by Oliver Walter

As a photographer, it’s easy to fall into the role of the observer. After all, when confronted with unfamiliarity, most of us want to be a fly on the wall. This is what I thought when I heard about ‘The Races’. I had only ridden – if you could call it that – a horse once, much less been to a race. I envisioned people in boots and overcoats neatly seated placing their bets. Musselburgh promised a “top race day,” so I figured what better place to start – and bring a camera.

No one there is merely an observer. Whether you’re pressed against the white fences, pushing towards the bar, or waiting for the restroom, you realize the people are as much of the spectacle as the horses. The actual race only lasts a minute or so, but the mad scramble towards the betting boxes immediately before it starts is a race in itself; people jostling and yelling, waving their crinkled notes.

These are but a small collection of the photographs I took that day, but I hope they convey the frenzy and excitement of that day and remind us – photographers or not – to jump in and become a participant because it pays off, whatever happens.