The J&B Met 'Experience'

After an absence of about 10 years, my wife and I decided to attend the 'Met' again this year. The last time we went, we sat amongst the 'general public', had to queue for a hot-dog and something to drink and once you surrendered your seat on the stand - that was it. Also it was quite a struggle to get anywhere, due to the throngs of people.

So this year I decided to go for a more 'up-market' experience in the 'Jet Lounge'. This is what we were promised:

Jet Lounge- R1140 incl. VAT
Upgrade to the Jet Lounge and mix it up in style with:
• Access to private Bedouin
• Reserved lounge and cocktail areas
• Dance floor with big screen showing all live performances from Lifestyle village
• Plasmas screens with live feed
• Private tote facilities and race cards
• VIP toilet trailers
• Private bar facilities
• 3 x complimentary drinks per person
• Food voucher and access to gourmet food vendors


This is what we got:

The 'private Bedouin' turned out to be a tent (no surprises there) erected in-field - with NO VEW OF THE TRACK. The seating comprised 4 or 5 'lounge suits', some smaller round tables (some with 4 chairs, others had more) and then a few 'bar stands' with some very modern (but unpractical imo) bar stools. Problem was there was seating for maybe 200 people, and more than 1,000 looking for somewhere to sit.

There were 3 'plasma' screens in the tent; however only one had sound, and all 3 only showed only the races themselves - the rest of the time was spent showing the same 'marketing videos' over and over - so I'm not sure what 'live feed' refers to.

So at the end, guessed where we watched the Met - from the stands (which were not really as crowded as last time we attended)

The 'private bar' facilities turned out to be a bar where the same 1,000 + people tried to get something to drink. Not so 'private' imo.

The 'VIP Toilets' were not bad - only there were not enough for the 1,000 + people, so one had to queue for that privilege as well.

The '3 drinks per person' that was included was 'J&B and mix' - no beers, no cold drinks - for those one had to pay extra. Not being a J&B consumer most times, I forced 2 'drinks' (and one of my wife's) down my throat.

The 'food voucher' was for R85 and for that one had a choice between a chicken pizza or a beef burger with stir fry and salads. The food also ran out and later in the day, waiters were scurrying around trying to feed some of the late-comers who were intent on getting something for their R85 voucher. I did not see one 'gourmet food vendor' in the tent.

And then there was the 'music' - non-stop BOOM BOOM - I still have a headache as I type.

So we came back with a feeling of being 'suckered' - never again - IF we go again I will just get the entrance ticket and at least be able to enjoy the racing.

But it seems I am part of a dying breed :ohmy:

Ag nee

Not exactly the RUSH

The tents are always a rip off in Cape Town in my opinion. At the July its another story, there are some decent tents and its worth getting into one for the day. As for the met I think general access was very reasonable. Besides the fact I got my phone pick pocketed off me in the first 30min, it wasn't as full as I'd expected. Got a seat parallel to the finish line of the main race 10min before it started and I think a seat like that would've cost a fortune in another country. As for the free drinks well, they were handing out free drinks the whole day so you definitely got robbed there.

I must say for next year there are a couple things they really do need to improve in:

- More food stalls, I think there were 3 in the whole place.

- Lose the Life style village commentary 5min before a race starts, no one cares how good the girl looks in her turquoise dress on stage that no one can see 2 minutes before the main race.

- The music playing in between races was awful, I'm still pretty young but I can't even deal with 6 hours of what frodo rightly described as 'BOOM BOOM' music

- Please bounce people at the door that come in vests to a big race day, a remote dress code has to be adhered to. They gave the one of the best dressed couples to some steroid junkie with a vest on and his bimbo girlfriend wearing something that wouldn't even be allowed in a strip club which I thought was quite distasteful.

Other than that for the price of entrance I was very impressed, preferred it to the July if I'm honest and will definitely be attending next year.

Sorry Frodo will give u a shout for our next box day.

Thanks ML for the comments - and Dave, I will hold you to that

I went as usual with my fold up chair and cooler box with cooldrink for my mom. Every year there is no issue, but this year we were stopped at the gate and told we have to take all this back to the car. No chairs and no cooler box. I told the security that i have been doing this for plenty years, but i was turning blue in the face from trying to explain.

