A day at the Selangor Turf Club

A day at the race course in Selangor Turf Club (STC) was the first of a kind event organised by Nikonian Academy. 08.08.2010 must be a lucky day for punters too, and a special privilege permitted by STC for photographers to get so near to the races, jockeys and horses from the starting gate to parade ring to finishing post to 600m mark and scaling room.

STC is very strict with photographers/people moving around photographing the sensitive 'Hot Blooded' kinda horse bred so before going down to the race course, we were briefed on the dos and don't s. ex. No flash, off HP, no sudden movements, no shouting, and we even have to wear white. STC really meant it with the rules....big money is at stake and if the horse were agitated and cause them to suddenly lose control during a race, STC could be liable for the loss, and could be questioned by horse owners on their carelessness. It's no joke, we are talking about RM 35,000 to RM 75,000 per race win.

A jockey's life could also be in danger if the horse throw them off during a race. Jockeys have the most dangerous jobs in the world, Do you know that there is no insurance covered for being a jockey. Even F1 drivers have insurance. All my respect to the jockeys.

The only turf club in Selangor and simply the best.

Jockeys...posing before getting on to the horse and some getting ready

headache...this jockey too fat already must lose weight.. hahaa just joking

In the scaling room where jockeys will be weight before and after every race just like F1 drivers but jockeys on four legs, F1 drivers on 4 wheels.

waiting for race 1 to start

Before the race all horses will be at the parade ring. It's show time.....

Smiling horse

 I guess this is the highest viewpoint at STC....so where is my lucky horse

Winning horse and the horse owners

Workers getting the shovel to fill back the grass on the track after every race. lots of holes created by the horses

Horse handlers need to be tough and strong unless you wanna get dragged. Don't mess with me

They are usually ex-army personnel. means strong and tough

waiting for their turn to be in the gates

 

What you looking at dude ??

Once the last horse in, the gate will automatically open. There's no countdown 1,2,3 go or get set go 

off they go...about 5-10 seconds and they are gone far. I had to hold on to half pressed shutter release button just to get this 2 shots.

  

 

 

Next race was 1,800m so the gates had to be transported to the outer ring of the race course

Happen to see this horse trailer passing by which says it all about STC

Usually jockeys are pretty serious and never smile, guess they smiled just for the camera that day

 

1,800m race starts,look at the horse in gate no.6 all fired up like Zorro

 

 

After two chances of shooting the starting line, we were off to the 600m mark

This is a big left bend slight towards a slope about 30 degrees, and makes a great angle when the horses come around

After the bend, it will be dash to the finishing line. Solid sound from the horses galloping makes you feel excited too

some shots at the finishing line

Even horses wear Louis Vuitton saddle, talk about luxury

Jockeys have nice branded boots too

Finally, the master photographer in STC. Throw away your DSLR, you will be a bit embarrassed since he uses manual focusing with film cameras and yet get finishing line pictures super sharp. How do you get pictures so sharp with manual focusing in such a fast sport ??  He was very generous in sharing this tip with us. 

As the chinese say it " Putting money in your pocket "

 

What a day at the race course. Thanks Nikonian Academy and STC