INSIDE THE WORLD OF MEETUP

It had been a year since I'd been to the races and at least a decade since I'd been to Leicester Racecourse. Around 8 of us met at 2pm with the first race starting at 4. I'd has the foresight to place my bets online before arriving. Judging by the crowds before each race it was a good move. It didn't rain but didn't get too hot either which was perfect. Got a winner in the first race but that was it. The atmosphere within the group was a bit quiet as it was an older crowd. I didn't hang around for the after party and got the first bus home.

 I usually enjoy a night at the dog racing despite being terrible at picking winners. It was a tight schedule to get to the track after finishing work. The place was busy as usual and our group consisted of 8 people. I got a couple of winners and didn't lose as much as usual. Overall the atmosphere was a bit subdued due to everyone being slightly tired from work. Saturday night would have been better.

  I'd been saying for years that meetup should so a day at horse racing. So I jumped at the chance to have an afternoon at Nottingham.  The biggest disappointment was only myself and the event organiser turning up. We spent the hot afternoon alternating between bets, cold drinks and watching the races. He had a couple of winners and I had absolutely nothing.    Thankfully we met a women's meetup group and a couple of them recognised me from some of the walks we had been on. Got the first bus back after the last race.

  Bit of an early start at 5:45 and only a small group of 6 but it was good to catch up with a few old faces. A warm evening with no coats required until about 9. It wasn't nearly as busy as usual a couple of obvious stag parties but no queues for food and drinks. Did my usual terrible self trying to pick winners 1 out of 12, left after final race and got bus straight home.

I don't gamble much these days but a night at the dogs was long overdue. I'd been here before but not with meetup. Unlike previous trips this was not a heavy drinking night as I had the bus home to think about. 14 people was about the right sized crowd, unlike at the horse racing you have only 16 minutes between races so it was a constant circle of bet, sit and chat, go outside to watch race and repeat. I did better than usual and finished about 4 bets worth down in the end, Claire the event host just seemed to win everything. A good night was topped off when a couple gave me a lift not to the bus station but all the way home which saved me a lot of travel time.