July 2004

A Summer's Delight

Newmarket's July Meeting and the July Cup
by Sue Wingate

It is the height of an English summer - Royal Ascot results are already in the history books and Glorious Goodwood still awaits us but summer racegoers don't have to wait until the end of July to enjoy a feast of top class racing combined with all the pleasures of the season... in fact for many it is the 3 days of Newmarket's July Meeting that best typify the delights of summer on a racecourse.

The 'July' course at Newmarket (named for this big meeting although there are many others throughout the summer months including the heavily supported Friday evenings) is one of the few truly delightful racecourses left in Britain. So many have succumbed to the demands (by whom exactly?) for 'modernisation' losing all their charm and soul in the quest for yet more bars and Tote windows and, above all, hospitality suites, that a visit to the July Course provides an exceptional experience these days - does the racegoer suffer as a result? Not a bit of it... the July Course copes brilliantly with racegoers' demands - placing a bet couldn't be quicker and a sea of marquees opposite the Grandstand (much more appropriate for the summer than glass and concrete) provide accommodation for corporate hospitality. And as for bars, once again despite the crowds, drinks are remarkably easy to come by. It would be nice to think that all might stay this way for a while and that the Racecourse executives are not tempted to change those aspects of the course which make it such a joy to visit.

The shady pre perade ring.

Stands of mature beech trees line the path to the course and continue to provide blissful shade for both horses and humans in the heat of a July day in the pre-parade ring. Throngs of people make the most of the opportunity to see the runners at close quarters in the dappled shade before placing their bets. The parade ring itself is always beautifully planted with flowers at their peak and is so conveniently located alongside the course and the Members' Grandstand that it is easy to see everything without having to trek for miles! The saddling boxes and washing down areas at one end of the parade ring also attract the crowds, especially before a big race, since Newmarket's racegoers tend to be knowledgeable where racehorses are concerned - and even those who aren't like to take a look. Quite uniquely these saddling boxes are topped with decorated thatch, a theme which is repeated in the charming winners' enclosure which is also a riot of hanging baskets. For the meeting's showcase race, the July Cup however, the parade ring is called upon to serve as a winner's enclosure in order to accommodate a larger crowd.

Considering the vagaries of the English climate it is remarkable that year after year the July meeting seems to enjoy hot sunny weather, providing the ideal occasion for pre-race picnics. Refreshing drinks of Pimms and Bucks Fizz seem to have been invented with such occasions in mind and can be combined with fresh seafood to provide an ideal light lunch in the tree shaded areas behind the grandstand. The latter is quite basic, but none the worse for it - quite simply, the higher you climb, the better the view! Probably to the consternation of overseas visitors, much of the racing takes place on a long straight course way in the distance. The course is not flat but undulating with the final 2 furlongs rising to the finish line. Races of more than a mile start completely out of sight around the only bend on the course, in fact the 'distance' races start in another county! All of which simply adds to the anticipation during the time lapse between the start and the runners appearing as dots on the horizon. A large screen opposite the grandstand greatly assists in following all the races before the horses enter the final few furlongs and before they meet the inevitable roar from the crowd.

This article has been sponsored by:

Bowood Leisure Ltd - Racing Breaks Our Speciality

© Sue Wingate - The Joy of Horses 2004