In 1955, Reginald Gill—milkman and part-time illegal bookie—took his 12-year-old son Roy to the Spring meeting at Epsom Downs Racecourse. It was a trip that started a lifelong passion for racing. In the half-century since, Roy Gill has visited every racecourse in the UK and Ireland at least once and continues to attend races whenever he can. Many courses have been closed down, and some have moved their locations, but every racecourse he visited is vividly recalled in this very personal and highly readable account. He has included the new courses at Great Leighs and Ffos Las and returned to Wolverhampton and Limerick, which have moved from their original locations. Along with brief histories of every racecourse visited, the highs and lows of both Flat and National Hunt racing are revealed here by an acknowledged expert—and bona fide Turf Accountant. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs (many of them previously unseen and unpublished), course diagrams, and fascinating racing memorabilia. It includes noteworthy occurrences and behind-the-scenes stories of each venue, as well as personal anecdotes about the courses, the horses, the jockeys, and trainers. Told with humour and passion, this entertaining and informative work is essential reading for all lovers of the Turf, and also a valuable spotlight on the sporting and social history of these sceptered isles.
