The Bottom Line
Pros
- An entertaining tour of 27 Irish racecourses
- Striking photography gives the reader a sense of being there
- Irish racecourses have much more variety than American racetracks
- National Hunt racing is covered in detail since forms the majority of Irish racing
Cons
- One wishes we could see such variety on this side of the pond
Description
- The courses range from 280 acres of Greenmount Park to just 56 acres at Sligo.
- Upper-class racing is at Leopardstown and the Curragh, but there are many lower class courses.
- These courses are no less spectacular and they dot the countryside, bringing racing to more people.
- Countryfolk fully support their local race meeting, bringing family and friends to enjoy together.
- National Hunt racing is more prevalant than flat racing in Ireland, with jump meetings all year
- Although it is in England, the Cheltenham Festival is also included in the book.
- Every March, 10,000 Irish cross the sea to cheer on their homebreds in this prestigious meeting.
- The Cheltenham Festival is to National Hunt racing what the Breeders' Cup is to American flat racing
Guide Review - Review - Horses for Courses: An Irish Racing Year
In her introduction, Holland writes, "Ireland can truly boast variety, and this sets them apart from countries around the world where the tracks are boring, the type and format being the same throughout right down to all going in the same direction." She may not have said it outright, but clearly she was criticizing the American racetrack environment. She follows the calendar, featuring each course during the month when its most important meet is held. The variety is truly amazing, from permanent, high-class facilities such as the Curragh down to the other extreme, the temporary course at Laytown, set up over a beach during low tide with the horses sprinting over the flat wet sand.Each course is given thorough coverage. Holland talks about the course's history, including which equine and human stars have graced its turf. She gives detailed descriptions of the course layout, which may consist of such features as uphill and downhill stretches, banked curves, and of course, jumps of varying height and difficulty. Her photography is excellent, capturing the essence of each course through shots of steeplechasers soaring over the jumps, horses breaking out of the starting gate, famous owners and trainers in the paddock, and punters crowding the bookmaker stands.
Upon reading this book, racing fans who have only experienced American-style racing will want to fly across the pond to Ireland to experience the stunning variety of these courses first-hand.
