100 Things to do before you die: Visit every racecourse in Great Britain and Ireland

I inherited the love of the Sport of Kings from my grandmother... The Daily Mail Roll-Up, which in 1962 reached over £100,000 in their 18 horse accumulator before leg 14 lost (a beaten odds-on favourite, if I remember correctly).

Three years of Arkle and Mill House battling for the Cheltenham Gold Cup followed and with Lester Piggott seemingly winning every Derby and Red Rum keeping Aintree open single-handedly, I became hooked. There has been a “Helsby selection” running in every race since 1966.

My first visit to the Roodee came in 1971 on a sunny September Saturday. I was even ahead on the betting as Arboretum got his head in front right on the line in the last race (beginner’s luck - it has never happened since).

Then the quest began in earnest.

Coach trips to Bangor-on-Dee and Haydock Park followed. In 1973, I could finally afford a car. This unleashed the floodgates; Cartmel, Worcester, Stratford, Uttoxeter became possible. In 1976, British Rail ran a £5 return to London on Saturday promotion. Trips to Ascot, Sandown, Epsom and Kempton were possible.

I worked away from Chester for spells and this brought Newmarket, Ayr and Kelso into play. The remainder could only be achieved by taking holidays. So finally in 1983 only Salisbury, Goodwood and Fontwell were left. A delightful holiday in Winchester was the answer. My recommendations to visit are Cartmel, Ascot, and Cheltenham.

In 1994, Paul Mizon was doing some work for Stena Line on their Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire route and wanted to impress his CK Tools clients. So a party went on the first voyage of the Fast Ferry to Ireland for Ireland-Wales Rugby International. I filled in for someone who dropped out.

This opened up Irish Racecourses to me. I celebrated my March 1994 birthday at Navan races and have been trying ever since to visit all of the other 27 racecourses. I am 4 short; Galway, Tramore, Balinrobe and Killarney. Can I do it before the grim reaper catches up with me? Balinrobe is scheduled for September.

My recommendations to visit are Laytown (the only beach racecourse left in Europe), Punchestown and Listowel. Just add in taking the bus from Tralee to Dingle as part of the Listowel visit and you will not regret it.

Finally, my three horses that I have a tiny stake in are Gaye Starlet (very slow), Messager (the same) and the shining hope Epic, which is a two-year-old and will start running in May/June.

Neil Helsby