Binoculars swinging around their necks, Thai punters erupt into cheers as horses round the final bend -- the thrill of the race amplified by the rare chance to gamble in a Buddhist country where betting is virtually banned.
The stadium's scuffed concrete stands are filled with thousands of other race fans, mostly elderly men, snacking on peanuts and sipping beer as cigarette smoke wafts through the sticky city air.
There is none of the glamour associated with the international racing circuit.
In Thailand it is all about the sport -- and of course the chance to openly enjoy a flutter in country with tough anti-gambling laws.
