WHEN I was a lad, the ring at York Racecourse (The Press, April 7) was known as the two-bob ring, and that is what it cost to get in - unless you were known to the pensioner on the gate, in which case it was less than that.

My strongest memory is of Battle Hymn winning the Hunt Cup when I had a hard-earned shilling on it. That was 1946 or 1947, I think, when the race was run here, rather than Doncaster.

Another exciting day was when Ringmaster won by a long way - and I was on it.

At that time one could get to within a furlong of the winning post for free and watch one’s fancies struggle home, among the bookies’ stands which were lined-up along the rails.

What happy days they seem to be, so long ago - and we all got Wednesday afternoons off from school.

Phil Fowler, Bramble Dene, Woodthorpe, York