Ascot & Frankel via Wolverhampton & Bath...

I've been to a three days long trip to the UK with a friend last week - main purpose was horse racing of course. We made it to Wolverhampton on Friday, Ascot on Saturday and Bath on Sunday. Quite a full program I'd say and indeed it was exhausting and expensive - but well worth every penny!

Wolverhampton on Friday was the first stop. A lovely track I really have to say. You don't really get a right impression of the track on TV where it looks usually a rather dreary and far from exciting place. Quite the opposite is the truth though I think. It wasn't overcrowded on this Friday and it surely is a small course but with excellent facilities. Everything is close to you... parade ring, betting facilities, actual racetrack, bar... Btw. they have a lovely bar with wonderful couches to relax and from where you can get a look through an extra large glass window-wall to see the jockeys weighing in while you're nipping on your pint. Brilliant stuff! Racing under floodlights is extra special as well - for me at least and it's been overall a wonderful, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. So I really have to say Wolverhampton was a pleasant surprise. Never thought this track could be that lovely. If I compare it with the other two All-Weather tracks which I've seen so far - Lingfield and Kempton - I'd say Wolverhampton is just a class above them.

It was all about Ascot and Frankel on Saturday of course. Made it from Birmingham on a direct way to the track. Even three hours before the first race the place was already quite crowded. But that was nothing compared to what was still to come indeed. Time was really flying anyway, the first races went on and a real buzz was in the air. The excitement about Frankel was palpable all over the place and everything that happened before the fifth race was just the prologue actually. I made it after the third race already in the the parade ring and never left my place there down at the rails till the big showdown. The ring was packed before the fourth race anyway but nobody left it to watch the actual race, everyone remained there to keep their good position to be able to watch Frankel as close as possible when he finally would walk into the parade ring. Excelebration won really well then and that all was nice, he deserved his lap of honour of course but - without disrespect - no one really cared as the moment of truth drew closer. And then Frankel finally appeared in the parade ring welcomed by a hurricane of applause. He looked calm and relaxed I thought, really well and happy with himself. 

When Frankel left the parade ring the big run started. Not Frankel's run - not yet at least - but the run of the people towards the grand stand. Never experienced something like that before. It was a bit chaotic even more as the grand stand was practically full and it wasn't possible to get in there so I had to choose the outside route and "climbed" a little tree (or something like that) just beside the main stand as many other people did too to see at least something. To be honest it felt like the best place in the whole house. I had an amazing overview over the stand, the people and the track. But then... everything happened so quickly. The race started and suddenly the field already turned for home. When the people saw that Frankel was still on the bridle 2f out the roar from the crowd was just unbelievable. It was the explosion of what accrued the whole day... it was really one of these moments... "I was there". Probably I'll never forget standing there up on this three watching Frankel winning his final race while Ascot erupted. After the race it was again all about running to get a good place in the parade ring to welcome back the invincible. That were unbelievable scenes. I saw many people with tears in their eyes... it all was really touching and Frankel received a wonderful farewell when he finally made two laps of honour later in the parade ring under the frenetic applause by the crowd. He looked in the crowd all the time time during the laps, ears pricked and it was like as if he knew he's the star, he's the best... he certainly enjoyed it. What a horse he is...

Overall it was just an amazing experience at Ascot on Saturday. The atmosphere was incredible, the races were mostly really thrilling and £26 for the ticket was a real bargain as the memories of this day are just invaluable. Have to say I didn't have a single bet that day though. It was all about the sport and the atmosphere for me...

Third and last stop was Bath. The normal grandstand enclosure ticket was expensive with £18 I have to say and I found it a bit weird that there where long queues before the entrance of the track just 10 minutes before the off of the first race. But enough criticized. The track itself is wonderful. A big crowd turned up for the last raceday of the year and the atmosphere was wonderful. People had fun, were enjoying a couple of pints while watching good sport. Have to say the view from the stand is excellent. You can overview the whole track, it's pretty close all, almost intimidate. Weather was fine too so this was an excellent finish of the three days long trip - surly a memorable journey. 

You can find more pictures of this trip at: https://www.facebook.com/HorseracingInternational

Frankel