Horse Racing at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club

If you ever get bored of the usual tourist trail in Bangkok, then you're in luck! Every other Sunday, the Royal Bangkok Sports Club opens its doors to the public for horse racing and gambling! It is a great way to spend a few hours on a Sunday and extremely budget-friendly!

Getting There

The Royal Bangkok Sports Club is centrally located and easy to get to. Although on a map the club looks like it is located near the Ratchadamri station on the BTS Silom Line, unfortunately, the entrance is on the opposite side! It is much easier getting off at Siam, which is the closest BTS stop to the public entrance; use Exit 6 at Siam, cross the footbridge and walk along Henri Dunant road for about 10 minutes (away from the BTS). You will come to the entrance to the RBSC on the left side of the street. If you do not want to walk, you can easily grab a motorcycle taxi for about 20-30 baht to the entrance, or a regular taxi for 40-50 baht. If you take a taxi, the ride should only be a few minutes.

Enter through Entrance 3, which is reserved for the general public. Entrance 1 and 2 are reserved for club members.

Entrance Fee & Dress Code

There is flat rate fee of 100 baht for entrance to the races at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. There is no double-pricing for foreigners, which is common in Thailand. Shorts and flip-flops are allowed, but men must at least wear a collared shirt. When I attended the race, many men wore polo shirts or short sleeve collared shirts. Women should dress conservatively. I wore a knee length dress.

Most of the Thai people who come to the horse races are middle and older aged men there for the sport of betting. They are very serious about it and their cheering for their favorites make the atmosphere quite exciting during the races. When I went, most of the women there were working as staff, though there were a few accompanying their husbands in the stands.

The Venue

The stands for the general public are not fancy – just simple concert steps leading down to the track. It does provide shade, which is always welcome in the Bangkok heat. And while the racing may not be at the highest international standards, it is a fun atmosphere and offers something a bit different than the normal tourist activities in the city.

Races at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club are held every other Sunday as well the occasional Saturday. The races start around midday and run until about 6 pm. For a complete list of the races and dates, check the Racing Fixture page of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club website.

Betting

Betting and gambling is illegal in Thailand except for betting at the horse races at the club! If you are serious about your bets, it is worth purchasing a program which lists the races, the horses names, and their statistics. A Thai program cost 30 baht (~$1) and the English version is 100 baht (~$3, still very reasonable!). The English version also includes a brief explanation of the betting system. Bets start at 50 baht minimum, though you are welcome to bet as much as you like.

Food & Drink

It is possible to purchase food and drinks at the race track for reasonable prices. You can buy plates of satay, classic Thai noodle dishes, or snacks. Ice cold local beer is also available for about 50 baht. A great way to enjoy the races!