Secret invite to the inner sanctum of racing

LIKE Aga Khan thoroughbreds we stood, corralled, separated from the common hordes. Not for us the crush of the crowd or cold concrete steps to park bums on.

No, we were in the hushed enclave called the winners’ enclosure, off limits to all bar owners and trainers.

In five days of frittering away hard-earned money on useless nags, it was a moment to savour. A loser in the winners’ enclosure, courtesy of Horse Racing Ireland.