| Adventuring to UK Racetracks | |
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by Tom Sporney, About Home Repair Guide
Dateline: 08/28/01
A recent holiday to the United Kingdom afforded me the opportunity to take in some British racing. I stayed in the Yorkshire area, home to nine of England's fifty-nine race fixtures.
Racing in the UK is unique in that meets are scheduled as 1-3 day events at various times throughout the course of the year. So, at the time of my visit, June 28th through July 7th, Doncaster was scheduled Saturday evening & Sunday 30June & 1July, Pontefract on Monday 2July, Catterick on 4-5July, and Beverly Friday evening & Saturday 6-7July.
Of course, the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain has affected veterinary precautions undertaken at the tracks.
Doncaster is home to the world's oldest stakes race. Admission to the evening event of 6 races was £12/person.
The old grandstand remains unused as part of the course enclosure (family area) while a newer Tattersalls (grandstand) and members enclosure serve the current attendance. The track is a left-handed pear shape just under two miles, with the only tight bend coming after the winning post the only other undulation is a small rise and fall ten furlongs out.
For one accustomed to betting stateside, it took a bit to get used to the English system of written betting slips at the windows and bookmakers of the local betting houses taking bets on the apron. 
Rest assured, though, it quickly became easy to leave my dosh at the English windows also.
There were six races for the event, and the first one this evening was a 7f maiden fillies stakes race. There were recognizable silks of The Thoroughbred Corporation and Maktoum Al Maktoum, and sires Singspiel and Zafonic. Frankie Dettori romped home on the favorite Zaeema.
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Photos ©2001 by Tom Sporney, licensed to About.
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