‘Spooky’ abandoned racecourse bought for £25million left to rot as heartbroken fans mourn loss of iconic track
pHeartbroken fans have been mourning the loss of iconic Folkestone racecourse near Kent./p
figure id=attachment_23857159 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/folk.png?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23857159 width=960 height=425 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditTwitter @furg88/figcredit/figureThe famous stand at Folkestone racecourse now lies derelict and unloved more than ten years after the track closed[/caption]
figure id=attachment_23857160 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/folk1.png?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23857160 width=960 height=458 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditTwitter @furg88/figcredit/figureThe site was bought for £25million and there are plans to build 8,500 homes there[/caption]
figure id=attachment_23857161 class=wp-caption alignnone style=width: 970pximg decoding=async loading=lazy src=https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/folk2.png?strip=allamp;w=960 alt= class=alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-23857161 width=960 height=456 /figcaption class=wp-caption-text/figcaptionfigcreditTwitter @furg88/figcredit/figureFrankie Dettori and AP McCoy graced this parade ring but now it is a shadow of its former self[/caption]
pIt is more than ten years since Quartz Du Montceau won the final ever race at the popular 1m3f oval circuit./p
pAs recently as six months ago the roadsigns guiding motorists on the M20 to the track were still standing #8211; just like the famous grandstand./p
pMind you, it#8217;s a miracle it still is given this a href=https://www.racingpost.com/news/features/folkestone-plan-finally-nears-fruition-but-racecourse-remains-a-painful-memory-arfUO6P0yx57/Racing Post/a report said it had started to become a health hazard when racing still took place there./p
pNow, orange safety barriers sit in front of tall railings at the foot of steps that used to be lined with punters./p
pThe grass in front appears to be quite well maintained but elsewhere is wild and unkempt./p
pThe Victorian Bar and Grill that would have welcomed owners, trainers and fans has weeds growing out the front and is protected by more railings./p
pOnce pristine and cared for, the parade ring now looks a sad imitation of what it used to be without the care and attention of racecourse staff./p
pRaceTech camera operator Fergus Waddell took the photos and posted them online./p
pThe images drew a load of comments from fans who remembered the track in its glory days./p
pAmong them was ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles, who said he was #8216;so sad#8217; seeing what had happened to the once-famous course./p
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pAnother punter wrote: #8220;Spooky pictures. Nothing sadder to my eyes than a disused racecourse./p
p#8220;Seems almost criminal to me that it is still just sat there, empty and neglected.#8221;/p
pWhile another comment read: #8220;Must be spooky walking around a dead course./p
p#8220;Thinking of the bookies and punters that are no longer with us shouting out prices in an empty ring, and the hopeful chats early before the first race.#8221;/p
pFolkestone racecourse opened in 1898 and at its peak hosted more than 20 meetings a year./p
pThe Queen Mother visited in November 1964 and jumps and Flat racing took place there, with Frankie Dettori and AP McCoy both competing./p
pArena Racing Company owned the site and there were plans to build 800 homes next to the track in the hope of financing a new racecourse./p
pBut the scheme was rejected and the course closed for good in December 2012./p
pThe land was actually sold to the local council for £25million a few years ago and a planning application for 8,500 homes to be put on the site was submitted last year./p
pIt is believed the first phase of the 30-year development is now under way and the first home will be up for sale on September 1, 2025./p
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