On Boxing Day.....

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

On a happier note, It will be a great day's racing at Kempton on Boxing Day. Wish I could make it down there.

I'm sure many people will be reliving the 'Dessie' days. He has a lovely statue there, and a pub just down the road named after him.

I will be at Kempton on Boxing Day. Very much looking to see Kauto Star run.

Exotic Dancer got close to him last time, but from what I have read, he doesn't like running at Kempton.

I am just excited to go as it will be my first racing experience overseas.

[scanman]

Originally Posted by ARyan

I am just excited to go as it will be my first racing experience overseas.

I hope you have a great experience at Kempton. Racing in Europe, in particular, Britian and Ireland is miles better than here in the States. Diversity in racing (jumps or flat), diversity in betting (tote or bookies), diversity in racecourses (every manner of configuration; uphill and downhill).

During my visit to Kempton (Oct 85), I had the chance to see the great Desert Orchid. Unfortunately, he broke my heart (and my wallet) by falling at the second last, while in front by at least 20 lengths. Still, it was a great thrill to have an opportunity to see this exceptional horse race.

I hope you have the chance to post letting us know how your day went.

Best of luck.

[NoChanceToDance]

Yes, best of luck, ARyan.

I'm sure you'll have a really enjoyable day at Kempton. Make sure you go and see Dessie's statue near the paddock.

Maybe you can also get a closer look at the polytrack surface there, and see if the substance seems to any different from the problem polytrack surfaces in the States.

You will be treated by a fine day of racing, that is for sure. I'd prefer to see more horses in the King George, but it is a very select field this year. Although Kauto will be VERY difficult to beat, all the others (apart from Hi Cloy) would have some sort of chance.

The Feltham Novices chase is also a great race, always so competitive.

I gather you're in England now? If so, go out to the nearest store and but today's Racing Post newspaper. It will have all the runners and form etc for all the meets on Boxing Day.

Good luck.

If you need anymore info on the track or the betting options, don;t be afraid to ask, and I'm sure me Brock and Saratogabrit can give you all of the information you need.

Have a great time.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Yes, best of luck, ARyan.

I'm sure you'll have a really enjoyable day at Kempton. Make sure you go and see Dessie's statue near the paddock.

Maybe you can also get a closer look at the polytrack surface there, and see if the substance seems to any different from the problem polytrack surfaces in the States.

You will be treated by a fine day of racing, that is for sure. I'd prefer to see more horses in the King George, but it is a very select field this year. Although Kauto will be VERY difficult to beat, all the others (apart from Hi Cloy) would have some sort of chance.

The Feltham Novices chase is also a great race, always so competitive.

I gather you're in England now? If so, go out to the nearest store and but today's Racing Post newspaper. It will have all the runners and form etc for all the meets on Boxing Day.

Good luck.

If you need anymore info on the track or the betting options, don;t be afraid to ask, and I'm sure me Brock and Saratogabrit can give you all of the information you need.

Have a great time.

My wife and I actually leave for London tomorrow evening, and land at 8am on Boxing Day at Gatwick. We get the rental and head right to Kempton. I got the runners and form off the Racing Post website, but at the track will there be a hard copy I can get my hands on?

Also, any info you can post here or PM me would be greatly appreciated. I am not really all that aware of the betting options and what not. I have been told it is different, but I was hoping to pick it up when I got to the track. Any info you all can give before I leave would be much appreciated.

Thanks all, and I will post some pictures of the event when I get back for you all to see.

[NoChanceToDance]

I hope all the flights are sorted by then. Not to worry you but they have had dense fog in London over the past 48hrs, and although it has cleared now, almost all flights arriving into and leaving both Heathrow and Gatwick have been delayed as there is a back log.

I'm sure it will be back to normal of boxing day, though.

Yes, there will be plenty of copies at the track for you to purchase (£1.60, I think)

There are two betting opportunities over here. You can bet into the pools (The Tote) which is rather like how you bet in America. Go up to the windows and select your bets and the number of the horse(s) you wish to be placing money on. win, place and each way as well as exactas, trifectas etc etc There could also be what is known as a 'scoop six' which involves picking the six winners from six specified races from around the country (usually the most difficult races are used!)

Then there are the rails 'bookies', which can be found between the main grandstands and the track itself. There will be dozens of them there. They will be accepting any win only or each way bets. These bets are fixed odds, so whatever time you place you bet you will be given the odds that are written on the board at that given time. That means you could get a very good price, or a very bad one, so it's good to 'shop around' and get the best available. The majority of these bookies will accept a minimum of a £2 bet, but some are £5 or £10 minimum.

Hope this helps.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

I hope all the flights are sorted by then. Not to worry you but they have had dense fog in London over the past 48hrs, and although it has cleared now, almost all flights arriving into and leaving both Heathrow and Gatwick have been delayed as there is a back log.

