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Happy Valley in Hong Kong has got it right. 10HK$ entry which when I went was almost exactly a pound. You swipe the same card you use on the metro system at a turnstile and you’re in. Beer was actually cheap by HK standards too. Fantastic evening’s racing and a great city, would love to go again.
When I went there richard I bought some peppered pork skewers for not much and they were gorgeous. But what was amazing was that they came up to me afterwards and asked what I thought.
Contrast Chelsea 30 years ago. Burger stall outside the digusting bogs outside the shed end. Bloke in front of me told “hang on a minute mate” whilst the guy serving went for a piss. He quickly came back out shoving it back into his filthy trousers and picked up a bun and said “what did you want?”
Errr no thanks
Reading this thread is making me kind of sad, a load of die hard fans who can barely afford their favourite hobby any more, myself included – with finances seemingly even harder to come by in the years to come I can’t see things changing for the better any time soon. The real fans are being pushed out in place of those who put more money behind the bar, I completely understand it from a business point of view, but money really is the root of all evil.
“Lucky where I am. Close to Sandown and Kempton with obviously ascot Windsor and epsom half hour away. Newbury Lingfield plumpton easy trips.”
Where abouts are you based Clive? was plesantly surprised to find out Ian used to live this neck of the woods too! I’m in New Malden.
Ah. Little Korea.
Twickenham. Which everyone assumes means I love rugby. I don’t.Does my head in
A business contact rang last year with the opening “what do you think of the lions”. I thought he thought I was at the ******* zoo before it clicked
And that took a few minutes too. I hadn’t a clue what he was on about
‘True. With same trousers in which haven’t been laundered since’
Doesn’t even bother putting it away between toilet trips these days either.
‘The real fans are being pushed out in place of those who put more money behind the bar, I completely understand it from a business point of view, but money really is the root of all evil.’
Everything is being taken over by the bean counters Ben. Nothing we can do about it sadly. I enjoy a drink or ten but regardless of price, I’ve no interest in getting steaming drunk at the races, I’m there for the sport. Just don’t understand why so many who don’t know one end of a horse from the other go solely to get bladdered.
Haha yes Clive, they seem a very nice bunch the Koreans, seem to stick to their own and never hear of any trouble round here! Twickenhams lovely I grew up in Teddington, been to a couple of England games at Twickenham but it’s about £100 a ticket now so I tend to avoid.
“Everything is being taken over by the bean counters Ben. Nothing we can do about it sadly. I enjoy a drink or ten but regardless of price, I’ve no interest in getting steaming drunk at the races, I’m there for the sport. Just don’t understand why so many who don’t know one end of a horse from the other go solely to get bladdered.”
Neither do I Richard, I often wonder if the likes of Instagram play a part, my girlfriend is going to Epsom ladies day this year for the f****** photos! I tried looking through the card and giving her some tips but she was more interested in telling me what outfit she’s going to be wearing lol.
Ive been racing since early eighties im not sure it’s worse than before in truth. Maybe even less so?
Cheltenham festival was very drunken back in the day for a start. Other big days were carnage
There are non drinking areas at ascot now following cricket grounds. Good idea which has worked well in cricket
I grew up in area too ben
Yes the various areas of London with the communities are great. I had lunch with a gorgeous Portuguese (cute Latin looks, that accent and lovely humour) old friend near stockwell today. That’s a huge Portuguese and Brazilian area
“Ive been racing since early eighties im not sure it’s worse than before in truth. Maybe even less so?”
Very fair point Clive, nostalgia always plays a part, when I first got into racing the May Chester meeting seemed so magical to me, big crowds, quirky course, trainers who targeted the meeting and fun 2yo races to add to the handicaps and derby/oaks trials. Just over 10 years later (and still never having been to the racecourse) I don’t get that same special feeling watching it any more. I was around 18 when I first saw the meeting so maybe it’s an age thing too, those experiences we have in our teenage years really stick with us and at that age you feel like anythings possible.
Nice Clive, an incredibly attractive race that lot! There’s a portugese bird on my uni course and if it goes tits up with the mrs I certainly know who’ll be the first person getting a phone call!
Another excellent thread by the honourable one…
Sandown
Kempton
Epsom
Brighton
Ascot
and of course
CheltenhamI have enjoyed a leafy afternoon stroll along the river at Windsor with a foreign lady and we discussed Panama hats many years ago. I am actually not sure if I attended an evening meeting at Windsor. The memory is vague and it may well have been a dream. Mine are so real !
Abroad…
Frankfurt
and Malta and the bookies in cowsheds with overounds near to 200.“That’s a huge Portuguese and Brazilian area”
How about Portuguese with Brazilians? 🤔
I met a helpful Portuguese assistant in M&S yesterday. She has family over there and told me she flies back all the time. ( I thought I ought to alert the store detective but smiled appreciatively instead )
She preferred Jan and Feb when there were less crowds. I did ask if she had visited one of the recent new tourist attractions – The famous tent. She was very curious and I explained to her that the famous runaway Ricky Lake had been holed up there for several months.“I’ve never heard of the tent or him she explained.”
He was extremely secretive about his whereabouts I explained and people are looking for him now, and that if a man came in and asked for an extra extra large – it could well be him.
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