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What to wear
Do not be put off by images
of top hats and exotic headgear at Royal Ascot these days morning dress
is required only in the Royal Enclosure at that meeting
and in the Queen's Stand at Epsom on Derby Day.
But at many courses there is a dress code for the Members'
Enclosure which, for example, may require a man to wear a
jacket and tie. Indeed, for some people dressing up is all part
of the fun of going racing. If in doubt, do not hesitate to
telephone the course for guidance.
The key to dressing for the
races is not so much style as comfort: there's no point in looking
terribly fashionable if you're freezing cold as the sun goes down. To
enjoy a day's racing to the full may require a good deal of walking
around, so give particular
What to take
You will probably want to
take with you a newspaper for a list of the runners and expert guidance
(the trade paper is the Racing Post) and enough money to get you through the day! A few
courses have banks which will cash you a cheque, and you can purchase
Tote betting vouchers at any course by cheque or credit card.
If you take a camera you
must disarm the flash, as flash photography can upset the horses (which
will in turn upset many of your fellow racegoers). You will not normally
be allowed to take food and drink (including alcohol) into the
enclosures (unless picnicking in a Course Enclosure),but you will find a wide selection on sale inside.
Which Enclosure
Most racecourses are
divided into several enclosures and you can pay for admission on the
day.
Top of the range is
Members or Club Enclosure ,for the use of annual members
of that course (like season ticket holders at a football ground) but
usually available to non-members for a daily charge. The cost varies
depending on the course and
the nature of the occasion - the average is around
�12 to �15, but perhaps double that on the day of
a very big race. For big meetings you can often book
in advance (and for some it is essential to do so).
The Members Enclosure -
admittance to which is by a small cardboard badge which you should
keep displayed - has the best viewing and the best facilities, and
your badge allows you to take advantage of all the facilities in the
next enclosure down,
usually called Tattersalls or Grandstand and Paddock
(popularly known as 'Tatts'). Here, for an entrance charge in the
region of �8 to �10 (higher at
major meetings), you will
have access to the parade ring and winner's enclosure (where the
horses can be seen at close quarters) as well as a good view of the
track and extensive eating, drinking and betting facilities. The
presence of the bookies gives Tatts - usually the largest enclosure
on the course - its characteristic hubbub and atmosphere. On the
rail which divides Tatts from Members are to be found the 'rails
bookmakers', who bet - mostly on credit - with some of the heavy hitters among the punting
fraternity.
The Silver Ring
or Course Enclosure is the cheapest (around �3 to �5), at
most courses without access to the parade ring and winner's
enclosure, but with betting and catering facilities. Cars are
allowed in the Course Enclosure at some racecourses and picnicking
is a very popular pastime.
The exact nature of the
enclosures may differ from course to course and from meeting to
meeting - for instance, some courses merge enclosures on particular
days - but again: if you need guidance telephone in advance.
Children
Children up to the age of sixteen are admitted free to all
racecourses if accompanied by an adult. In general, facilities
for small children have improved immensely over the last few years,
with a creche available on some courses and entertainments, such as
bouncy castles, much in evidence on many Saturday, Sunday and Bank
Holiday meetings.
Many courses offer
concessions to senior citizens and students.
Understanding your racecard
Your basic tool for a
successful and informed day at the races is the racecard, your
programme for the day, available around the racecourse for a small
charge.
The amount of
information in the racecard varies from course to course, but
wherever you are racing you will find it an invaluable aid to your
day. All racecards will have a key to the layout of the information
provided, as well as a short summary of each horse, and an estimate
of it's chances in a race.
Of course, a large part of the fun is in making up your own mind,
but the racecard summary will provide basic information to
supplement any impressions you have gained of the horses in the
Parade ring, and going down to the start.
At the head of each
race listed in the racecard will be details for that event,
including the prize money on offer, and it may be helpful to know
the different categories of race:
Race Categories
In a Conditions Race
(or Weight-for-Age) the horses carry specified weights
according to such factors as age, sex, whether they have won before
or the nature of the races they have won.
