Racing-Europe - 2004 Trips

ASCOT, GOODWOOD & DEAUVILLE
13 Days, 12 Nights (including one en route)
JULY 21 to AUGUST 2, 2004

4 nights in London, 3 nights near Goodwood, 4 nights in Deauville
6 days of racing at Ascot, Newmarket, Goodwood, Deauville & Clairefontaine
Training area/Farm visits in Newmarket & Normandy

Day 1
Wed July 21 Depart U.S.

Day 2
Thu July 22 Arrive in London. You will be met at the airport and delivered to our London address, the Draycott Hotel. The remainder of the day is free for adjustment and your own activities. At 6PM we will have a cocktail reception at the hotel to get acquainted and organized for our journeys. We suggest an early night: the next two days are busy.
THE DRAYCOTT: The intimate and elegant Draycott is our London headquarters. In the middle of fashionable Chelsea and Knightsbridge, amid superb shopping, dining and walking, the hotel has been adapted from three Edwardian townhouses, and backs onto a private park. Our rooms are very spacious, each with a sitting area, and more likely than not, a fireplace. Visit www.draycotthotel.com for more information. Continental breakfast is included each morning.

Day 3
Fri July 23 Up early and out of London for a day trip to Newmarket, the epicenter of English horse racing for 300 years. We'll visit the famous training gallops and look in on a trainer's yard during its workday. After an early lunch, we'll go to the excellent Racing Museum and visit the private rooms of the Jockey Club. Still later, we'll have a tour of the National Stud which will conclude with late-afternoon cocktails and a light buffet. Finally, we'll walk over to the old-fashioned July Course, where summer racing is held in Newmarket. First post is just before 6PM, and we'll have time to get our feet wet on the first few races before heading back to London and the end of this very full day.

Day 4
Sat July 24 Diamond Day at Ascot. One of the biggest racedays of the year, featuring the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Quite often this is the first time the leading 3-year-olds challenge the best of the older generation, and the race's list of winners reads like a Who's Who of European racing. We'll leave for the course mid-morning, and have a buffet lunch in our own private box before the races. Tea will be served in late afternoon, and our box is staffed throughout this day of first-rate racing at England's most prestigious course.

Day 5
Sun July 25 This is an OPEN DAY for your own use. Relax, sightsee, do some shopping. Other things to consider: The Cartier Polo matches at Windsor, or another day's racing at Ascot. Plan for these in advance.

Day 6
Mon July 26 Late morning we'll check out of the Draycott and make a two-hour coach transfer to the Marriott Goodwood Hotel, our base near Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex. After arrival and check-in, the rest of the afternoon will be at leisure. There is a pool and fitness center at the hotel, as well as a golf course with rental clubs available while they last. Other choices include a visit to Goodwood House, nearby historic Chichester, or the Festival Theatre, also in Chichester. Golf and the theatre should be planned in advance.
THE GOODWOOD MARRIOTT: Modern and comfortable, and set within the 12,000-acre Goodwood Estate, the Marriott is our choice because of its excellent amenities and proximity to the racecourse. It has a fine restaurant as well as casual dining, and an atmospheric bar in addition to the extras noted above. See more at www.marriotthotels.com/pmegs. A full English breakfast is included each morning.

Day 7
Tue Jul 27 Opening Day of "Glorious Goodwood", a top-drawer summer social event as well as a venue for very high class racing, at what many people consider England's most beautiful racecourse. The Richmond Stakes, an important Group 2 for 2-year-olds, is scheduled to lead the day's card, which also includes the Group 2 Lennox for sprinters, and the Group 3 Gordon for classic-distance 3-year-olds. Lunch and tea will be served in our own paddock-facing box within the Members' Enclosure, and we'll have a block of seats nearby to watch the racing.

Day 8
Wed Jul 28 Day Two of Glorious Goodwood. Today we'll have Members' Enclosure badges, and reserved seats to come and go from. You'll be inspired to move about throughout the day — from the paddock to the betting ring, to the railside for the gallop-out, up to our seats to watch the race, and back to the paddock for the winners' presentation. The race card features the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, one of the very biggest one-mile races on the European calendar. Similar to the King George, this race frequently pits the top 3-year-olds against their elders at this specialty distance for the first time. Also today: The Group 3 Vintage Stakes for 2-year-olds, and the unique 2 5/8- mile Goodwood Handicap, which starts and finishes in front of the stands and has more twists and turns than three normal races.

