A day at the races...

Last Christmas, I gave DH a gift that I bought through the Red Balloon site which specialises in 'experiences' rather than more 'material type' gifts. I have now purchased a number of this type of  gift; dinners, a session in a flight simulator and an A3 canvas print from any photo that a recipient chose.

Last Christmas I chose a 'behind the scenes' Tour Gift Experience of Doomben Racecourse, here in Brisbane. And yesterday was the day that he organised to use his voucher. So, dressed in his suit, off he went yesterday morning with strict instructions from me that he had to take photos for a blog post
:-)

DH rarely wears a suit, but yesterday he donned one ready for his tour...


The tour included entry to the racecourse, morning tea, meeting a jockey in the jockeys' locker rooms, watch the weigh in and watch the start of a race at the barrier stalls. The people on the tour also meet a trainer in the mounting enclosure and also stand with a race caller as he commentates.

The tour starts on the track just past the winning post

At the start...

At the start

At the start; near the barrier. The man in front is Bill Shuck, manager of the Racecourse

The mounting yard

Pru Reed (BRC rep), Bill Shuck and jockey, Rosie Meyers

Rosie Meyers on Dorchester

Jockey, Tim Bell, Bill Shuck and Pru Reed

When DH came home 5 hours later, he reported that it had been a wonderful gift and that he had really enjoyed the experience. I asked him were the men with the large leather bags (bookmakers taking bets) there and he said no...they have computers these days, no 'pencillers' or anything like that!