Racing-Europe - 2006 Trip - Ascot, Goodwood & The Arc

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ASCOT, GOODWOOD & THE ARC
12 Days, 11 Nights (including one en route)
SEPTEMBER 21 to OCTOBER 2, 2006

3 nights in London, 2 nights near Goodwood, 5 nights in Paris
5 days of racing at Ascot, Goodwood, Chantilly, and Longchamp
Farm & training visits in Sussex and Chantilly

Day 1
Thur Sept 21 Depart U.S., if not joining the trip from London.

Day 2
Fri Sept 22 Arrive in London. You will be met at the airport and delivered to our London address, the Draycott Hotel. We will also provide transport to The Draycott from other arrival locations in London. The remainder of the day is free for adjustment and your own activities. At 6PM we will convene for cocktails in the hotel to get to know one another a bit and get set for our journey.
THE DRAYCOTT: The graceful, refined Draycott is our London home. Set in Chelsea and near Knightsbridge, amid superb shopping, dining, and walking, the hotel has been adapted from three grand Edwardian townhouses, and has direct access to a private park. Our rooms are very spacious, each with a sitting area, and in many cases a fireplace. Visit www.draycotthotel.com to see more about the hotel. Continental breakfast is included each morning.

Day 3
Sat Sept 23 Ascot is back on line in 2006 and this day, long one of the year's biggest at England's most esteemed racecourse, is a fine opportunity to get reacquainted with it. The headline event is the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, one of the premier one-mile races of the entire European season. Co-feature is the Group 1 Fillies' Mile for 2-year-old females.
When this meeting was held at Newmarket last season during Ascot's renovations, some of the day's traditional supporting races were shifted to another day, so it's uncertain at this point what the 2006 undercard will include. But no matter whether the old lineup is reverted to or if last year's is brought forward, there will be other quality Group and listed races on the program.
Since the new Ascot is not scheduled to be unveiled until May 27, 2006 and the course is still basically a construction site at this time, we have not had the chance to inspect it and select the best place to set ourselves up for the day. For now, we will be getting the equivalent of member's enclosure badges and going mobile; we may decide by the Closing Date of the trip to add lunch at one of the course's restaurants.
Back in London tonight, we'll book a table at one of the area's smart restaurants, open to subscription on a no-host basis.

Day 4
Sun Sept 24 This is an OPEN DAY for you to use as you please in London. One of your choices is a return to Ascot for another day's racing.

Day 5
Mon Sept 25 Mid-morning we'll check out of The Draycott and make the two-hour transfer to the Marriott Goodwood Hotel, our base near Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex. After arrival and check-in, you have numerous choices for the rest of the day.
There is a pool and fitness center at the hotel, as well as a golf course with rental clubs available while they last. The historic town of Chichester is only a few miles away. We'll be organizing a quick look at the racecourse, one of the world's most scenic and unusually configured, to be followed by a trip over to nearby Arundel Castle, homebase of the Dukes of Norfolk for over seven hundred years. We'll have a private guide show us through.
In the evening, we'll have another no-host dinner at an area restaurant.
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. Go to www.marriotthotels.com/pmegs to see more about the hotel. A full English breakfast is included each morning.

Day 6
Tue Sept 26 In the morning we'll get some fresh air and visit a private stud farm not far away. Their work schedule permitting, and if enough of the group members agree to an earlier start, we'll also stop in at a local trainer's yard.
After a change of clothes back at the hotel, we'll head over to the course for a day of racing. Many people consider Goodwood to be the most beautiful course in England, and a fair proportion of those think it's the prettiest in the world. Today we'll have a chance to experience it on one of its quieter days, when its charms can be even more in evidence. We'll have an informal lunch at a paddock-side restaurant, and there will be ample seating available in the stands for race viewing. A Group 3 race leads the card, the seven-furlong Supreme Stakes.
After this long day, we suggest a quiet and restful night.

Day 7
Wed Sept 27 This morning, following checkout, our coach will take us to Ashford, a couple of scenic and stress-free hours east, where we'll board the under-the-channel Eurostar fast train to Paris. We'll have lunch on the train and get into Gare du Nord in central Paris at about 4PM, having lost an hour to continental time. It's a short ride to our Paris home, the Raphael Hotel.
THE RAPHAEL: We have chosen the Raphael as our Paris hotel for its location and distinctive charm. In the 16th Arrondissement, it is close to Longchamp Racecourse, the Arc de Triomphe, the cafes of the Champs Elysees, and the shopping on Avenue Victor Hugo. And it has retained, more than any of the other top Paris hotels, an ambience of discreet and traditional luxury. There is a fine restaurant, a cozy "English" bar, and a delightful rooftop garden. Our rooms are large, and a buffet breakfast is included each morning. Please see www.raphael-hotel.com for more on the hotel.
After settling in, for those interested, we'll regroup in the Raphael Bar for a cocktail and then head out for a no-host dinner cruise on the Seine. As cliched as a gondola ride in Venice or a balloon ride over the Serengeti, an evening boat ride in Paris is one of those things that you've just got to do. And like the others, it seldom disappoints. We'll be going on one of the nicer boats.

Day 8
Thur Sept 28 An OPEN DAY to enjoy Paris.

Day 9
Fri Sept 29 We take a trip to Chantilly today, twenty-five miles north of Paris and, like Newmarket, the principal Thoroughbred training center of its country. We'll see the vast array of workout courses - in action - then visit a trainer's yard.
There is racing scheduled this afternoon at the Chantilly course, and we'll head over after a no-host lunch. The specific races for this day aren't yet set, but some time spent at this beautifully-situated course is worthwhile in any event. Other sights worth seeing in Chantilly are the Museum of the Living Horse and the Chantilly Chateau, both of which provide the visual backdrop for the racecourse, and we may be able to squeeze one of them in at some point during the day.