Day 9
Thu Jul 29 You can sleep in a bit today, have a morning swim, or get in an early round of golf. In the afternoon, following checkout, we'll make a 45-minute transfer to Portsmouth on the Channel coast. Our ferry to France leaves at 3:15PM, and the 5 3/4-hour crossing will get us into Ouistreham at 10PM, having lost an hour to continental time. From there it's a short ride into Deauville and our hotels, the Normandy and the Royal. You can have an early night, or you can dress well and try your luck at the casino.
BRITTANY FERRIES / THE MONT ST MICHEL: Our transfer to France will be made by sea, on the 570-foot long, 30,000-ton Mont St Michel. This vessel has restaurants and bars, shopping, a cinema, and plenty of top-deck viewing and strolling-space. You'll also have a comfortable private cabin to retreat to, if you want to rest or be left alone. The summer sun sets slowly and late at this latitude: it will just be late dusk when we get in. Go to www.brittany-ferries.co.uk for more information on the company and the ship.
THE NORMANDY and THE ROYAL: In Deauville, there are really only two choices — the Normandy for a bit more old-world atmosphere and the Royal for a bit more modern comfort. But both of these hotels have plenty of each, and since they're both owned by the Barriere Group, we have the option of selecting either, "while supplies last". Both are across from the beach, close to the town's best restaurants and shops and the main racecourse, and the casino occupies the block between them. Look in at www.lucienbarriere.com to learn more. Continental or buffet breakfast is included each morning.

Day 10
Fri Jul 30 Deauville is the high-summer headquarters of French horse racing. For much of July and all of August, the Paris racing circuit shuts down and the horses, owners, trainers, jockeys, administrators, and fans come here to this smart seaside resort. Like Saratoga, the racecourse opened in 1864, and like Del Mar, Deauville there's a beach. Unlike either, there's a legal casino and a contained, strollable downtown in close proximity to everything. It's a racing atmosphere like no other in the world.
You have the morning to take it easy, then some of us may want to join up for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the boardwalk and the beach. At about 2PM, we'll get organized and head over to Clairefontaine for a day's racing at the second of Deauville's two racecourses. The pleasure here is not so much the quality of the racing, but the loveliness of the course itself. Low-key, backed by hills and bedecked with flowers, Clairefontaine is country racing at its very best.

Day 11
Sat Jul 31 Early this morning, we'll stop by the main Deauville Racecourse to see a bit of the morning training, and then head inland for a visit to a horse farm. Normandy is a primary Thoroughbred breeding region of France and many of the nation's most important studs are located here. Afterwards, we'll have lunch in the country before heading back to town, arriving back mid- afternoon. It won't be an organized racing day for us, but the Deauville Course will be running if you want to drop in late for a few races; a couple of Listed events are scheduled. Golf at another nearby Barriere property is an additional option, but should be set up in advance.

Day 12
Sun Aug 1 A lazy or active morning — your choice — is followed by our principal day of racing at Deauville. We'll have lunch in the restaurant overlooking the course, and, as the race viewing is excellent, we'll use our table to come and go from for the day. The Prix d'Astarte for fillies and mares at one mile, newly enriched and elevated to Group 1 status this year, is the featured event, and the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg will also be run. We'll have a last drink together, then you can enjoy your late-afternoon and evening as you choose. As many as want to are welcome to regroup for a no-host dinner, to rehash our experiences, evaluate the horses we've seen, brag about landed longshots, and complain about bad rides and lost photos.

Day 13
Mon Aug 2 The organized itinerary ends after breakfast and checkout this morning. Time to go home for those that have to. Your options to get down to Paris and your flight home are several, and some are outlined below. Bonne chance and travel safely.

CLOSING DATE:

This trip closed on May 14, 2004.

COME EARLY, STAY LATE:

This itinerary is designed to be full and busy. For those preferring a more leisurely experience, we invite you to consider coming to London earlier and / or lingering awhile in Deauville.

Even a day or two in London for adjusting, exploring or shopping will ease the pace of the early part of trip. You may want three or four days - you can never get to the bottom of London. For you insatiables, there is racing near London most days. The concierge at the Draycott can advise and help organize anything else you want.

Staying on in Deauville, relaxing in the sea air, has its own set of positives. Walk the town and beach a bit, and find your own favorite restaurant or sidewalk café. Play golf. There is racing five or six days a week at Deauville and Clairefontaine. And for excursions, there's Honfleur, Bayeux, Mont-St-Michel, and of course the D-Day landing beaches and the American Cemetery, one of Europe's most moving experiences. The Barriere concierges can arrange most things.

The Draycott and the Barriere Group have promised to accommodate extensions as best they can, but the space is not blocked or guaranteed. Please let us know as soon as possible if you wish to do this.

ITINERARY & PRICES:

The itinerary includes:

Eleven(11) nights lodging as indicated: four(4) in London, three(3) at Goodwood, and four(4) in Deauville.

Breakfast each morning as indicated.

