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Afternoon Chaps

I thought it would be nice to try and get the second TFT gathering organised, and I am proposing A Day at the Races.

Specifically Cheltenham Races.

Dates to be considered.

14th/15th November Paddy Power Meeting

24th January Trials Day

(Was going to add in 12th/13th December, but I can't make it, but if it gets the majority, happy to push on with that)

Whats the thoughts out there?

I will leave the door open for yes/no/maybes and look for comments about do we get a couple of tables in a dinning area/Tatts/Members. etc

Do we meet the night before, push on into Cheltenham town centre after etc etc, and try and gather thoughts together next weekend.

All comments welcome. Cheers

Yes would definitely be interested at any of them dates I think im free

Interested

Not everyone will be able to make every date, so go with the majority

whatever weekend, Cheltenham or another big NH Meet central-ish (Newbury/Hennessey 27-29 Nov?) sounds fun

Definitely interested as long as there's a decent turnout.

Definitely interested but am going to the paddy power already, so would personally have to rule that one out.

Bit off the wallish - but everyone from any part of the country can easily get a cheap flight to Dublin.  Punchestown have a festival on weekend 15th/16th Nov?

I would absolutely love to do this.  Probably up for anything but have always fancied Ireland and have never done it and as you say it is probably as cheap to get to as anywhere else all told.

why not the biggest cheltenham meet

like this idea even though it would be easier for me to get to Cheltenham personally overall it must be easier for everyone combined to fly to dublin and probably cheaper as well.  Tikay will also love the fact Ryanair will benefit from air fares.  As long as no clashes with anything i will be available to attend whatever the masses prefer.

....and if we went to Dublin you and Adz could share a room.  Maybe get a triple and Kmac could come too....

Doobs will prob be living there anyway so he can play on stars.fr and winamax  ;)

Looked at a few more fixtures - there is a Fairyhouse festival on the weekend of 29th/30th Nov.  Sunday has 3 Grade 1s.  Wouldn't clash with the Cheltenham meet Adz mentioned and a bit longer to organise.

:D

I'm just back from Vegas that weekend so definite no for me, coould arrange for a few pals to say hello to Arb though :-) 

Genuinely lol'd

Sounds pretty rofly, definitely up for this

haha really good. may join too if you guys let me.

Would love to be involved.

Always a problem to get dates that suit everyone - in fact it is impossible, so you just have to pick & date & run with it.

For sure, November 15/16 would not work for me, I'll be away that weekend.

Personally, Cheltenham feels the best choice, especially if we can book a meal, but I'll go with the flow.

Well done Adzy for trying to set this up.

Boom, we have our Guest of Honour.

Course you can come you big daft bugger. You have to wear a Pardew mask though, right?


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Because trying to socialise, & get a drink or meal when there are 60,000 punters squeezed into Prestbury Park, is not ideal for a meet-up, imo. Even getting there & back would be a perfect nightmare.

Yes, you have to choose between having a bet, collecting a return, buying a drink, having something to eat, talking to people for more than ten seconds and going to the loo. Fortunately, in a seven race card, you can do one of each on the day.

I actually thought the "Dog Night" worked well, as we could all sit pretty much together, rotate seats between races, have a nice bit of dinner, & it was easy to mingle & chat. Perfect evening for a get-together really.

All that, but for balance, if we could get a box, we'd be just fine.

Maybe Fred could have a Cheltenham Box Banzai Bet, & if it gets home, Fred will donate a few bob towards the cost.

You could also add in the Tingle Creek at Sandown to possibles.  It used to be my favourite day of the year when I was a member there.

Trials day at Cheltenham is a really good day, but has a bit of a cancellation risk. 

Paddy Power day just seems wrong for TfT.  Half of us will be stopped at the gates, the rest will be frisked to make sure we aren't carrying more than a tenner.   Sure the racing is ok though. 

Lol Doobs.

Yes a touch or Irony there eh mate.

Whilst  Trials day is a risk, looks best of the Cheltenham options,mas a TFT day without T, isn't really a TFT day. The rest of us, bar Dubai, are expendable, but not the boss.

It also hits that perfect post Xmas time when a lift and something to look forward to is most appropriate.

Let's keep the ideas coming though chaps.

Very good.

That also rules out any Meet sponsored by Lads, Boyles, Scuy, Betway, Satan, bla bla bla.....

I'll have no problems getting in. I'll have a word for you.

I used to be a Member at Chelters, had a box for many a year, & attended every March Festival for 10 or 12 years.

But my most enjoyable days at Chelters - by FAR - were the "quieter" days & meets.  Doubt I've ever enjoyed going racing as much as I did when attending the "lesser" days at Cheltenham.

Trials day seems to fit the bill pretty much, though I do also think the Dogs worked superbly.

I'd happily go with the flow, though.

Yup, you & Marky can get us all in. Or if it is a Betway thing, Chompy will sort it.

 I would love a quieter punting day if possible. Tough for a few people on TfT to get away at the weekends when it's busy. How about a nice quiet Plumpton on a Monday...you can get a hospitality box for hardly any money and we can have a base/have lunch etc. Not too far to kick on to Brighton and dinner at the casino if anyone fancied that. Obviously no prob if everyone prefers a big days racing at a grade 1 track, I just tend to find it's much easier to go as a big group to something smaller without all the crowds.

That makes - to me - perfect sense, too, or Fontwell

Might even manage to coincide with a Hove Dogs night. (Weds/Thurs/Fri).

Hove is a lovely viewing track, & they do a good dinner, too, the full package is less than £30. 

