A successful 2023 season is unfolding for us and we're pleased that the travel world is largely back to normal. Although everything seems a bit more complicated to put together now, compared with pre-covid.
We're now working on our arrangements for 2024 and are excited to be returning two of our most popular programs, the first after a six-year hiatus and the second after a break of four years.
The Derby and Oaks at Epsom, with a stay in Newmarket.
These two classic races are the prototypes for Derbys and Oaks races everywhere in the world. They're contested over the uniquely challenging Epsom mile-and-a-half, a course which must be seen and walked over in order to appreciate the many and diverse elements of the test. A third twelve-furlong Group 1, the Coronation Cup for older horses, is also part of the race mix. Newmarket is the cradle of Thoroughbred racing as we know it, with a history that dates back to the 1600s. Today it's still the "HQ" of English racing and the country's principal training center. We'll have a complete experience of Newmarket, including visits to training yards and farms. We'll also spend a few nights in residence at Windsor, get in a little sightseeing there, and hopefully the fixture list will let us include racing at one of England's atmospheric smaller courses. Probable trip dates are May 27-June 2.
Deauville.
Quite simply, this resort town on the Normandy coast of France is our favorite place to go racing anywhere. It has everything: two separate race courses, most of the leading French horse farms within a half-hour's drive, a charming and walkable downtown, and an abundance of good dining. It's the Saratoga/Del Mar/Kentucky of France all rolled into one; the Parisian circuit shuts down and all the best horses and people are up for the month. In addition to seeing the richest race of the meet and visiting a couple of farms, we'll have a full-day's excursion to the D-Day landing beaches which are just up the coast, and this may be the most memorable day of the trip. For Saratoga and Del Mar habitues, we say: take one week off one time and see a different kind of August. You won't miss the Whitney or the Pacific Classic and you won't be sorry. Projected trip dates are August 5-12.
We may also add an Ireland trip, which would take place either approximately June 22-30 or approximately September 9-16.
Note that the trip lengths as described include the latest departure date from the U.S. and the earliest return date to the U.S. For European trips, one of the nights will be spent en route overseas. As always the trips are designed for easy extension, either before or after the scheduled dates, for those who wish a longer stay abroad.
We expect to have the full itinerary details posted to the website by mid-November.
If you have questions or would like to be listed to go on a trip, please e-mail us at info@racing-europe.com or call us toll-free at (800)261-0499. We look forward to hearing from you and to going racing with you in 2024.