Six(6) escorted days' racing: at Newmarket, Ascot, Goodwood, Clairefontaine, and Deauville, including transportation to and from the racecourse, members' enclosure admission or equivalent, and race card. Private box at Ascot and on one(1) day at Goodwood. Reserved seating on second day at Goodwood. Restaurant seating at Deauville.

Lunch on Five(5) days: in Newmarket, at Ascot Racecourse, one(1) day at Goodwood Racecourse, in rural Normandy, at Deauville Racecourse.

Afternoon Tea on Two(2) days, at Ascot Racecourse and at Goodwood Racecourse.

Full Day excursion from London to Newmarket, including gallops and yard visit, Racing Museum admission, tour of the Jockey Club, and tour of the National Stud.

Late afternoon light buffet with wine and Pimms at the National Stud in Newmarket.

Excursion in Deauville including morning racecourse visit and farm visit.

Transfer from London airport to the Draycott Hotel, London.

Transfer from Draycott Hotel, London, to Goodwood Marriott Hotel, West Sussex.

Transfer from Goodwood Marriott Hotel to Portsmouth.

Ferry transport from Portsmouth to Ouistreham, including private Commodore Class cabin for double occupants. Single travelers accommodated in smaller alternative outside cabins.

Transfer from Ouistreham to Normandy/Royal Hotels, Deauville.

Complimentary racing newspaper each day.

Welcome cocktail reception at the Draycott Hotel, London.

The itinerary does not include:

Airfare from and back to the U.S.A.
Transfer from Normandy/Royal Hotel, Deauville, to Paris airport. (See some options below.)
Dinner on any night, or lunch except on days indicated.

The Cost of the Trip does not include:

Any charges incurred at hotels other than the basic cost of the room, including but not limited to room service, mini-bar, television or video, restaurant or bar service, laundry or dry-cleaning, business services, golf or other activities, and activities arranged through hotel concierge. (All group members will be required to provide a credit card imprint upon check-in at each hotel to guarantee payment for any individual charges.)
Excess baggage charges.
Costs related to obtaining passports or visas.
Travel insurance.
Charges incurred for anything other than what is specified in the "Itinerary Includes" summary above.
Any gratuities.

The Cost of the Trip Is:

*Please note that the single rooms at the Draycott are very much smaller than the deluxe doubles we have blocked, but are priced so as to not add any cost to the Single Supplement Price. Single trip members may upgrade to a standard double room, with an addition of $450 to the Single Supplement. Single trip members wishing to be accommodated in a deluxe double must add $980 to the Single Supplement. There is no assurance that single or standard double rooms will be available at the Draycott. At all the other hotels, singles will be accommodated in the same class of double rooms as the double occupancy members of the group. Because of the limited number of rooms that we have been able to reserve at these very busy times, we regret we must reserve the right to limit the number of single travelers on each trip.

Trip prices are subject to change up to sixty(60) days prior to trip departure to reflect fluctuations in currency exchange rates between the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Dollar prices quoted here are based on the following exchange rates:

OPTIONS:

Additional Nights at the Draycott Hotel, London, if available: $245 per night, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement will vary.
Additional Nights at the Normandy or Royal Hotel, Deauville, if available: $235 per night, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement $235 per night.

Some options for transfer from Normandy or Royal Hotel, Deauville, to Charles de Gaulle Airport, near Paris:

1) Private car transfer:	$600 per person, traveling alone $300 per person, based on two(2) passengers $200 per person, based on three(3) passengers $150 per person, based on four(4)
2) Mini-bus transfer:	$135 per person, minimum five(5) passengers
3) Self-Drive Rental Auto:	$60 per person, based on two passengers, for one-day compact-class car rental, plus insurance if necessary, but including drop charge.

*Please note the costs listed for this transfer are estimates. We can advise you on your options and will do what we can to assist on possible multiple-member consolidation, but due to the uncertain departure time for each guest, all arrangements for this transfer are the responsibility of each trip member.

*Please note the approximate driving time from central Deauville to Charles DeGaulle airport is approximately three hours. If you are driving, remember you must arrive at the airport in sufficient time to turn in your car and get to check-in by the time your airline has advised you. We recommend leaving Deauville a minimum of six(6) hours prior to your departure time. Therefore, we advise a departure time for your flight from Charles de Gaulle be as late in the day as you can make it, consistent with the time you want to be back in the U.S.

*Please note that the day we attend Ascot Race Course is not part of the Royal Ascot meeting.

*The trips are designed for ten to sixteen people. We reserve the right to cancel a trip if it has less than ten subscribers. Should we need to do this, all payments made toward the cost of the trip will be fully and promptly refunded.

*You must have a valid Passport to enter the United Kingdom and France.

To view the itinerary for our other 2004 trip click here.