Sensasi Menonton Pacuan Kuda di Tengah Kota Bangkok, Jadi Saksi

The Thrill of Watching Horse Racing in the Heart of Bangkok, Witnessing the Birth of the 2025 King’s Cup Trophy Champion

SARGA.CO – Bangkok is always full of surprises. But there is one experience that many Indonesian travelers may not yet know: watching horse racing live at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC), a sports venue more than a century old, located right in the heart of the bustling metropolis.

On Sunday, December 7, 2025, SARGA.CO had the opportunity to witness one of Thailand’s most prestigious events, The 66th King’s Cup Trophy, while also experiencing firsthand how old traditions, modernity, and pop culture could unite on a single racetrack.

RBSC is often described as Bangkok’s “secret garden.” This arena has stood since the early 1900s, surrounded by high-rise buildings that contrast sharply with the vast green grass fields. Inside, there is a horse racing track, a golf course, fitness facilities, a social club, and members-only restaurants.

Access to the location is very easy. From the Siam shopping center, it takes only about a 10-minute walk. Public transportation such as the BTS makes the trip to RBSC comfortable, even for tourists visiting for the first time.

To watch from the public grandstand, ticket prices are only 100–200 baht (around IDR 53,000–103,000). For those who want a more exclusive experience, there is a VIP area priced at 2,140 baht (around IDR 1.1 million). VIP tickets must be booked three days in advance via official email.

For international spectators, an English-language race book is available for 100 baht to help follow the list of horses, jockeys, and race classes.

SARGA.CO chose to watch from the public grandstand, a choice that turned out to be very enjoyable. The seats were quite comfortable, and the view of the track was very clear.

The RBSC track has a length of up to 2,000 meters, complete with a 16-horse starting gate, meeting the standards of major competitions. In the middle of the racing area stands a square-shaped VIP building and a golf course that continues operating even while races are ongoing, a view that is unique and characteristic of RBSC.

The first race started at 1:00 PM, and from one race to the next, the tension among the spectators kept rising. Although it was crowded, the atmosphere remained orderly. Each time the horses approached the finish line, the grandstand roared with cheers that almost resembled a football stadium.

When the main race finally began, the atmosphere changed completely. Spectators stood up, cameras were pointed at the track, and every eye followed the movement of their favorite horses.

The winner that day was Win The Day, ridden by jockey Vijitkorn, a victory that was special because this horse had also won the same edition in 2023.

Not only were there 10 official races with 117 horses, but that day RBSC also held 6 additional cosplay-themed races from the Thailand Uma Musume community, a fanbase of a popular game and anime about horse-girl characters.

The combination of old sporting tradition and modern pop culture created a unique and festive atmosphere. Many spectators came specifically for the cosplay races, bringing professional cameras or simply enjoying the unusual ambiance.

At the back of the grandstand, there was a row of food booths, ranging from Thai snacks and fresh drinks to coffee and light meals. Everything was sold at reasonable prices and was easy to access without needing to leave the area. This was important, because leaving RBSC meant having to buy another ticket to re-enter.