Inspired by British turf racecourses
Ashcombe Downs Racecourse
The real thing: the turf racecourse
A race day has its own rhythm. Before each race, the horses are led around the parade ring so racegoers can size them up. Then they race on a grass course, and the grandstand along the finishing straight gives the best view of the finish.
The state of the ground is called the going, and it is official. The clerk of the course checks the turf and declares it, on a scale from firm to heavy. Rain changes everything: on soft ground some trainers withdraw their horses, and a waterlogged course can mean the whole meeting is abandoned. Frost does the same in winter.
Royal Ascot and the Derby at Epsom show the glamorous side: dress codes, hospitality boxes and champagne. For many courses, hospitality and catering are a big part of the business.
In Big Night Tycoon
3,500 seats
Tier 2
A turf oval in the green downs with a 3,500-place grandstand, a parade ring and a lake on the infield. Race days, champagne and corporate boxes under an open sky. When it rains, the crowd stays home and the turf turns to mud.
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Stories about places like this are on their way. Meanwhile, browse Venues & history.