Racing From Across The Pond... Or Galaxy

On October 30th and 31st the World Thoroughbred Championships aka Breeders' Cup comes to Keeneland.  On Versailles Road, just west of downtown Lexington and next door to historic Calumet Farm, Keeneland is at the very heart of thoroughbred country.  For those two days in October, many (but not all) of the world's greatest thoroughbreds will - on Saturday the 31st in particular - compete in the richest day of racing anywhere on the planet.  Horses will converge from all corners of the globe (yes, I know that a globe has no corners) at scenic Keeneland; from Canada, England, Ireland, France, Japan, Australia, Argentina and these United States.  The much-deserved hype has already begun and over the course of this year I will try my best to not wear you out on the subject.

With the interwebz and ever-expanding cable/satellite channel offerings, watching races or race replays from Europe and elsewhere becomes easier with each passing year.  Those recently introduced to The Sport of Kings may have heard of Royal Ascot and perhaps Epsom Downs or even Longchamp.  When reading a past performance from Newmarket, for example, it would be easy for the uninitiated to presume that the racecourse itself is of a fairly standard design following the ubiquitous oval that we North Americans are familiar with.  After all, can you name one New World racecourse that is not laid out in oval form?  Yet, horses race on tracks that look very different in the Old World.  Indeed, horse racing across the pond might as well be from another galaxy. 

It may be a long way to Tipperary but at least the race course there is recognizable:

If only tracks were so uniform.  Variety may be the spice of life but it must confuse the thoroughbreds.

Thurles:

Naas:

Ascot:

Epsom:

Hamilton:

Goodwood:

Newmarket:

You can view more European racecourse randomness at the same website from which I absconded with the above images at racinguk.

Obtuse and irregular layouts are one thing, but these Old World racecourses - in another contrast with New World tracks - are not level.  In some cases, far from level.  Check out this flyover of the Epsom Derby as narrated by the greatest jockey in the world, Frankie Dettori.  This video of Newmarket might better illustrate the undulating nature of the European course.  Newmarket is the English version of Lexington, Kentucky. 

Make no mistake; Lexington is second to none.

Roll the credits!