The night of Jacqui’s birthday, she invited several people to go to Harold’s Cross for the greyhound races. Having never been and finding a ticket deal (including sausage, chips, and a drink for each person and a 1 euro bet) on one of the coupon websites for 8 euro (normally 10 for entry and then food being extra) – I thought it would be an interesting evening of fun. The races started around 7pm, which meant leaving home at around 6pm. We hopped on the bus to the city, and away we went.

The problem with Dublin transport is that it’s never very clear where you want to get off the bus at. Unlike the Berlin bus/train system – or even the ones in New York or Atlanta, the bus stops aren’t announced nor is there any signage once you’re on the bus. So, if you don’t know where you’re going, you have to ask the bus driver to remember to point out your stop to you. Something that may or may not work. We had to change buses from the 38 to the city, and pick up a 16 – and then get off about 15 minutes into the route. To say the least, thank goodness for Google maps on the cell phones – because it was dark, foggy, and cold outside – so you couldn’t see beyond the light on the inside of the bus to see where we were supposed to stop. Luckily, about the time that I was going to go ask the driver, the signs were seen as we drove past the race track – and were able to have time to hit the button and hop off.

Walking back, we passed the pub and the liquor store

and then were greeted with the outside of the Harold’s cross stadium.

Having met up with Jacqui and Zac on the way in, we picked up our packets, grabbed the snacks, and started examining the racing program for the evening. Zac had been before, and showed us how to read the books –

and I decided to go with my proven failsafe method – pick the names at random – based on the ones I thought were funny. 2 euro “place” bets on 11 races was 22 euro spent (my chosen horse has to finish 1st or 2nd to get a payout), and we went outside in the cold to wait the first race.

There were bookies that kept announcing the odds (what the hell did they say?!?)

and then a parade of the dogs each wearing their respective “jacket” and being announced. Then, the owners brought them around and put them into the starting gates.

After a few moments, a bell rang, and an electronic rabbit started moving quickly around the track. As it passed the dog shoots, the gates flew open… and the dogs started running….

so fast, in fact, that the little point and shoot camera I had only caught them as a blur…

A fast 30 seconds later, the race was over – the dogs had finished – and people had won or lost their bets. Within moments, there were calculations done, announcements of winning totals per ticket type, and then a 15 minute interval for the next race.

In the end, out of 11 races, totally picking by names I found funny alone – I ended up with 2 first place dogs, 2 second place dogs (paying out) and 3 third place dogs. The others finished mixed 4th and 5th, and only one didn’t finish.

For a first time out – I was pleased that I had 4 winners – 18 euro total – which covered the cost of the ticket and transport in/out of the city. And.. for 4 hours of fun – I figured that was a pretty cheap evening out having a new experience, one which I will gladly do again – maybe when my mom comes over this summer.