Not dsissing the original idea, but it's good to look at viable alternatives.

Hove's best weekly card is thurs night (on racing post greyhound TV - 730pm start).  Sounds like a good idea grouped with a southern race day.  Only issue is travelling distance for the northerners!

Well if you are thinking of the Scots, remember Devo Max. They don't get a say in these things.....

All sounds fun. Not been as involved in 2014 but would try and make it along if possible.

I tried to organise a trip to Ireland about 3 or 4 years ago.

After about 12 people saying they were in for it, I ended up going on my jack jones.

Highly recommended though.

Leopardstown/Fairyhouse followed by dogs and a meal at Shelbourne Park.

Leopardstown has got a pub on the track. That cannot possibly be beat.


Dublin is bloody expensive though. Recommend increasing your overdraft limit if you decide on that as the venue.

I've only ever been to Beverley so no suggestions on location but definitely less keen on somewhere thats gunna be packed

As Keith said I think when it comes down to it you'll get a much better turnout keeping it closer

I vote for Yarmouth.

Something like the ' Dog Night ' would suit me perfectly. I've been waiting for a TFT meet up as I haven't attended one before but something like Ireland or Cheltenham taking up a day or two would be very very difficult for me.

Dinner, drinks and chat with like minded people is one of the great pleasures of life.

Personally would much rather it be a smaller meet, have been to plenty of big meets where it's far too crowded to do much freely. Love the idea of a dog meet in the evening.

Quoted for laters, when Tikay tries to get out of a meal as a sociable occasion !!!

Agreed dog meeting in evening is necessary after horses in afternoon. There are numerous combos we can do dependent on required location.  All weather at Wolves followed by monmore is probably the worst.  The best combo is South Coast horses and hove.

Interested, dependant on where and when.  :)up

nottingham/southwell horses on a monday.  Nottingham BAGS dogs (their best meet of the week with all opens) in the evening.  Followed by dtd/nottingham student night boozers after (7 girls to 1 bloke in the old days) could easily be a runner as well for the quiet Monday lovers.

I think definiatly a quite meet will be better than a busy meet!

Midlands works well for me anything South south is gonna be tough!

I would rather take a trip to the top of Tower Bridge and throw my entire net worth off into the Thames whilst simulataneously sticking needles in my eyes than do this combo.....

I vote Dublin.
Coz.....ummmm....I live here.

'Chelmsford City' racecourse on re-opening night. Like horses and dogs in one and you might get to chat with its saviour. Fred meets Fred.*

*Other bridges, means of blinding are available.

It has a race course, dogs, oh and a greyhound track (Boom tish).

Still plenty of time to go, many ideas coming out, but no love for the original proposal.

I feel a Jaffastrop coming on. lol

Chelters on a day when it's not heaving would my preference.

More than happy with original proposal suits me fine personally location/date wise.  Also never been to Chelt non festival. 

please grumble responsibly

Best u be putting up a poll, let the kids vote innit.

Better to try and get a consensus as the most popular location in the poll might be one where 60% won't go/can't easily get to.

Too good sir  ;hattip;

.....

Yes.

You are right. Apologies.

TBH, so many conflicting requirements, not sure where to go with it.

Not going to ba able to please everyone Adz but I think a few key people need to be there, Tikay a cert. grab some ideas from the thread and send out a few pm' story get commitment from some key people. Then just tell us, I'm sure if we want to we can make it.

These things are always VERY awkward to set up Adzy.

Hard as it is, you just have to start with the premise that it is impossible to set up a venue, location, & type of event (dogs, horses, combo, or whatever) that suits everyone.

Your initial idea was Cheltenham, so why not just go with that, and that way we're also insulated against a tantrum ;)

As said, you'll never please everyone...

No need to apologise Adzy, these things are a perfcect nightmare to try & set up.

Be good if we could sort something though.

Personally, a dogs or "horses & dogs" day works best for me, the dogs is a great situation to book some tables & chill together for an evening, whereas we'd tend to get spread around at the gee-gees.

Brighton or Wimbledon Dogs would both work, but then that suits me geographically, whereas some others live up north in all sorts of dreadful places, Sheffield, Scotland, even Birmingham.

Tricky, 'innit?

Oi!

Last bastion of the free cup of tea in a poker room

How can that drive over Tinsley viaduct not get the juices flowing Tony, that and the thought of the free cup of tea must be so enticing?

Sorry Dan, did not intend to diss Sheffield, but it is a bit of a backwater these days, not even got a proper football club I heard.

Give you that Phil, it's a cracker.

When was the last time it was NOT under repair though?


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I once did a school project on the upcoming Meadowhall build and when I went to visit most of that area was out of bounds as it was under repair. A few years later I used to work part time night shift as a security man when I was skint (ok, usually to pay off gambling debts) back then and a few years later did a couple of nights 'protecting' that site. It was still under repair and the thieves were nicking all the equipment. Last time I went past it was still under repair, get the feeling it's going to stay that way forever now.

Oi!! When plans become clear I will see if I am free.

Just throwing it out there although on dates mentioned I won't be able to make it but what about Newcastle? 

Decent for dogs/racing and even a bit of poker and fairly easy to get to I think from most parts of the country.  Might be a bit far north for some of you southern boys but for ths Scots/Northern lads its probably ideal. 

In for Newcastle.

Afternoon at the races to see a jumps meeting - might be our last chance to see them over fences at Gosforth Park.

Then a table in the restaurant at Newcastle or Sunderland dogs.

http://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on/fixture/11-december-2014/

Greyhounds at Newcastle race on Thursdays too.

agree with newcastle :)

Bump