racenightservices

Visiting the Oaks in September is very different to the hustle and bustle of the Derby.  The actual race night itself was full enough, but it seemed by comparison quiet and deserted; and I had a new sense of space and leisure in which I could take in all the details of the race night.  I imagine that the contrast between the two scenes must always be pretty striking, but this year it was even more noticeable because of the drastic change in weather conditions.  Another difference that forced itself on my attention was the greater prevalence of gypsies.  Caravans lined the road that runs from Tattenham Corner to the paddock and the grandstand.  I attributed this increased activity partly to the simple mathematical fact that, as there were fewer people present to be pestered, there must be more gypsies per head to pester them.  Also, unlike the race night in June, this time I had a lady accompanying me.  It was about her welfare that the gypsies were chiefly concerned.  'Buy the lady a favour, sir,' pleaded one merchant whose stock-in-trade consisted of hundreds of disgusting little race night souvenirs.  I'd hardly even finished explaining to him that the lady would not thank me if I did - a sentiment heartily endorsed by the lady herself - when another (thinking, I suppose, that she looked hungry) suggested that I should regale her with a depressing form of fish which had the appearance of stewed brown-paper bags.  This temptation, likewise, [...]

There has been a lot of fuss about viewing problems in the poshest areas of the course at Ascot, but what many commentators have failed to mention - or perhaps notice - is that the Royal meeting , for all the trappings of finery, is a surprisingly democratic race night.  There is no question that if you want to go the whole hog, with a table in the new grandstand, a hired morning coat and a new hat for the missus, plus all the champagne you can guzzle, you can spend the thick end of £5000 and still not see much more than the back of someone's top hat.  However, not far away from the land of silk and money exists another race night, with its own codes and traditions, that is every bit as much fun and a whole lot more relaxed.  Basic entry to the smart bit costs more than £50, but for just £15 you can enter the adjacent Silver Ring and experience all the fun of a marvellous race night for a fraction of the toffs' expenditure.  Remember, you will be watching the same horses.  A small percentage of the crowd here are standard race night punters, in t-shirts and jeans and clutching battered copies of the Racing Post.  On any other day they might be at Redcar, or Ripon, but here they are watching a better class of racing.  Most of the Silver Ring crowd, however, have made a sartorial effort.  The ladies are immaculate [...]