Day 10
Sat Sept 30 We make our first of two visits to Longchamp Racecourse, for Day One of "Arc Weekend". In recent years, the French authorities have decisively upgraded this day's card, and the Group 1 Prix de la Foret, along with four Group 2 events at a variety of distances, are offered up as appetizers for tomorrow. We'll have lunch at the Restaurant Panoramique overlooking this most majestic of the world's urban racecourses, where the Eiffel Tower serves as an unofficial 1 1/4-mile pole.

Day 11
Sun Oct 1 Arc Day. An incomparable fashion spectacle at Longchamp and the climactic day of the European racing season for the last fifty years. The undercard includes five Group 1 races: a five-furlong sprint, a two-and-a-half mile marathon, 2-year-old races for both colts and fillies, and the prestigious Prix de l'Opera for fillies and mares. And finally, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe itself, Europe's greatest all-age race at a mile and a half, the one they all show up for. John Randall and Tony Morris in A Century of Champions: "The best horses have to accept that ultimate challenge; if they are fit and well and they do not, we can only assume they are not up to it."
This day is the closest thing Europe has to a Breeders' Cup - where, incidentally, some of today's runners may be making their next stop. We'll have a block of seats, and access to the best parts of the paddock-side, to mingle with what is probably the most cosmopolitan racing crowd that gathers anywhere on the planet.
In the evening we can gather again in the bar at the Raphael to talk over the horses, races, and places we've seen - and maybe start making plans to come back next year.

Day 12
Mon Oct 2 The organized itinerary ends after breakfast and checkout this morning. If you must go home, bonne chance and travel safely. Transfer to your Paris airport is provided if you are leaving today or extending at the Raphael.

CLOSING DATE:

This trip will close on on July 21, 2006. Payment in full and all necessary completed paperwork must be received by us no later than this date to insure that you will be able to join the group.

COME EARLY, STAY LATE:

The itinerary, by design, is full and busy. If you would like a bit more of a leisurely experience, we invite you to consider coming to London earlier and/or staying on in Paris.

Even one extra day in London for adjusting at the beginning can be beneficial. You may want more - for shopping or for your own special interests. The concierge at the Draycott will work with you to organize any specifics.

October is many people's favorite time of the year in Paris. The concierge at the Raphael has all the keys to the city.

The Draycott and the Raphael 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 want more days in either place. This is an extremely busy time of year in both London and Paris.

ITINERARY & PRICES:

The itinerary includes:

Ten(10) nights lodging as indicated: three(3) in London, two(2) near Goodwood, and five(5) in Paris.

Breakfast each morning as indicated.

Five(5) escorted days' racing at Ascot, Goodwood, Chantilly, and Longchamp, including transportation to and from the racecourse, member's enclosure admission or equivalent and racecard. Restaurant seating at Longchamp on September 30 and reserved seating at Longchamp on October 1.

Lunch on Three(3) days: at Goodwood Racecourse September 26, on the Eurostar train September 27, and at Longchamp Racecourse September 30.

Afternoon excursion to racecourse and Arundel Castle near Goodwood.

Morning visit to farm near Goodwood.

All day excursion to Chantilly, including the training gallops and a trainer's yard.

Transfer from London airport to Draycott Hotel, London.

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

Transfer from Goodwood Marriott Hotel to Ashford Train Station.

First-class seat on Eurostar train from Ashford to Paris.

Transfer from Gare du Nord to Raphael Hotel, Paris.

Transfer from Raphael Hotel to Paris airport.

Complimentary racing newspaper each day.

Welcome cocktails at the Draycott Hotel, London.

Accompaniment throughout by a racewise and notably affable American escort.

*We reserve the right to substitute economy-class airfare, without lunch, from London or Southampton to Paris in lieu of the Eurostar train, if the September Eurostar schedule proves to be unsuitable, with transfer from Paris airport to Raphael Hotel. This will be determined by the Closing Date of the trip and may result in a small increase in the price of the trip.

The itinerary does not include:

Airfare to and from the U.S.A.
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. Please check intra-European air flight baggage allowances.
Costs related to obtaining passports or visas.
Travel insurance.
Alcoholic beverages.
Charges incurred for anything other than what is specified in the "Itinerary Includes" summary above.
Any gratuities. Please note your principal tour escort does not expect and will not accept a gratuity.

The Cost of the Trip Is:

*Please note we have still not received final pricing for some elements of this trip, and the trip price is therefore subject to very minor adjustment until we do.

*Please note that the single rooms at The Draycott in London are significantly smaller than the doubles, but they add very little cost to the Single Supplement price. Single trip members may upgrade to a standard double room, with an addition of $360 to the Single Supplement. Single trip members wishing to be accommodated in a deluxe double must add $655 to the Single Supplement. There is no assurance that single or standard double rooms will be available at The Draycott until they are booked. At and the Raphael in Paris, singles will be accommodated in the same class of double rooms as the double-occupancy members of the group.

We will attempt to match single travelers wishing to double up and thereby avoid the Single Supplement, however it will always be the single traveler's decision whether or not to accept a roommate. 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 thirty-five(35) 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 Raphael Hotel, Paris, if available: $235 per night, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement $235 per night.
Additional Nights at the Draycott Hotel, London, if available: $240 per night, perperson, based on double occupancy. Single supplement will vary.
Seine River Dinner Cruise: Estimate $230 per person.

*The trips are designed for six to sixteen people. We reserve the right to cancel a trip if it has less than six 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.

View the itineraries for our other 2006 trips:

For May-June, click here For June-July, click here
For August, click here

Quote by John Randall and Tony Morris from A Century of Champions, published in 1999 by Portway Press Ltd., Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 1XE