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Wednesday Diligence

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R0013383a (Medium) (Walkie-Lookie: The man was so engrossed in the horse racing journal as he climbed up the footbridge that I was able to walk side by side with him, pointing the GX200 towards his direction without being noticed. The active space on the left balanced the static man with some dynamism by showing where he was moving into)

Horse racing is a heritage left by the British. It has been a much loved pastime of the local gambling community. Horse racing has all along been a big business monopolised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), founded in 1884 and formerly known as the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club from 1959 after granted the Royal Charter by QEII* until 1996 before the return of Hong Kong to China.

1966hv(Happy Vally Race Course, circa 1966)

The HKJC has a legal monopoly over betting on horse racing and football. In 1974, it opened 6 off-course branches where the members of the public could wager on horse race meets at the club's Happy Valley racecourse. There are now in excess of 100 betting branches throughout the territory which accepts bets on racing and on soccer and buy Mark Six lottery tickets. Some years later, another racourse was built in Shatin (literally, sandy field).

Prospective winners or losers study very hard on the days of races. There are horse races for betting every Wednesday and Sunday. These photos are taken on Wednesday, so the title of this post.

R0013568 (Medium) (Hanging Heads: I took this picture in the McDonald's. I like the colours and the contrast between the two heads. I cut the composition that way, removing the tables and the reading materials to keep the image crisp and simple)

R0013620_b (Large) (Study in the Alley: Whenever there is a Jockey Club betting branch, you will find a scene nearby similar to what is shown in the photo. If you look carefully, you will find the people on the far side were also studying the horse racing tips in the newspaper. Ever since graduated from school, these men have kept it a weekly habit to read a lot … of the gambling section in the newspaper every Wednesday)

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* This is to show that British had ruled in Hong Kong in case you wonder (Just kidding):

coronation

The pailaus at the junction of Nathan Road and Gascoigne Road. This pailaus was built to celebrate the Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth II. This pailaus was the biggest one. The photo was taken in 1953.

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