The Bottom Line
Although horse racing is generally the same everywhere, horses run around a track trying to finish first, the facilities where they compete vary widely. Each has its peculiarities, including the design of the building, the layout of the racing surfaces, the quality of the races conducted, and the type of people who populate its stands. British racing writer Stephen Cartmell personally visited each of Britain's 59 racecourses and came up with this very entertaining version of a travel book.
Pros
- Each of the 59 racecourses in Great Britain are covered in detail
- Not just a travel guide; Cartmell's first hand experiences go beyond the basics
- An interesting look not just at British racing but at British culture as well
Cons
- Fans of American-style racing may not agree with some of Cartmell's comments
Description
- Each racecourse gets its own chapter.
- Typical tourist info is given: location, race dates, admission prices
- Cartmell then goes into other details he experienced during his visit: bad traffic, lineups, etc.
- He includes comments from impromptu interviews with fellow race fans as well as racecourse employees
- Cartmell skillfully compliments and insults British racecourses and society in the same breath
Guide Review - From Aintree to York: Racing Around Britain
Unlike in America, British racecourses are not all left-handed ovals. But the differences between American and British racing go well beyond dirt versus turf, and the differences between courses go well beyond figure-eights versus straightaways. Racing writer Stephen Cartmell spent 2 years visiting each of the racecourses in Britain to compile all sorts of trivial, anecdotal facts about them all. He finds a way to poke fun at each of the courses, criticizing the heavy traffic on the way in or out, the poor quality of the races (he saves his most scathing remarks for all-weather tracks), the food, and the behavior of the racing fans who frequent the course in question (ranging from snobby to boorish). Chatting up racecourse workers and local fans gave him more ammunition for his write-ups.Like in America, racecourses in England are a microcosm of society, as people from all walks of life all enjoy a day at the races. This book is not only a useful read about racing in Britain, but also an entertaining study of British society and culture in general. Strongly recommended to anyone who already visits British racecourses, or American racing fans contemplating a trip across the pond.
