As a child I would take infrequent trips to various local racecourses with my family. This usually occurred around Christmas time or an annual works trip for either parent in the summer. A £1 e/w bet on the National was a given but that was the extent of my interest in Racing. However as I got older my interest grew. This however was probably more to do with the glamour than the actual sport.(trips to various ladies days in Ascot, York, Newcastle etc)
After meeting my partner (a racing obsessed Irishman) the choice was get interested or have a very uncommunicative relationship. So I got involved. Getting up and watching the Morning Line, reading The Racing Post etc. Not too exciting but at least we had something to talk about over breakfast.
On a trip back to Northern Ireland to visit his family we crossed the border to attend Leopardstown Champion Stakes. The buzz from Irish racing was amazing, much more than I had experienced in England.
It was at this point I realised why people enjoy the races so much. It was even more exciting as this time I new some of the horses and some of the jockeys and could understand most of what the other half was talking about.
On return to Blighty I started looking more at the various runners and riders and started concentrating on trying to get the Scoop6. This has so far proved unsuccessful.
Something which has proven successful is the task of finding cheaply priced accommodation for the Cheltenham Festival. It took cutting out tokens and a lot of internet searching of various campsites but I have done it. For the entire festival I will be residing in a wooden wigwam in the middle of March that doesn't even boast its own toilet or shower. But I'm going and that's all that matters.
When the other half said "jump racing gets under your skin and will convert you from a flat ladies day lover" he was right. The excitement of being part of the Cheltenham Roar is growing and its only January.
After meeting my partner (a racing obsessed Irishman) the choice was get interested or have a very uncommunicative relationship. So I got involved. Getting up and watching the Morning Line, reading The Racing Post etc. Not too exciting but at least we had something to talk about over breakfast.
On a trip back to Northern Ireland to visit his family we crossed the border to attend Leopardstown Champion Stakes. The buzz from Irish racing was amazing, much more than I had experienced in England.
It was at this point I realised why people enjoy the races so much. It was even more exciting as this time I new some of the horses and some of the jockeys and could understand most of what the other half was talking about.
On return to Blighty I started looking more at the various runners and riders and started concentrating on trying to get the Scoop6. This has so far proved unsuccessful.
Something which has proven successful is the task of finding cheaply priced accommodation for the Cheltenham Festival. It took cutting out tokens and a lot of internet searching of various campsites but I have done it. For the entire festival I will be residing in a wooden wigwam in the middle of March that doesn't even boast its own toilet or shower. But I'm going and that's all that matters.
When the other half said "jump racing gets under your skin and will convert you from a flat ladies day lover" he was right. The excitement of being part of the Cheltenham Roar is growing and its only January.
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