Goat Racing

So you might have heard there was a big race this past weekend. You might have heard it has a long standing tradition and a great rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge. You might have heard the competitors are quite hairy and take their winnings in trophies made of vegetables. If you've heard all this, then you know I'm talking about the very popular Goat Race at Spitalfields City Farm. (I think there might have also been a boat race).

The tickets cost just £10 for an adult and you have a fun filled goaty afternoon. I arrived with a friend at 1:30 and the race wasn't until 4, knowing how small the city farm is I did wonder how we were going to fill the time. I needn't have worried. To start things off we placed bets with Billy Hill on who would win and as there where 3 goats racing; Oxford, And, and Cambridge, you could also bet on the order. And yes, you did read that right, the 3rd goat was And.

There was such a fun and energetic atmosphere in the farm and as my friend, S pointed out, there were many a dandy about. These chaps were making ice cream out of goats' milk on their bicycle built for two.

There was scrumpy on offer, with a name that made me giggle.

A Love Docteress, whom we visited before heading to Goat Meat Disco.

 My favourite was all the clever signs. I love me a good pun.

Before the anticipated Goat Race there was a Shoat Race with these two beauties; Holmes and Watson. Of course they were wearing tutus. 

Some people dressed the part of a goat, others were just fabulously attired.

 We stopped for some lunch, no goat meat here, that would just have been cruel.

I tried my skills on the Po-Goat Stick, 2 bounces. That's all I could manage at a time. Maybe the goat is my spirit animal, we make the same face when concentrating.

 We attempted some poetry at the Goatry Slam, some were better than others.

The best 2 were preformed live where we cheered for the winner. Next we were serenaded with bleating sounds to pop songs at the live Goataroke contest. I will never listen to Enya the same again.

These were 2 of the stars of the day. Pygmy goats! Hugo and Harry.

And was the winner! 

With Cambridge trailing in third place. :( I did not win my bets.

Next year, if you want something different to do be sure to buy your tickets online in advance to not be disappointed. These babies sell out and many people are turned away at the door. If you're lucky you might score a scalped ticket, but don't count on it. This is the one Sunday a year Spitalfields City Farm closes it's doors and only the lucky few get through.