by David Culverhouse
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Racing is for many folk the ideal recreation. The spectacle of the race, the sense of occasion, the sight of thoroughbreds in action, the delightful setting of many race courses and the excitement of the bet - all these elements combine to make a great day out. But isn't it a shame that a day at the races often involves an early departure, the stress of travelling and parking there, no drinking for drivers, and of course the inevitable traffic jam on the way home. But does it have to? Why not add a touch of quality and comfort to turn a great day out into a memorable weekend (or longer break)?
To supplement the occasion, a complimentary racing newspaper is delivered to your hotel room in time to study form over breakfast, and for a little extra fun, success in the Top Tipster Competition will earn the winner a bottle of Champagne ........ and there might even be a booby prize or two to remind some of the guests not to give up the day job!! But let's not generalise. Three Bowood Leisure trips recently took place. Firstly there was the 4-day trip to Paris for the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) meeting at Chantilly, followed two weeks later by a visit to the spectacular Ladies Day at the world-famous Royal Ascot week, and then finally a weekend visit to South Wales for the Saturday meeting at the delightful Chepstow race course. Read the "diaries" and judge for yourself.
Friday 29th May We meet at Waterloo to take an early afternoon Eurostar train for the 3 hour journey to Paris (for readers not familiar with European travel, this is a recently introduced service running direct from London to Paris via the English Channel tunnel).
Saturday 30th May The first day of the Chantilly weekend meeting. For many of our guests, this is their first opportunity to savour the differences and delights of French racing before tomorrow's Derby Day. And, as unbelievable as it may seem to racing enthusiasts, some guests - particularly those on return visits - prefer to spend the Saturday sightseeing in Paris or around the delightful town of Chantilly itself. Our coach leaves the hotel in good time for an early arrival at Chantilly. The delightful setting of the race course provides an ideal location for those guests who, with a picnic in mind, bought their baguettes and wine earlier in the day.
Nevertheless, very enjoyable racing, with two Group races supported by a varied programme of 7 other races, with most if not all of the top French jockeys (and Cash Asmussen) in action. And of course the afternoon's racing provided our newcomers with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with French racing - and the absence of bookmakers shouting their odds - before the big meeting the next day. After a long afternoon, which flew by, the benefits of a comfortable coach from course to hotel are really appreciated. So its back to Montmatre to freshen up and then it's time to find yet another typical French restaurant for dinner. Sunday 31st May Derby Day has arrived. Again, the picnic shoppers, (plus a few more converts, having learnt from yesterday) are out early buying their bread, cheese, fruit and wine. The coach arrives at 10.30, anticipating heavy traffic and we arrive at the course at the ideal time of around midday. For today's meeting, the "Racing Post" has form details for some of the major races, and for the remaining events "Paris-Turf" has full coverage (which made our bi-lingual tour manager an even more much-appreciated person).
From the form book, the Prix du Jockey Club - to give the "French Derby" its proper name - looked out of reach of the English horses, and unfortunately turned out to be so. Perhaps a bit more was expected of the Irish runner, Saratoga Springs, but he flattered to deceive coming into the straight, and the glory of both winning and having the runner-up went to the French trainer Patrick Bary with Dream Well (Cash Asmussen) and Croco Rouge. Monday 1st June All good things come to an end. However our Eurostar train departs at 4 p.m., so plenty of time to visit a "strongly recommended" bistro in the Latin Quarter of Paris. If our racecourse information had been even as half as good, we'd have left Chantilly rich as well as happy, because a superb meal was enjoyed by those who opted to lunch at leisure. Eurostar as usual prompt, comfortable and a speedy..... and by Waterloo., repeat bookings already received. (And we do this for a job!)
