George Orwell and I go in search of the Moon Under Water

I've never demanded too much of racecourses, which in a sense makes me the perfect customer, although in another closely related sense a very moderate one.

Basically I'm pretty self sufficient when it comes to a day at the races. I'm not troubled by the painfully average quality and exorbitant price of much racecourse food because I favour a big breakfast followed at a safe distance by a good blowout in the evening, the price of which depends in no small measure on what has transpired in between times.

I rarely drink when I'm on course, not because I've developed a steely discipline but because the booze on most tracks is so resolutely dull that I simply can't be bothered.