SCOTLAND
Lothian Region
MUSSELBURGH ~ Racecourse
The "Culture Vulture" Tour
Wednesday September 3rd, 2008
As part of the organized activities for the 17th Golden Oldies World Rugby Festivial, a day at the races was in order. It was only 9 mile (14 kilometre) bus ride out to the Musselburgh Racecourse, but it took 45 minutes each way due to the traffic.
Part of the entertainment package consisted of a couple of jazz bands, a Brazilian style street drum band with bagpipes - which looked unusual on paper, but sounded brilliant. There was a demonstration of the Highland Games, demonstrated by the current World and Scottish Games champions, that showcased Caber Tossing, The Weights and The Hammer.
The race program was meant to have featured camels racing, but do to an outbreak of "Blue Tongue" all the races were scrapped. Instead the entire race card was replaced with pig racing, of which we were able to get our punt on with the bookies, without any sucess. We did ask the bookies for odds, on any Maories getting to the pigs first (for a hangi), but the odds were that short, it wasn't worth it. 
The day was meant to wind up around 4PM and right on cue, the temperature plummets and the skies open up. The entire racecourse cleared quicker than a pre–school visit by Michael Jackson. All in all, it was a great day out.
