Thurles is such a sad loss to racing - and the foal crops crisis means I fear more tracks will follow

I have never been to Thurles and, truth be told, I'm one of those who has never been entirely certain how to pronounce Thurles. That doesn't mean I won't miss it, for the loss of any racecourse is always keenly felt.

Once upon a time, there were tracks in Britain and Ireland that even enthusiastic racing fans would never have seen. While in the days of World of Sport the ITV7 occasionally visited more obscure venues like Fakenham and Hexham, prior to the advent of betting shop pictures and then dedicated racing channels, there were racecourses whose action was only ever really accessible to those who attended the meetings.

• 'It's a treasure in racing' - Sir Anthony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and leading politicians express dismay at Thurles closure 

I remember going to Cartmel decades ago, having no idea what to expect. I similarly recall wondering what Uttoxeter looked like. It did not look as I had imagined.