How do our Tracks compare??

My job takes me to a lot of different parts of the world, and whenever possible, I try to visit the local race track.

My last visit was to Woodbine in Toronto, which houses a huge Casino,excellent dining facilities and a betting area thats very modern, clean and user friendly.

Compared to what we have here, I would say its we are about 30 years behind.

Currently here in SA, if I vist a track and chose not to be in a box/suite (or the fancy restaurant) what do I get....curry in a polystyrene container while sitting on a 40 year old wooden bench next to a bunch of drunks.

Is it too much to ask for a minimum level of "comfort" ???

A modern, secure, comfortable entertainment destination is what I want/expect, one that I could drag my wife and kids to (knowing that they are safe and entertained) while I get down to what I love best!!!!

Any thoughts???

Of course the racecourse experience for the 'casual' guy is way below par in SA - not sure that the demand is there for the authorities to do anything about it - sort of a Catch 22 - in order to 'up' the facilities, they need to be sure that people will come, but people will attend less and less until facilities are upgraded - and even then not enough may turn up to justify the improvements

Frodo wrote: Of course the racecourse experience for the 'casual' guy is way below par in SA - not sure that the demand is there for the authorities to do anything about it - sort of a Catch 22 - in order to 'up' the facilities, they need to be sure that people will come, but people will attend less and less until facilities are upgraded - and even then not enough may turn up to justify the improvements

I loved Newmarket(nothing like that night Racing) but really in it's heyday Turffs was a drag for me on big days in the late 80's - You would park ten blocks away if you did not get infield parking and the tote queues were excessive but the vibe was excellent. I don't attend meetings now more because it's easier to Race from home with my PC and DSTV - I see the racecourse more as a social event than a punting one now.

Unless you go to the good seats or grade 1 tracks like Ascot you will find the facilities are on par

Most tracks were built 100,s of years ago world wide and only the major tracks get facelifts

Same for me Mr H - in my young days I used to NEVER miss a Saturday meet whether it be Gosforth or Turffontein - night racing was always a bit of a schlep though with the traffic, still enjoyable if one got there; nowadays the only times I go to the track is when one of my nags manages to get a run - family commitments and as you say, much easier to just play and watch from home