GCA ‘Ladies' Race Day and AGM
Nottingham Racecourse
Colwick Park, Nottingham NG2 4BE
4th October 2006

Review of the Day

The second annual GCA Ladies Race Day was held early in October, with the venue for the event this year being Nottingham Racecourse. Although there were some notable absentees from the previous year, the attendance still showed a substantial increase compared to last year with more than half of the guests being of the fairer and prettier sex.

Most of the guests assembled at the Nottingham Hilton in the centre of town ready for a 10.30am departure for the racecourse. The ladies immaculately groomed in all their finery, with their headgear matching the occasion, but making it difficult to recognise the faces underneath. Nevertheless, we have never seen a prettier group of “glamorous gasketeers”. The gentlemen at this stage were disappointed to discover that although it was a ladies race day, it was horses that were actually racing and not ladies! Unfortunately there were some members who were travelling from well south of Watford who initially had a problem in finding the hotel, and then had a severe episode of directional dyslexia on leaving the car park. After many mobile phone communications the coach eventually departed from the hotel five minutes after the AGM was due to start at the racecourse.

On arrival at the racecourse we were met by Julie who led us to some very welcome light refreshments in our own private lounge and balcony adjacent to the winning post. The AGM came next and after the chairman’s initial confusion with his Parrots and Barretts, the approval of the minutes and accounts, and election of officers brought the formalities to a conclusion. 

A champagne reception followed, which gave the opportunity for introductions to the names that were not familiar, and also the start of the socialising with the names that were familiar, before sitting down to a very nice lunch with wine to suit.

Before the first of the seven races commenced, we were given a short presentation by a very knowledgeable race day commentator who stood in at short notice for his colleague who was due to tell us which of the animals we should back with four good legs, and the ones to avoid with not so good legs.

Once the racing did start, it appeared that there was always a line of ladies ready to place bets, but an even longer line to collect their winnings after the race! The horses that were actually running on the day must have realised it was a ladies race day because the names of some of the placed horses included: - Princess Zada, My only Sunshine, Park Lane Princess, Doric Charm, Now look Out, and Galactic Star. However the stallions also had some success with Wanchai Lad and According to Pete at 50-1 giving a very nice place bet to at least one punter.

Half way through the race card, afternoon tea was served but it seemed the group were so engrossed in the racing and betting, that they did not notice. Or could it have been the complementary bar that was open all afternoon.

At the end of the proceedings it was Secretary Paul Neale’s frustrating task to herd the group back on to the coach for the return to the hotel. Judging by how long this winding up process took, we can only conclude that everybody enjoyed the day so much that they did not want to leave.

The day could not have been such a success without the friendliness and social ability of the whole group, with special mention to the ladies and their Firms for giving them the opportunity, but also to the superb organisation of the secretariat, and the wonderful service and attitude of the catering and course staff.

For the guests who stayed overnight the day was still not complete with the evening entertainment  varying between a local Bistro, The Hard Rock Café, and The Casino, where it was a mixture of supplementing race winnings, or losing race winnings plus.

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