The Met : Too Rich For Me In 2018

I thoroughly enjoyed my recent Queen's Plate experience. I paid R300 to attend; which I believe was very fair for an event offering the quality racing that it delivered.

I even got to rub shoulders (correction: I didn't really 'rub shoulders' because it wasn't that full) with people who were actually there for the racing.

So what about a whirl at the Met?

The Sunmet website lists a variety of options ranging from R200 upwards. For some reason known only to this website they deem it appropriate to quote their ticket prices without VAT. Maybe I'm misinformed but I thought that was illegal.....

Moving on. Ticketpro, where you can actually make a booking, lists the R200 admission price as being inclusive of VAT. So confusion is already setting in.

Thereafter the hospitality offerings head unerringly into the stratosphere and peak at an eye watering R 5124-30 per person. In case you are wondering - that price stops just short of offering a complimentary blowjob although you will feel well and truly raped if you voluntarily part with that kind of money to go to the Met.

By now the apologists will be muttering assorted nonsense about 'world class international event' and suchlike. I find mixing with selfie taking social butterflies somewhat underwhelming whilst, to the best of my knowledge, I won't be seeing anything of the class of a Frankel either. Just everything barring the stable cat from the Snaith yard.

Hey - but Usain Bolt will be there! And you can drink a middle-of-the-road French champagne for the same price that you could probably obtain Dom Perignon from your local Ultra. I'm confused again - how does all of this relate to horse racing; which is mentioned only in passing in all of the gushing blurbs.

I've been to plenty of Mets and a fair number of Julys. Given the crush, the emphasis on the party, the somewhat invasive and sometimes officious security & the huge gaps between races I think I will give it a miss.

Instead I'll flop down in my home theatre, put on the aircon and surrender to the dubious 'care' of Tellytrack in the almost certain knowledge that I'll probably be confronted by interminable interviews with an endless stream of fashionista & non celebrity 'interviews' ( I like so-and-so horse because it has a blonde tail) whilst waging an unsuccessful battle to have a bet on a overloaded and malfunctioning website.

No doubt the self promoting Vee Moodley will also appear at some point to regale us with his take on the form of the runners whilst being blissfully ignorant that in the back office the entire betting system has crashed; as it almost inevitably does on every single big day.

It's pretty much a given that by mid afternoon channel 203 will probably have lured me away. I'm not even a soccer fan. I just prefer my sporting viewing to focus on the....sport. In a professional manner completely devoid of brown nosing.

Brilliantly articulated!!!

....pity it is so truthful....otherwise you could win the writers prize.....but only positive spin is bound to win...

Marshalls World Of Sport got a lucky draw competition for their patrons to win VIP tickets for the SunMet

Zoro and myself also considered but with flights and accommodation have settled for a 60th party but will be watching tellytrack from my phone.

Enjoy your tv room Garrick

Sunday its HK CLASSIC MILE DAY at Sha Tin. No such shit there....all abt the horses...all abt the sport...all abt the punt!!!!!

Dave Scott wrote: Zoro and myself also considered but with flights and accommodation have settled for a 60th party but will be watching tellytrack from my phone.

Enjoy your tv room Garrick

must be the first time since they started using starting stalls that you have missed out on a freebie to a major racemeeting :huh:

Pirates the only freebie has been to July and have always gone to met with george at our cost

Dave Mrs Elvis and i off to the met, haven't been for a few years......decided to give the L'ormarans a miss this year...but have yo say MET TICKETS.......BLOODY PRICY. just hope i can find a winner or 2 AND, MARINARESCO for the big one.

My problem with Kenilworth ( and it's not like I dont like the place my dad grew up there) is that vs Turfontein the track and finish is like 2 kms from the stands .. you need a telescope to watch

oscar wrote: My problem with Kenilworth ( and it's not like I dont like the place my dad grew up there) is that vs Turfontein the track and finish is like 2 kms from the stands .. you need a telescope to watch

Almost like the Vaal Classic track ....