The end of May saw a party of 14 members venture out to Haydock Park for a days flat racing. The sun was blazing all day, which was a change from earlier in the week, and we all turned up in our Sunday best to witness 8 races on the card.

I have to admit that I have only once before set foot in a bookies and I don’t even bet on the Grand National, so this was a baptism of fire for me! I had to ask the counter girl at the Tote office how to place a bet, and she slightly baffled me with the choice, so I went to the bookies out on the course to let them part me from my money.

The Red Devils, the army parachute display team literally dropped in during the day which was pretty exciting, and then mingled with the crowds later, collecting donations from the punters.

Watching the runners and riders in the parade ring before the race, and I was amazed at how delicate the horses appeared, and as for the jockeys, I felt I could have picked them up and placed them in my pocket! I’m not quite sure now how we chose which one to back, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless you want to lose your money.  At the end of the day we had backed 6 horses and didn’t manage to pick a winner or even have one placed, so maybe this isn’t as easy as it looks, and we need to study form a bit before our next visit.

Whatever the outcome, we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and plan another visit in the not too distant future.