We had to go all the way back to the car. My mom is 60 odd and we had to for the majority of the day walk around and stand. It wasnt nice as the sun only goes away late on in the afternoon. I felt really bad.

The old faithful sweet and sour chicken guys werent there this year. Also i didnt see Nandos or Spur. There were mostly caravans. I dont know if this is the new in thing. I really enjoyed my sweet and sour chicken and rice on met day....damn!!

On the betting front, i had a good day. Backing Futura on the nose and also had a double with Capt America. I got 9/2 Capt America early in the day. 2nd Bipot for a percentage also helped of course! PA stright line 12x also gave a small boost.

There were seating available to the general public, but that was snapped up so fast, by the time i got back from the car (the 2nd time), there was no seating left when i got to area.

All in all a lovely day, but that walk back to the car and then having my mom walking in the sun most of the time wasn't lekka. If they not going to allow fold up chairs, then make enough seating available for the general public.

No matter what any1 says the J & B Met is not for Punters.

It's the First Big Cape Town Jol on the new year. Its for youngster to go dance party and drink that just happens to be at the Race Course where they can spend a bit of Extra Money "trying to Gamble" 87% of the crowd at the met are First time Gamblers who mostly likely never seen the inside of a Casino or Tote.

Myself never been to a Met, or Durban July although i have heard from other that the July is there for the Gamblers and the Met is for the Fashion and Booze..

Doublejimmy wrote: No matter what any1 says the J & B Met is not for Punters.

It's the First Big Cape Town Jol on the new year.
Its for youngster to go dance party and drink that just happens to be at the Race Course where they can spend a bit of Extra Money "trying to Gamble" 87% of the crowd at the met are First time Gamblers who mostly likely never seen the inside of a Casino or Tote.

Myself never been to a Met, or Durban July although i have heard from other that the July is there for the Gamblers and the Met is for the Fashion and Booze..

Then they should arrange the party on the Friday night and have the race day for us die-hards - yeah I know I'm dreaming - it's all about the buck :ohmy:

We had some young Afrikaans laaties sitting in the row behind us watching the Met - one oke actually had his camera mounted on a 'staff' (like Moses of the Bible, I thought) and proceeded to swing it around to get all the 'action'. They were obviously first-timers (with questions like 'do you know how much money J&B makes on a day like this, where is the start, how far do they run, which number is Louis the King, etc.), and they looked like they were enjoying themselves and I have no problem with that.

Quote of the day was from one of these youngsters, who asked his mate 'Wat is hierdie Tote ding' (what is this 'Tote' thing) - only he pronounced 'Tote' as 'Tottee' :silly:

Half of Stellenbosch University makes a yearly appearance at the Met, they are very funny at a day like this it must be said! They have their own rendition of the event called the Simonsburg Met. Now that is hilarious, with oaks on broomsticks running around a track pretending to be horses. Guys bet on it and everything while getting outrageously drunk, pretty much what they do at the Met :silly:

My personal favorite quote during the main race was 'why aren't the other horses running faster?' :lol:

I lay on my new sofa for the whole of the meeting in Randburg.

Neither Triptique nor Futura nor Captain America could recoup my losses from Act Of War :ohmy:

There must surely be one kind RA member who is also a hardcore clanner. Perhaps he/she could book a table in the RA room for the 2016 Met and sell on tickets to other interested clanners. I, for one, would really enjoy meeting/greeting other clanners - particularly as we belong to a small group that ACTUALLY PUNTS and could all have a royal time on a day such as this even if we do our money!

It makes a big difference having a decent, comfortable base from which to operate on big days and this would be a really easy way to do it. Count me in for 2 tickets.

I can say one thing..the RA room at the Met Kenilworth which was Larry Weinstein project is absolutely brilliant..the food was equivalent to a 7 star hotel..the service great and the views fantastic..far better than any box or suite at the track..its only the 2nd time I been to the Met, the first was awful and I said I would never go back until I heard from some mates about the new RA room, all the top trainers were there too..book now for next year!!!