Yes, it's Wednesday night and Happy Valley will be aglow beneath the myriad lights and the buzz of the crowd attending the International Jockey Championships. The phone has been running hot - the international media have arrived, the racing fans are here as well, and anyone who's interested in racing is at the track.

Right?

Well, sort of.

It's FREEZING out there tonight - Hong Kong doing a fantastic job of matching "damn cold" to the Christmas spirit in this Asian haven this week - temperatures not much above 10 degrees for the past few days.

Given the social events that mark the calendar for the next 6 days I have therefore chosen to spend tonight watching the races over the Internet and fielding the (increasingly) irate calls from those who are wondering where I am (given I live here I guess it is a fair enough question!)

I will be at Shatin at 7am tomorrow morning - and again on Saturday and all day Sunday ... so forgive me the need to sit by the heater and try and warm up tonight!


Image: Happy Valley race track (c) Athlone & Associates Ltd