I'm sure it will be back to normal of boxing day, though.

Yes, there will be plenty of copies at the track for you to purchase (£1.60, I think)

There are two betting opportunities over here. You can bet into the pools (The Tote) which is rather like how you bet in America. Go up to the windows and select your bets and the number of the horse(s) you wish to be placing money on. win, place and each way as well as exactas, trifectas etc etc There could also be what is known as a 'scoop six' which involves picking the six winners from six specified races from around the country (usually the most difficult races are used!)

Then there are the rails 'bookies', which can be found between the main grandstands and the track itself. There will be dozens of them there. They will be accepting any win only or each way bets. These bets are fixed odds, so whatever time you place you bet you will be given the odds that are written on the board at that given time. That means you could get a very good price, or a very bad one, so it's good to 'shop around' and get the best available. The majority of these bookies will accept a minimum of a £2 bet, but some are £5 or £10 minimum.

Hope this helps.

That helps a lot! Thank you!

I hope the flights go as planned as well. We land early enough that even with a slight delay we should be able to get to Kempton in plenty of time.

Also, perhaps someone can let me know if we were able to get decent seats;

We have 2 Premier badges, 2 reserved seats and 1 car park label for the Main Car Park. We were told this was the best we could buy, when we put in a reservation in early fall.

I am sure we will have a great time, and we are very much looking forward to it. Thanks again.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by ARyan

That helps a lot! Thank you!

I hope the flights go as planned as well. We land early enough that even with a slight delay we should be able to get to Kempton in plenty of time.

Also, perhaps someone can let me know if we were able to get decent seats;

We have 2 Premier badges, 2 reserved seats and 1 car park label for the Main Car Park. We were told this was the best we could buy, when we put in a reservation in early fall.

I am sure we will have a great time, and we are very much looking forward to it. Thanks again.

Racing here is quite different. Most racegoers don't usually bother with seats, but the seats we do have up to be reserved are often worth the reservation. I can't say I've ever sat in the seating area, but I would imagine they would be pretty good.

The premier enclosure is the best enclosure there is, so you will be in good company.

The main car park is close to the main entrance and is now much better than it used to be.

The weather should be much milder than usual. We're expecting around 10-11 degrees C, with showers.

You say you'll be at Chepstow the following day. I've never been there, but what I can say is that it usually rains there, I'm sorry to say.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by ARyan

I will be at Kempton on Boxing Day. Very much looking to see Kauto Star run.

Exotic Dancer got close to him last time, but from what I have read, he doesn't like running at Kempton.

I am just excited to go as it will be my first racing experience overseas.

Oh, and it isn't quite as much as he doesn't like racing at Kempton, it's more that the track doesn't really suit his style of racing.

Kempton is a very flat track (which you will see when you get there) and for a National Hunt track, the turns are quite tight. The King George is over 3miles, and we say that Kempton is a very 'easy' 3miles. So if you have a horse with stamina limitations, the easiest place to run over 3miles is Kempton. Exotic Dancer has a huge amount of stamina and would prefer further than 3miles, so Kempton doesn't really suit him as much as some of the 'speedier' types, like Kauto Star, Racing Demon and My Way De Solzen.

Will you get to attend anymore race meetings while you are here?

[brockguy]

I dont think Ill ever get to Kempton on St. Stephen's Day . Ill be at Leopardstown on Wed which has a decent enough card but everyones eyes are usually on Kempton. id fancy exotic dancer alot more if jonjos horses were in form.. and with 7 runners its hard to get an each way hore.. I could be tempted by My Way if he drifts a bit.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Oh, and it isn't quite as much as he doesn't like racing at Kempton, it's more that the track doesn't really suit his style of racing.

Kempton is a very flat track (which you will see when you get there) and for a National Hunt track, the turns are quite tight. The King George is over 3miles, and we say that Kempton is a very 'easy' 3miles. So if you have a horse with stamina limitations, the easiest place to run over 3miles is Kempton. Exotic Dancer has a huge amount of stamina and would prefer further than 3miles, so Kempton doesn't really suit him as much as some of the 'speedier' types, like Kauto Star, Racing Demon and My Way De Solzen.

Will you get to attend anymore race meetings while you are here?

I am going to the Welsh National the next day. Spending most of my 8 days in Wales, but wanted to make sure I went to the King George.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by ARyan

I will be at Kempton on Boxing Day. Very much looking to see Kauto Star run.

Exotic Dancer got close to him last time, but from what I have read, he doesn't like running at Kempton.

I am just excited to go as it will be my first racing experience overseas.

Have a great time and Merry Christmas to you.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Have a great time and Merry Christmas to you.

Thank you very much, or as they say in Wales, Diolch yn fawr iawn!

You have a Merry Christmas as well!