Horse Racing in Seoul

Just when I think I have done about everything there is to do in Seoul a friend tells me about the horse races!   After she told me about the races, she decided not to go. (That guilty mom thing.)  Well, after much talk, I talked her back into going (that guilty friend thing).  So one Saturday in late October Amanda and I boarded a bus with International Women's Club of Seoul and headed to the races!

For those of you that know the area, the racetrack is by Seoul Grand Park, AKA - the zoo.  To get there by subway, take subway line 4 to Seoul Racecourse Park station, leave by exit 2 and follow the crowd down the covered walkway to the track.  Races happen most Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30AM  to 5:30PM.  The entrance fee to the park is 1,000 won.

Just so you know, H1N1 is in full force here in Seoul, so it was no surprise to see these guys at the entrance.....

They were equipped with mask, hand sanitizer and thermometers, checking and squirting those coming into the race park.

A little fall foliage going into the park.

We got to hang out in the foreigners lounge.  The benefit to sitting in this area is that you get a little extra help....and trust me, we needed a little extra help.  (And no, we did not plan our outfits even though we do look cute together!)

We had to laugh when we were handed this "Simple Introduction to Betting on the Horse Races".

We were not sure what this sign was saying to us...

Amanda placing her first bet.

Figuring it all out....

Parading the horses -

And they race...

Since you can bring coolers anywhere you go here in Korea, I made up a batch of Basil-Lime Martini's to share.

Here we are having a little celebration after our horses won!

Amanda and I both did pretty well at the races, especially for not knowing what we were doing. We had a great day and it was fun making new friends! Thanks to the International Women's Club for allowing us to hang with you!