Category: Racecourses

Located in Newbridge, County Kildare, Curragh Racecourse takes centre stage in Irish racing. It hosts all five of the Classic Irish group one racing events, from the Irish Derby (which first took place in 1866) and Irish Oaks, to the 1000 and 2000 Irish Guineas, and of course the Irish St.Leger, run over 1m 6f.

Curragh racecourse, aka ‘The Curragh’ is a right handed horsehsoes shaped course of around 2 miles in length. A straight course hosts races up to the mile long mark. The course is nestled in County Kildare’s 4,870-acre Curragh Plains, the most extensive natural grassland in Europe. Some historians claim  that the site may have hosted chariot racing  as early as the third century.

The racecourse is Ireland’s premier flat racing venue hosting the vast majority of Irish group one races held each year. Of course with big races comes big purses and consequently significant financial rewards are also on offer at Curragh. This helps it draw in the cream of crop of the racing world, in terms of horses, jockeys, trainer and owners. It’s known as the course ‘Where Champions are Made’ for good reason. It’s at the heart of Irish horse racing, and is Ireland’s answer to Newmarket.

The Curragh racecourse is steeped in history, with records going back to 1727 highlighting racing that took place there. It’s both a popular and accessible place for visitors to Ireland and also racing fans to go to with numerous amenities on site such as restaurants and facilities for children. An extensive redevelopment costing $73 million is currently taking place to ensure that these facilities match that of the world class racing. These improvements include a brand new Grandstand as the centrepiece, and new bars and restaurants too.

Buses reguarly go to the racecourse offering straightforward travel options and the course hosts 19 race meetings each year from May to September including such occasions as the Longines Irish Champions Weekend . This event is held on the third weekend of September each year and draws in both serious racing fans and casual punters alike for an entertaining weekend of thrilling, high class racing action.

Fuchu City is home to the Tokyo Racecourse, which was established in 1933. The racecourse is owned by the Japan Racing Association and has a seating capacity of 13,750, although it can hold up to 223,000 people. The highest attendance on record was in 1990, where 196,517 people attended on May 27th.

The grass course runs 2083m while the dirt course measures 1899m. There is a jump course that goes 1675m. There was also a track that was used for the 3200m races but is no longer in use since the race distance was reduced to 2000m.

The Tokyo racecourse hosts quite a number of major races; the Japan Cup, the Tenno Sho, the February Stakes, the Tokyo Yushun, the Victoria Mile, the Yasuda Kinen, the NHK Mile Cup and the Yushun Himba. These are all Grade 1 races, apart from the Yasuda Kinen, which is included in the Asian Mile Challenge. The Tokyo Yushun and Japan Cup are also part of the Japanese Derby. There are also Grade II, Grade III and Steeplechase races ran on the course.

Renovation works that took seven years to complete not only saw the addition of the ’emorial 60’ box seat and the upgrading of the ‘Fuji View Stand’ in 2007 but it also added a major item; an 8,066 square foot screen, the largest in the world at the time. Kansas City has since outdone it though, with an 8,736 square foot screen at Kauffman Stadium.

The Tokyo Racecourse is not an easy run, what with its wide curves and long sides. It is a demanding course, which is probably why it is unofficially known as the racecourse of racecourses.’

A day at the racecourse is not just about horses and betting. There are a number of activities on offer. There is lots of food and beer and the children even have an area where they can play and have fun. It is a family affair at the races.

In the Canaccord Genuity Gordon Carter Handicap (4.10) on Friday, What A Welcome has officially improved by 32lb since breaking his duck at Lingfield last November and has won seven of his last eight starts in doing so. The son of Nathaniel has his stamina to prove, having yet to win beyond 1 mile 5½ furlongs, but his latest effort, over 1 mile 4 furlongs on this course four weeks ago, was his best yet and he warrants maximum respect off a handicap mark just 4lb higher here. On the downside, the second, fourth and fifth on that occasion have all been soundly beaten since and the form of Patrick Chamings’ yard is a slight worry.

Nevertheless, What A Welcome has done very little wrong in his short, but prolific, career and, having won four times on the prevailing good going, should have underfoot conditions in his favour once again. Of course, an extra 2½ furlongs on a course on which races are against the collar for the last half mile or so will expose any stamina limitations but, in the absence of any conclusive evidence one way or the other, he remains a progressive, young horse whose best days are almost certainly ahead of him. It looks like a good opportunity to us and may well be worth a bet at  www.novibet.co.uk  .  At 5/1 it represents good price to chance and where that factor is present, it’s important not to end up regretting betting opportunities slipping through your fingers!

 

Selection: Ascot 4.10 What A Welcome to win 5/1