DJANGO UNCHAINED

Though with everything that has happened in the past almost two weeks and a sombre mood still hanging over Hong Kong after the fires in the three blocks of apartments in Tai Po, it’s “interesting” to see that the group known as Now United is suddenly back in the picture, and will be prancing around the racecourse in Happy Valley on HKIJC night with, one supposes, their Gangnam Style Giddyup dance moves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlCJiHmGoSk

Frankly, Hong Kong needs to get back to some semblance of good times and normality, and if the HKJC has read the mood of the city correctly and believes it’s time for racegoers to get giddy, so be it.

Moving right along, one wonders what, if any, contingency plans the HKJC gurus might have conjured up on a more sustainable and Big Picture approach to help boost morale in Hong Kong- and maybe even around the world- other than a the performance mentioned above and an appearance on Sunday afternoon at Shatin by one-time superstar Rain from Korea?

We in Hong Kong have certainly seen fire and rain these past few weeks.

With Hong Kong very much, well, united in helping those who need help after the horrific fires that have taken lives and changed lives forever, surely Hong Kong racing could play a role in, for example, thanking the firefighters, all those first responders and volunteers other than the expected million dollar donation?

There could perhaps be something created and produced that is “united” and which might help bring Hope to Hong Kong?

https://www.hansebert.com/post/hear-us-out-李家超-john-kc-lee

Of course, we’re very much in the dark about the inner workings and visionary thinking of the HKJC and leave strategic thinking with Wonder Boy Dennis.

However, at a time when its home needs help that goes beyond financial donations, one can only hope that the Club creates something that might make even a mainstream audience see its brand personality as being one that is empathy driven and not just a magnet for gambling on horses.

Giddyup, Winning Wini…

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Well, you know how it goes except of course when not knowing where you’re going and just channel surfing and seeing something very weird starring Bill Murray before ending up watching a black tie awards ceremony in Singapore where Asian cIties and countries competed for, yes, awards for, one thinks, creativity where the sound was so bloody awful that it was hard to understand what was being announced, but because it was all so weird, one felt compelled to watch different winners come up onstage and receive their awards and give speeches for winning awards for just about everything- news, editing, short form programming etc- and which went on and on before one nodded off and awoke and was back watching that very weird movie with children and magic and starring Bill Murray as a mayor and seeing an empty McVities can next to me.

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With all the cricket over the weekend, especially while watching the second match in the Test series for the Ashes between Australia and England, it was a feast for some and famine for others.

When first introduced, “Bazball” from England sounded promising, but like anything to do with balls, they’re no use when things wilt and fun people like the Barmy Army goes flaccid.

Though good to see Joe Root score his first century Down Under, the rest of the English team looked dazed and confused and droopy and eventually capitulated. The bails and balls came off.

There were moments when some of us thought pace bowler Jofra Archer was asleep or in pain, or both- a pity after his swashbuckling cameo appearance with the bat in England’s first innings. Plus he has an interesting head of hair.

While England was busy dropping catches and seemingly intent on getting out when at bat, Mitchell Starc put England to the sword with bat and ball.

Not exactly cricket, but heard over the weekend was the rather dire efforts of some bloke named Myles something or another one of the new talents brought in to the relatively recently put together one-size-fits-all Aussie online racing and sports radio empire financed by successful businessman Craig Hutchison. 

While some of us have our own views of this business model, what the pastime doesn’t need is moronic gnat nattering by someone who makes David Brent come across looking like a genius.

As for visiting racing.com, well, nothing has changed there. It remains a confusing custard pie of this and that and vanilla talking heads with some of us often wondering what we’re watching or not watching and what’s ‘live’ and who and what’s on Repeat and what’s real.

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Mr Bob warned that 

we’re running outta time

How not to follow leaders 

Watch our parking meters 

And why a hard rain 

was gonna fall

Those masters of war still 

congregate to segregate 

and negotiate to operate 

and be on the winning side 

But we lose every time they do 

And keep being taken 

for yet another pony ride

People always love you 

when they want something

They’re welcoming and 

say all the right things 

They become more 

holy than Moses 

And preach about

those angels who sing

But there’s conceit

built with so much deceit 

And hiding in their 

sanctimonious hymns

Copyright ©️ Hans Ebert