From the third floor of the main building at the Turffontein Race Course in Johannesburg, the horse racing culture is very different to the one on the stands outside.
Decor fit for a wedding, with enough food to feed a whole army. This is where the real betting happens, and this is where the big players come together on 26 April for Champions Day. A stiff atmosphere where all you hear are the sounds of cutlery clinking together, and a soft volume emanating from TV screens around the room - where you can follow the race. Of course one can walk out onto the balcony to follow the race, but many are too preoccupied with eating and drinking wine - and are quite content with the TV screens.
Down below, out in the sun, where people who are also here to see their favourite horse win, experience a different culture. A vibey atmosphere, vibrant conversations around who might be the winning horse, and close - up vantage points to the actual work on the ground.
Passersby would stop and ask you for a winning number. A mad dash to the betting counter with your new lucky numbers from a random stranger is the highlight of the day. Connecting to one another means more than just placing a bet.
The intrigue, the suspense, the excitement.
But at the end of the day, the separation does not matter. The main race is what everybody waits for.
No more eating. No more drinking. No more conversations. A hush. All heads turn towards the horses ready for take-off. The stands outside the third floor fill up. It's the race of the day.
A victorious winner. A Champion of Note. Marcus, the horse keeper. Marcus takes care of Louis the King. He cleans him up, keeps him happy and makes sure he is ready for a race. Marcus is our winner of the day.
Winning Horse:
Marcus is the winner, but all headlines would point towards Louise the King, bought for just R60 000 as a yearling catapulted his earnings to more than R5 million when he won the R2 million SA Derby on Champions Day.
The way we see it, the rich people were the ones experiencing it all from the grounds and going home with new friends, new stories to tell.
Rich vs poor at Champions Day (Photos)
From the third floor of the main building at the Turffontein Race Course in Johannesburg, the horse racing culture is very different to the one on the stands outside.
Decor fit for a wedding, with enough food to feed a whole army. This is where the real betting happens, and this is where the big players come together on 26 April for Champions Day. A stiff atmosphere where all you hear are the sounds of cutlery clinking together, and a soft volume emanating from TV screens around the room - where you can follow the race. Of course one can walk out onto the balcony to follow the race, but many are too preoccupied with eating and drinking wine - and are quite content with the TV screens.
Down below, out in the sun, where people who are also here to see their favourite horse win, experience a different culture. A vibey atmosphere, vibrant conversations around who might be the winning horse, and close - up vantage points to the actual work on the ground.
Passersby would stop and ask you for a winning number. A mad dash to the betting counter with your new lucky numbers from a random stranger is the highlight of the day. Connecting to one another means more than just placing a bet.
The intrigue, the suspense, the excitement.
But at the end of the day, the separation does not matter. The main race is what everybody waits for.
No more eating. No more drinking. No more conversations. A hush. All heads turn towards the horses ready for take-off. The stands outside the third floor fill up. It's the race of the day.
A victorious winner. A Champion of Note. Marcus, the horse keeper. Marcus takes care of Louis the King. He cleans him up, keeps him happy and makes sure he is ready for a race. Marcus is our winner of the day.
Winning Horse:
Marcus is the winner, but all headlines would point towards Louise the King, bought for just R60 000 as a yearling catapulted his earnings to more than R5 million when he won the R2 million SA Derby on Champions Day.
The way we see it, the rich people were the ones experiencing it all from the grounds and going home with new friends, new stories to tell.
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