On Boxing Day.....

[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.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

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.

I was expecting rain, so I will not let that bother my trip. Thanks for all your input, it is very much appreciated!

[scanman]

As a racecourse, you will probably enjoy Chepstow more than Kempton, as it in the country and more scenic. The enclosure and paddock are very nice; and the racing should be very good.

Since you will be in Wales for 8 days, you may want to try and check out the other Welsh racecourse, Bangor. They race on Saturday, 12/29. The level of racing will not be as high, but Bangor would still be an enjoyable day out. The one draw back about Bangor is they do not have an enclosure. There is a rather large hill that overlooks the racecourse that serves as a natrual grandstand.