It was another exciting event at the Singapore Turf Club! One of the most fashionable and prestigious races in the region, the Emirates Singapore Derby has always been the event to look forward to. It’s their 16th year sponsoring this event and as usual, there were lots of food, fun, horses, glamour and glitz!
The Emirates sponsorship is already Singapore’s longest-running horse racing sponsorship and since it has a reputation as one of Singapore key fashion events, I had a good excuse to dress up! I love collecting hats and fascinators but the fashion aspect in Singapore has yet to catch up with such brazen accessories so I don’t get a chance to wear them out as often as I like. With the new headgear trend being revived by the recent royal wedding in UK and the fashion support of the Emirates derby, I felt very much at home with all the gorgeous women with their lovely eye-catching hats at the horse race. (I was a little shy to snap their pics at the horsewalk area)
It was nice to meet up with so many familiar faces and I really enjoyed meeting the new company as well. The crowd at the VIP area was definitely in high spirits and a table of men even broke out in song and dance! Lots of jumping, cheering and laughter in the buoyant and jovial atmosphere.
The company I had on my own table were really swell as well! It’s always marvelous to catch up with Pearlin Siow (Author and social media specialist) and Jessie Leong (Senior Manager, Turf Club) together with the bloggers that I’ve met with several times – Rosanne (her beauty blog is fabulous!), Smith (he has one of the most active twitter updates), Willam and Hong Peng (the fun and spontaneous bloggers I met at the SIA Cup!).
Also seated at my table are Dee and the delightful husband and wife duo, Sheikh Haikel and Annabelle Francis (ps-love her hat!). They were such an affable and engaging couple; making the anticipation of the race even more zestful then it already is.
It’s my 4th time to the races and one would think that I’ll be blase or bored but the truth is that it’s almost impossible not to be swept away by the atmosphere of the exhilarating crowd. To be there on the ground with the horses that can’t wait to run, the people that have staked their hopes on them and the amazing fashionable crowd that daringly let their outfits brighten the scene is all simply invigorating!
While the main highlight of the day is all about horse racing, there is so much more to the Emirates Singapore Derby event. Even if you aren’t into racing, you can enjoy the buffet spread, free flow of drinks including alcohol, a fashion show, be entertained by DJs, shop at the little fashion bazaar and even get a free manicure and pedicure in-between the races! The best part is that the event is a platform to raise funds for charity!
The hosts, Jean Danker and Bobby Tonelli are as friendly and cheery in real life as they are on radio.
If you’re wondering whether I made it big or lost a fortune at the Derby, you’ll be sorely disappointed to know that I only betted on 2 races and at the minimum bid of SGD5. And even then, I used the betting vouchers that the Turf Club gave me! I’m really not much of gambler and being able to guess the right horse is enough thrill for me even without money.
Some of the boys and gals at the table won quite a bit all in the name of fun! Smith even designated one of the aunties at the betting booth his lucky charm!
We did a fair bit of camwhoring at the white horse carriage. It was just too pretty to resist! Jessie said that the carriage is actually a functional road worthy piece so all I need now is an actual white horse, a coachman and my prince charming! And if that doesn’t work out! There are always friends and fellow bloggers to count on!
I’m ending my post with the outfit I wore that day. Some of you might have already spotted me in it if you caught my interview for the Singapore Turf Club on the television last Sunday.
Will have to teach you how to handicap a horse race as soon as I figure it out. The problem is horses are like people, some days they just don’t want to get out of bed (i.e. don’t want to race). A number of years ago I went to the races in Paris (my parents treating after i graduated from college) & with my two younger sisters. I won a race & my youngest sister also won. I went to collect our winnings. I gave the clerk my ticket & he gave me my winnings. I then gave him my sister’s ticket. He starts yelling at me (in French). I can understand French & I tell him “Je ne parla par Francais. He keeps yelling loudly (he’s a big guy) & I just stand there waiting for my sisters money. I wanted to keep our winnings separate but he wants to know if I have any more winning tickets & to combine the winnings in one amount. Finally he gives me my sister’s winnings. I tell my sisters the story & tell them they can get their own winnings next time. Liked your outfit!
Fredric,
Thanks for sharing!
Will have to teach you how to handicap a horse race as soon as I figure it out. The problem is horses are like people, some days they just don’t want to get out of bed (i.e. don’t want to race). A number of years ago I went to the races in Paris (my parents treating after i graduated from college) & with my two younger sisters. I won a race & my youngest sister also won. I went to collect our winnings. I gave the clerk my ticket & he gave me my winnings. I then gave him my sister’s ticket. He starts yelling at me (in French). I can understand French & I tell him “Je ne parla par Francais. He keeps yelling loudly (he’s a big guy) & I just stand there waiting for my sisters money. I wanted to keep our winnings separate but he wants to know if I have any more winning tickets & to combine the winnings in one amount. Finally he gives me my sister’s winnings. I tell my sisters the story & tell them they can get their own winnings next time. Liked your outfit!
Fredric,
Thanks for sharing!