Are Their Any Racecourses That Are Near Railway Lines?

[barney15c]

I seem to remember when I was very young (1970's) sometimes if there was a popular meeting on TV there was a racecourse(s) that had railway carriages set back from the course full of people watching the race from within them. So there must have been a railway line / siding alongside. Was I imagining this or was this really the case. I think it was a course that held a lot of the big classic races. Tell me I wasn't going mad!!!

[andy-hughes]

Uttoxeter Race Course is right by a railway line.

[barney15c]

Would there have been a siding as I cant imagine they would block a line simply to let people watch a race!

[ichkeria]

Cheltenham has its own station, now part of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire steam railway

[Tilly2]

Aintree. I'm sure there's a railway line there.

[bhg481]

Newbury racecourse is just south of the railway line, has its own station and a siding. Look on Google Earth.

[barney15c]

That sound favourite (pardon the pun) bhg!

[Tilly2]

The only race I watched on the t.v. was the Grand National and there was definitely a train in the background on part of the course. I remember it really well.

[mushroom25]

Aintree is (or rather was) adjacent to BR's Fazakerley Permanent Way Depot which was used as a storage point for excursion trains on race days, and this is what would have been visible during Grand National TV coverage.

the depot was closed in the 1980s and the whole site has since been developed.

[Ken4155]

I think that there was one that ran alongside Epsom - i seem to recall old newsreel footage showing the punters watching from their carriages - first class, one would assume. Then again, i, too, may be wrong:-)

[barney15c]

Have to find some horseracing footage from the 70's and 80's from these courses and check out if any carriages appear in them. Thanks for the leads guys!

[Canary42]

Kempton Park has it's own station, Sandown can be seen from the London-Portsmouth line.

[thesecondlaw]

Further to Canary's answer. The three fences along the back straight of the course at Sandown are collectively known as "the railway fences".

[thesecondlaw]

And, Ken could also be correct. There is a railway station at Tattenham Corner, which (I may be wrong) is only used on race days

[barney15c]

Found it 1:55 in I knew I wasn't dreaming!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ_JCOgHE2U

[thesecondlaw]

Wow! That brought back some memories. Incredible to think those people on the train had the best possible view of the carnage at the 23rd fence. Pleased you found it.

[DTCwordfan]

Aintree......back straight.....

[barney15c]

Thanks guys (and gals if I couldn't identify as such) you've been a great help.