Happy Valley Horse Races

This was the first week we could make it to the races! Every other Wednesday there is a big horse race at the Happy Valley race course in Central Hong Kong. It is pretty much how you would picture a horse race, minus the big floppy hats. It is currently Oktoberfest at the races for the entire month so there was lots of beer and festivities on the concourse. We wandered around the main concourse for a while and saw one race from the bottom, but the track is so large that is hard to see more than 3 seconds right in front of you. Eventually we grabbed food (braised pork chop and rice. Yes this is what the Chinese have at sporting events) and headed to the 7th floor where we could see the entire track much better.  Our usual group of exchange students was up there so we all sat together and cheered for different people's horses they bet on. The atmosphere is definitely higher energy and more IN the race if you're on the bottom, but the top is much better for the view. The races were very interesting. The track was made of grass and people would fill the divets after each race. The jockeys wore pretty bright uniforms as well. The horses looked like they were going so slow when they were on the other side of the track but really they were going unbelievably fast. I really enjoyed the races this time, but I really want to go back again. It is a very different experience from most things you do in HK. I haven't seen that many westerners in one place either! Everyone on the bottom floor was a westerner, socializing and mingling. The Chinese were up on the higher floors placing bets and watching the races intently. Very different scenes.

The Track

The Race

After the races we all went to a lounge, more low-key bar called The Canny Man. It was a nice place to sit around a table and talk to everyone. After that we went to dance at a bar down the street called Mes Amis.