I love having a day's racing at Great Yarmouth.
I've been going since a child when my parents stayed at the Haven holiday park at Caister-on-sea. Lots of good times, making sandcastles, playing the one-armed bandits and going to the races with my Dad (Colin). We always visit the course for the Eastern Festival which covers three days in the middle of September. It is a merry pilgrimage to walk in the footsteps of those who have sadly passed away.
Those people include my Dad, his brothers, Keith and Roy, Uncle Fred and friend such as Pete Miller. They used to love their racing, a few loved their drink even more.
Life makes you think, hey?
For that reason, we go to Great Yarmouth races, a big old group of family and friends. A little bit of betting on course and then later in the evening at the Grosvenor Casino. The weather always seems to shine and it really is a beautiful week to have fun and gather our thoughts.
I've never been a member of the course. My cousin, Danny, is a member of Huntindgon. I've been there a few times with him but the National Hunt isn't really my things. I don't bet for fun and I don't have the slightest idea what is good, bad or ugly over the sticks.
The annual membership at Great Yarmouth is £260 a year if you buy before March. Considering it covers 23 meeting, four complimentary tickets it isn't going to take much to pay for itself.
If anything, it will encourage me to go more often. Get a decent sunny day and I'll jump on the train from March to Yarmouth in a couple of hours.
I have stayed a number of different hotels, especially out of season when it is as cheap as cheap. Last visit with my brother (to go to the casino) we stayed at the Nelson Hotel. A huge family room and breakfast for £65. It doesn't get much better than that. Gareth lost £40, I won £80, and a lucky number 9 saw Tony leave with £280. Not bad considering he never changed more than £20.
We often go late evening. Get there for about 9 pm. Go to the casino for a meal, which can be a bit hit and miss, and then downstairs to play roulette or three-card poker. I've played the later a few times but the casino edge is criminal on pair plus and even when you have the luck of the devil the payout never seems to glorious.
Anyway, I will be venturing down the coast more times this year and try to get value out of my membership.
Definitely worth buying.