Wednesday 17 June Guests arrive at the 4* Thames-side Holiday Inn Hotel at Reading in time for a complimentary aperitif and Dinner. Unlike most Bowood Leisure events, this is a mid-week occasion and arrivals tend to be later in the day. However, Ladies Day is such a special occasion that an hotel overnight stay before the event allows the ladies to do justice to their wonderful selection of clothes, and in particular their hats. (The racecourse states that "it is customary for ladies to wear hats" - what a magnificent sight results) Thursday 18th June
But some of us have come for the racing as well (although very difficult for the men to concentrate!). And to be fair to the men, the Ladies seem to appreciate the sight of so many gentlemen in Top Hats and Morning Dress. But back to the racing. Six quality events including 4 Group and 1 Listed race, with the 2m 4f Gold Cup as the main race of the day. Favourite backers made a good start when the Oaks runner-up strolled to victory in the Ribblesdale, giving Frankie Dettori and his followers the ideal start. The Norfolk Stakes produced more of a surprise when the favourite, Jack Berry's Speedy James failed badly, the race going to his proven soft ground stablemate Rosselli at the attractive price of 10 - 1. The Gold Cup always promised to be an exciting race, with the largest field this century. To the delight of thousands of his fans, the 1995 winner Double Trigger made a cracking effort to get back in the winner's enclosure, only to be run out of it in the closing stages by Frankie - who else! - on the pre-race doubtful stayer Kayf Tara. The Cork & Orrerry went to Tomba - this soft-ground specialist giving trainer Brian Meehan his first Royal Ascot success, with Rhaposodist (Frankie Dettori yet again) and Double Classic giving Sheikh Mohammed and Maktoum Al Maktoum respectively the last two winners on the day's card.. As we left the Grandstand, it was generally agreed that the weather could have been better - or worse - but that only the shoes really suffered (from the previous day's downpour). It was time to take the coach back to our hotel for relaxation, dinner and of course the "Top Tipster" prizegiving . Congratulations to Ascot racecourse for their traffic management which allowed us an uneventful journey back - although several of our guests, in particular those who had carried out personal studies of each of the numerous Pimms Bars, perhaps have only vague recollections of the trip back. Friday 19 June Guests depart, seemingly happy, but probably with lighter wallets. Nevertheless, talk is already of "see you next year"
Friday 3 July
Not surprisingly therefore, this is always a popular venue for our guests, and for this visit we are limited to 28 because of the size of our hospitality box. Guests arrive at our hotel, the 4* Stakis Hotel at Newport (12 miles from Chepstow Race course) from mid-afternoon onwards. The hotel offers superb leisure facilities and many guests are as usual soon in the pool, gymnasium and the Jacuzzi.
An additional great source of amusement was the low-stake competition on the World Cup quarter finals, with our waiter providing up-to-date score and yellow/red card information. One of our regulars, Bob Green, gets our thanks for coming up with this idea, and organising it. Saturday 4 July Racing Posts are delivered and breakfast is served up to 10 o'clock. But as usual most of the guests aim to finish breakfast in time to watch The Morning Line racing program on TV. Bowood Leisure's Top Tipster's competition, in which all the guests inevitably participate, gets much attention ......... for who can resist the opportunity to win a bottle of champagne for free! Entries are submitted before our coach departs for the race course.
As usual the first half-hour after arrival sees most of our party earnestly studying placepot form, looking for that big payout for little investment. Decisions are made, and as the first race approaches, the aficionados amongst us go down to the paddock for a closer inspection of the runners. The opening race goes to the well-supported favourite, Robert Sangster's newcomer Pagoda Tree, giving trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam the first leg of an afternoon double. The second leg was in our 4th race, where Kiss Me Goodnight had a comfortable win at 13/2, much to the delight of several "Top Tipster" entrants. The main race on the card, the Rothmans Royal Handicap, resulted in a victory for Fionn de Cool, ending trainer Reg Akehurst's recent lean period. From the comments (or lack of!) in our Box, the bookies surely enjoyed this one. Pixielated took the second race, justifying the long trip from Newmarket, while the final two races - both for maidens - gave the form buffs plenty to ponder. However, "yours truly" successfully narrowed the last down to only two with a chance. As always, Denzil Davies, our friendly and reliable coach company, are there waiting for us outside the Grandstand entrance, and its back to the hotel to catch up on the World Cup and Wimbledon Tennis news.
After dinner, our resident personality - Bob again - introduced many of our guests to a horseracing card game, which generated much fun (and noise!) and produced about 25 for a charity for terminally-ill children, for which Bob does a lot of voluntary work. A much-enjoyed finish to the evening, seemed the unanimous view. Sunday 5 July Nobody ever seems to be in a rush to leave - except for one lucky couple with Wimbledon tickets for that afternoon.. Early morning swims or a leisurely read of the Sunday newspaper seem to be the favourite pastimes and the restaurant gets very busy for breakfast about 5 minutes before it is due to close! This is always a very relaxed time, as guests tend to sit around and chat and enjoy coffee - and make arrangements to come back again - before booking out from the hotel at around midday. As we pack up our reception desk we look back on yet another successful weekend trip.
