great memories of Easeby Abbey). Sandown you feel so close to the action. I saw my favourite race there without having a bet (Mister Point being bullied into winning by that fantastic jockey who won all the military races, Olly something). The horse tried everything to stop, he only wanted to go back to the stables.
Paul Ziolkowski-Evans: I've been racing many times and to many different tracks, but the standout for me has to be Wetherby. Although from the Wirral originally, I lived in West Yorkshire for a number of years and visited all the major courses within Yorkshire. Wetherby was always number one though. We always went into the middle of the track and took our own drinks and picnic and still do, despite moving back to the Wirral. All this for a very modest £15 - £20 per car depending on the races quality. The accessibility of the last fence and hurdle was a big thrill, allied to a retreat to the cosy and friendly cafe when it became too cold to stand around outside. I hope times return when a trip to Wetherby with all our mates, especially on the Boxing Day meeting, becomes possible once more.
Gary Smith: My favourite track has to be the much missed Folkestone. It was a complete dump and had the worst ground imaginable. The staff were surly and the facilities were disgraceful. For some reason I found it extremely easy to back winners there which was my only real reason for going. Goodwood is not so glorious after you have backed 7 losers.
Helen Sheridan: They say you always remember your first love. They also say that love is blind. So, with those sentiments to the fore, I offer up the sadly defunct Folkestone, gaff track to many, but racing creche and general sanctuary to me. An early adopter of social distancing, Folkestone was never packed to the rafters, due to it specialising in the fixture wilderness that is a Tuesday afternooon. However, being freely able to get to the tree-lined paddock (and smell the shit - no day complete without it), have a bet, get refreshments and see the entire race due to the layout of the course (from the same 'lucky' place in the stands) have formed an indelible blueprint for an enjoyable day's racing. All this and dual purpose, too. Having a local track made the difference between a casual interest in the racing on the telly and those 'Saturday faces' being made flesh (you can count horses of a Saturday standard turning up on the fingers of one hand), subsequent daily study of the form and general immersion in the sport. So, Folkestone Racecourse, thanks for being there.
Graham Wilkinson: My favourite racecourse is Goodwood for its natural beauty and fond memories. The view from the top of the Sussex stand (open to all) over the racecourse is unbeatable and there's always the view in the other direction to the Isle of Wight and The Solent. I first went there aged 12 when on holiday in the area in 1969 and watched the racing from Trundle Hill. I remember a number of the winners still but perhaps most significantly the great Raffingora was beaten in a 3 runner race under Lester Piggott. Raffingora went on to set the fastest time for 5f in the world at Epsom the next year. It was a miserable meeting for Lester who had to wait until the very last race of the meeting for his only winner. I always go to the Glorious meeting and have missed only one Sussex Stakes since 1990 and that was when I was watching GB's rowers win the first gold medal of the 2012 Olympics. That was Frankel's second win in the race and his first is the standout performance in the race across that time in my view. Since 2013 I have volunteered as a Racemaker for the British Champions Series at Goodwood and love the mix of serious racegoers, day trippers and holidaymakers which give it a really good feel on a (usually) lovely Summer's day. Nothing to beat it.
John Higgins: I have been fortunate too have visited all the racecourses in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. My favourite racecourse is Sedgefield in County Durham, excellent facilities, the people are very friendly and a good viewing track too watch the racing.
Alan Shaw: Sandown for one reason only. The two-mile chases which are the most exciting races to watch especially on the back straight where every fence has got to be met on a stride. I miss Towcester for the setting and Cheltenham is something else too as is York.
Simon from Newark: I'm with Dave Ord. Unquestionably York. The pulse quickens approaching the Knavesmire like nowhere else. For another subject to stave off boredom, how about the reverse: tracks you would not be bothered with and the reason!
Fred Wood: For a great event for husband and wife breaks, the three day Chester Cup meeting, fantastic quality racing, good facilities, great atmospheres and something for your partner if the racing gets too much, historical Chester, good shopping, great restaurants.
Peter Bell: Hi Folks. I suppose it all comes down to a place that has generated great memories (that’d have to be Cheltenham then), scenic beauty (Cheltenham), great tales of punting derring-do (Cheltenham) and the weight of history (there’s a bit of a theme developing here isn’t there?). I bet you don’t get many votes for that soulless hole, Kempton! Great idea for an article by the way. Stay well during all this hideousness.
Dave Chapman: It probably wont get classed by many as a great track but I always remember a trip to Wetherby 15 or so years ago and I loved everything about it (and no I didn’t have a great day punting) – though my memory is that bad I remember nothing of its layout only I just know I came away thinking oh I love it here. I have only been to 10 or 12 tracks but within some of the 10 or 12 I've been to many of the biggies; Cheltenham, Newmarket, Ascot, York and Chester to name a few, but I think Wetherby had a charm about it that I liked, if memory serves I liked Beverley for the same reason.
I think my trip to Wetherby came on the back of a week away at the Festival where getting a bet on, getting a pint or having a number one all proved difficult until approximately 4pm every afternoon when the queues had begun to thin out, at Wetherby we had no such problems, the class of racing the day I went wasn’t brilliant but everything about the rest of the experience was so it's Wetherby for me.