Happy Valley & Sha Tin Racecourses...

Today, I had the chance to visit both Happy Valley & Sha Tin Racecourses (Hong Kong Jockey Club HKJC). Both were great venues to visit, and both have there fare share of turf management difficulties! For Happy Valley, it is built in the centre of skyscrapers flats, reduced airflow over the turf means more diseases, and in the centre is something like 12 or so soccer pitches. Whilst Sha Tin is simply overworked due to barrier trials as well as race day fixtures! Here are a couple of photos from Happy Valley:

HV Repairing Divits

HV Divit Repair Finish Line

HV Tote Board and Skyline

Whilst I was at Sha Tin, I met an old friend from Uni, Pako. He is the Track Manager for the HKJC, and effectively oversees the operations. I was issued a pass that allowed me to go anywhere he does, and we saw it all from the 'weigh-in/out room' to being right at the start of a 1400m race! It was a great opportunity to get this close to an event. Here are some pics from the day:

ST Access ALL Areas

ST Finish Line

ST Horse Cooldown Zone

ST Weigh-in Room

ST Finish Grandstand

ST Handelers and Starter

ST Almost Ready

ST And they're off

ST Me and PAKO on the Track

When I finally got back to the hotel, I quickly had (another) shower and hit the streets to find some stuff, have dinner and check it all out. I did NOT find any stuff, I had a VERY cheap dinner, and I checked out only some of the nightlife. Guess I will have to come back for another visit!

Hoo roo for now...

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Welcome to Hong Kong

Ok, that was a LONG flight from Helsinki, but I am here... I say long, as it was 9.5hrs, but I also got a little bit of sleep! Clearing immigration was such a breeze as well, now to get into central Hong Kong... After all is said and done, it was SO easy!

I got to the hotel, the hardest part was getting out of the Central Station due to traffic, but upon arrival, I checked-in and found myself on the 10th floor. The room, whilst comfortable enough, is all marble and glass. Even the wall of the bathroom is glass AND even from the shower into the bedroom is glass, so no modesty here!!

HK Room... Massive Bed

Glass Bathroom

I had a shower, and hit the streets... I was on a task to get a 'Danbo'... I searched high and low last night without success... I am hoping that tonight, when I search low and then high, I might find one!

happy with you

I also made the mistake of walking into a camera shop... $1,700HKD later, I have a new lens!

Hong Kong Sreet

Test New Lens

Test New Lens

Tomorrow, I am heading off to the Happy Valley Race Course, before heading across to meet with Pako (I went to Uni with him) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's, Sha Tin Race Course!

Hoo roo for now...

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