Racecourse Review - Fontwell Park

Fontwell Park Racecourse -  West Sussex's Hidden Gem

Welcome to the start of what I hope will become a series of reviews for Britain's race courses, or at least the ones i have been too. I shall cover those I have actually visited first of all; don't worry, there are plenty and it will take me some time. Forgive me for any misleading detail, I am, for the most part, working from memory of the last time I visited each. For those that haven't enjoyed the same visit as I have or at least not since I last went, you'll not know. If you have , you will, and apologies to any clerks of courses who happen across these, please feel free to put me right in the comments and I shall make the necessary amendments!

Everyone knows about Brighton, if not the racecourse, the Victorian seaside town but few will know or even heard of Plumpton; both can be found in the East side of Sussex

For a Westerly equivalent, everyone knows about Goodwood, they don't know where it is necessarily but synonymous with Glorious Goodwood, they have at least heard of it. Well Fontwell Park is to Goodwood, what Plumpton would be to Brighton.

I meander already. The village of Fontwell is home to a gem of a racecourse on the South Coast; nestled between Chichester to the West and Arundel (famous for Castle and trainer John Dunlop), to the East. A direct line South would take you straight to Bognor Regis, should be so drunk as to not know what you were doing!

HOW TO GET THERE

• By Road:

That's the geography covered for those that might be interested. Travel to the course is relatively simple by road. Head south and get on the god-forsaken A27 and after numerous roundabouts, heading for signs in between the aforementioned towns, the village will be found, on a rather sharp round-a-bout too it might be noted. (That's an island if your coming from the Midlands - Round-a-bouts down here!)

• By Rail:

The nearest station is Barnham. Trains run regularly from London Victoria, Portsmouth, Brighton, Winchester and Southampton. Arundel Station is also just three miles from the track. On racedays, a shuttle bus service runs between Barnham station and the racecourse (£2 return), starting from 2 hours prior to the first race and returning immediately after the last.

• By Air:

Don't worry, get your people to talk to their people. If you can afford to get their by air, you're not going to have to worry from which direction to come, someone else will be doing it for you!

 A Bit More about Fontwell Park Racecourse

The course has been in place since 1924 and I should imagine little has changed. It is an immaculately kept little course with wonderful little building and gardens too. Plenty of benches to rest ones elbows on ones knees and rest head on palms of hands having seen that blasted McCoy win yet another race he had no right to on the quirky figure of eight chase course!

This is a great place to watch racing. It is one of just two figure of eight courses, along with Windsor, but the advantage here is you can see the full action,and in fact get on the inner and hear the jockeys cajoling their mounts around, or McCoy sledging Johnson for being to NH racing what Jimmy White was to snooker.

It is a smart and tidy course, pretty smartly dressed race-goers adorn the public areas and whilst it's unpretentious you know you should be smart in attendance. You'll feel more comfortable if you are.

Funny Fact: Fontwell Park has been voted best small racecourse in the South East for the past 19 consecutive years!

I'm not entirely sure how numerous the competition is, I don't see Goodwood passing the qualifying criteria of "small", which leaves few others based on the sand at Lingfield cutting them out of the running without the judges need to get through the turnstiles. Anyway, it's a.......nice thing to have and is a prominent feature on the course website which itself is very smart too!

FONTWELL PARK RACECOURSE WEBSITE I like Fontwell, not least because I grew up in Hampshire and belonging to a racing mad family, day trips to the course along with Brighton, Goodwood and Lingfield were almost a weekly event. Although to be honest at seven years of age I was more appreciative of discarded betting tickets and 50p to have a go on the mini motorbikes!

These days I am far more interested in the equine events.

MOB rating for Fontwell - 8/10 Highly recommended (Summer or Winter)