A Handicap is a
contest in which the weight each horse is to carry is individually
allotted (by the official handicapper) according to past
performance, the theoretical object being to equalise the chances of
all horses in the race. A Nursery is a handicap for
two-year-olds. A Rated Stakes on the flat or a Limited
Handicap in jump racing is one in which the range of weights is
kept narrow: this encourages the participation of high-class horses,
who will not have to make large concessions to other runners.
Directly after a
Selling Race the winner is offered at public auction - a highly
interesting and often entertaining sight.
Other types of race -
such as Claiming Race, Auction Race or Median
Auction Race - will often be explained in the individual race
conditions printed in the card.
Over the jumps there
are further variations, including:
Novices Race
(hurdle or steeplechase), for horses which have not won a hurdle or
chase respectively before the start of the previous season;
National Hunt Flat
Race (known as a 'bumper'), in which prospective
jumping horses race without the inconvenience of having to clear
obstacles;
Hunter Chase for
horses which have been regulary hunted.
The TOTE
The Tote, identified
by the red and black Tote Symbol, can be found
in all enclosures. The system operates by pooling all
bets placed on a particular race and sharing
out the proceeds amongst the winners. Leading
up to the race an approximation of the current odds
will be shown on the Tote screens by the betting
windows. However, the size of the payout
will depend upon the amount of money bet.
To place your bet at the Tote, state the amount of your stake,
the type of bet and the number of the horse you wish to back,
for example, �5 to win on number 5.
Bookmakers
Bookmakers can be
found in the Grandstand & Paddock
and Family Enclosures. Each bookmaker will
advertise the minimum stake he will accept and
the odds offered on each horse.
To place a bet with a bookmaker state the
amount of your stake, the type of bet,
and the name of the horse, for example, �5 each way on �Best Mate�.
Racecourse betting shops
Racecourse
betting shops are similar to any high street
betting shop, in that you can enjoy a variety of
different bets, in smaller amounts than with a
bookmaker and at any meeting being held on
that day.
To place a bet you will need to complete a
betting slip with the appropriate details.
The parade ring and
going down
There is ample time, both
in the pre-parade ring and in the parade ring itself, to indulge in
'paddock inspection' of each runner. Beyond general admiration for the
magnificent sight of a well turned out thoroughbred,
what should you look for? With horses, as with humans,
beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and fitness in a
horse is easy to spot (as with humans,
a fat tummy indicates lack of condition).
But generally the encouraging signs in a horse before
the race are a coat with a good sheen to it, an intelligent
and alert countenance, high head carriage with big ears pointing
slightly inwards, a well-muscled body and a springy step.
A horse which is well muscled may be said to 'carry plenty of
condition', whereas one with a lean and ribby look will have 'run up
light'.
Be cautious of a horse sweating up but not necessarily dismissive, as
some horses run better when they are on edge. Sweating around the eyes
and ears is not a good sign. Beware colts and horses, especially
two-year-olds, who make obvious displays of their gender - their mind
and energies may be focused elsewhere.
Consider how the horse
walks
An easy, loose stride is
ideal, and a little jig jogging suggests that he is on good terms with
himself, whereas the horse that will not be led round calmly is getting
agitated and wasting valuable nervous energy.
Take account of the equipment the horse is wearing.
Blinkers - a hood fitted over the horse's head to prevent
backward vision, focuses his concentration on what is going on ahead,
and can transform the performance of a horse with a short attention
span.
A visor- is similar to blinkers, but has a slit in each
eye-shield to allow some lateral vision. It is commonly thought that the
fitting of blinkers or a visor suggests an ungenuine horse, but this is
not necessarily the case, so do not be put off if all the other factors
appear to be in his favour.
Try to watch each horse cantering down to the start, and have a good
look at his action. If he strides out well, in an easy, flowing motion,
he is comfortable on the ground, whereas if he moves to post scratchily
he is not happy with the surface and is likely to be even more unhappy
at galloping speed.
But the most beautiful and sweetly moving horse in the world is not much
of a betting proposition if he cannot run fast enough, so at some point
you need to get to grips with the basics of that mass of information
which, once interpreted correctly, should yield the winner - form.
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