If you would like more information about Bowood Leisure and their forthcoming trips, please just telephone or fax Tim Shelton on 01403 276274, or write to him at:-
46 Stanford Way, Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, W. Sussex, RH12 3LH Many readers of this article will not be United Kingdom residents. This is not a problem - why not perhaps take a racing weekend as a holiday within a holiday. Or if you wish to come specifically for an event (or events), Bowood Leisure will willingly make any necessary hotel arrangements to cover the period outside of the event. Knowing that the UK racing scene differs from that in many other countries (e.g. tote, bookmakers, etc.), at many of their weekend breaks, short sessions are held in your hotel to explain betting procedures, and hopefully to answer more general racing questions. They will also design and organize "tailor-made" horse-racing (and/or golf) breaks for individuals or groups, which can be designed to cover major race meetings of your choice or perhaps as a touring holiday taking in a wide variety of the British racecourses. |
There are companies in the UK that specialize in offering short racing breaks
for many of the major race meetings, and those not-so-important, in the United
Kingdom, Ireland and France. One such company is Bowood Leisure, based in the
South of England, whose usual itinerary for "a UK.racing weekend" includes two
night's dinner, bed and breakfast at conveniently situated 4* hotels ( usually
with indoor pool and other leisure facilities), coach transfer to the race
course and a private hospitality suite with a members enclosure badge.
After a most comfortable journey in reserved seats, we arrive at Gard du Nord
where our coach is waiting to take us on a short journey to our hotel in
Montmartre, the artists quarter of Paris. After a refreshing shower, a change
of clothes and an aperitif at the hotel, it is out into the evening air to find
that typical French bistro. (Because of the uniqueness of Paris,guests prefer
the opportunity to find their own particular favourite eating places from the
abundance of restaurants and bistros in and around Montmartre. Therefore, for
Paris trips, dinner is not included in the package.)
But life is never straightforward. The English "Racing Post" does not cover
the Saturday meeting at Chantilly, and many of our guests did not buy a copy of
the French-language "Paris-Turf". So betting was a lottery, based on looks,
hunches, whispers, pot-luck and only minimal help from a disappointing Saturday
racecard (more a race-sheet). Even our tour manager - with her fluency in
French, her enthusiasm for racing, and close communications with the on-course
gendarmerie - was unable to glean much useful information.
Chantilly for the Prix du Jockey Club is one of the social occasions of the
Paris year. And for the racing aficionado, two Group 1 races and a Group 3.
The 3rd race on the card put the English contingent in good heart, as Frankie
Dettori forced Almutawakel home.
A glass of champagne before we board the coach for the racecourse. Traffic is
as expected rather heavy, but nevertheless we arrive before noon, and in good
time for a champagne lunch and light buffet picnic. For readers unfamiliar with
this occasion, there are many car and coach parks attached to the racecourse,
and all of them are full of parties - many ladies only - enjoying their
champagne, picnic lunches and strawberries with cream. Ladies Day is truly one
of England's top social occasions.
Before racing begins, the Royal Procession of 3 horse-drawn carriages moves
gracefully down the course to the Royal Enclosure. Her Majesty the Queen and
Price Philip are in the leading carriage, with The Queen Mother and Princess
Anne - does she wish she was riding again rather than watching? - following.
Chepstow is a delightful racecourse set in the hills surrounding the Wye valley,
on the borders of England and Wales. Although probably regarded as not quite
in the top flight, the racecourse is home to a variety of quality races,
including the Welsh Grand National. And as with so many rural courses, the
atmosphere is wonderfully friendly and the scenery delightful.
Evening dinner provides the opportunity to renew acquaintances or make new
friends and to discuss tomorrow's racing. Our usual arrangement is for all of
us to sit together and with the size of our party we are given our own section
of the restaurant (very occasionally some guests prefer to eat separately - this
presents no problem).
On arrival at Chepstow we make our way to our private hospitality suite
overlooking the course where tea, coffee, race cards, and a pay bar, await our
guests.
Without doubt private suites are most popular with our clientele. Light
refreshments are always available, with sandwiches and cakes mid-afternoon , and
the room provides somewhere comfortable to study form and to leave coats,
binoculars, newspapers, etc. Gluttons for punishment can also watch the racing
from 3 other meetings on the TV screens in the Box.
Saturday evening at the hotel is when Bowood Leisure take the opportunity to
treat their clients to a complimentary apritif and before dinner, to present
our Top Tipster prize.
It's been a super day, and with a dead-heat for the competition, we manage to
find a second bottle of champagne. Well done to Anne and Charlie, each with 3
winners and 2 seconds. Croatia beating Germany seemed the icing on the cake
for many.
