Bangor-on-Dee and surrounding area
Bangor-on-Dee is a very small and pretty place near Wrexham in Wales. The racecourse itself is set in really beautiful countryside on the banks of the River Dee. Wrexham is the nearest major town and there are a few places of interest here and here’s a few:
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Ty Mawr Country Park http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/leisure_tourism/TyMawrCountryPark.htm
Erddig
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig
Alyn Waters Country Park
St Giles Parish Church http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/leisure_tourism/open_church_network/st_giles.htm
I cannot comment on any of them as mine was just a day visit for the racing only and didn’t have time for any tourism. But I have visited the cities of Chester and Shrewsbury which aren’t too far away really and worth visiting if you are in the area for a while or perhaps on your way in.
Wrexham and surrounds seem pretty well endowed with eating houses and watering holes
The racecourse itself didn’t seem particularly well signposted. I arrived without ever having any indication that it was there other than the dreary voice on my GPS.
The Racecourse
Bangor-on-Dee is just about oval in shape and is a mile and a half around. It is a little undulating and has tight bends.
The course stages only NH (jumps) racing.
Clerk of the course: Andrew Morris
Racecourse telephone: 01978 780323
Email: mail@bangorondeeraces.co.uk
Getting here
The course is about 6 miles from Wrexham, 25 miles from Shrewsbury, 60 miles from Manchester and 70 miles from Birmingham.
Parking is free.
Post code for Sat Nav – LL13 0DA
Racecourse Facilities
There is no grandstand and I think I’m right in saying that it’s the only racecourse in the UK that doesn’t have one. Do not let that put you off coming here, at least not if the weather is dry as this place is just gorgeous. The grass bank right in front of the paddock area forms a natural place to watch. There is plenty of space and on a beautiful day, like today, you can sun yourself between races if that takes your fancy.
Unusually, the race finishes with the runners coming towards you so in a tight finish it’s impossible to judge who has won but hey, that’s what the big screen is for anyway.
The Paddock Enclosure provides a good experience in terms of food and drink. As usual, the Fish And Chips did it for me and it was quite cheap in comparison to other courses too.
A gentleman I got chatting to also told me that The Wynnstay Restaurant is well worth a visit if you can get in there. I guess the trick is to book before coming.
There is also a course enclosure which seems ideal for families. The racecourse will allow Gazebos to be used in a specified area of this enclosure.
My Day
I was taken with how friendly it is here. It’s not my first visit here but many years since the last time I was here. In general, I tend to prefer small local courses for pretty much that reason and the fact that crowds tend to be smaller.
I managed two winners today including a very tasty 8/1 shot, both trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton. I noticed they had two more over at Southwell later in the day.
In the second race, a maiden hurdle, the Skeltons sent out ‘Fair Mountain’ who had previously finished third in a German Derby and had been placed in many other German Group races on the flat earlier in his career. A maiden hurdle at Bangor was surely within his capabilities and was by a very easy 10 lengths.
The same partnership obliged me in the next with Café Au Lait at a particularly tasty 8/1. Happy!!
Anyway, a nice little profit earned today to take with me to Uttoxeter tomorrow ?
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