
Many, many years ago I worked for a company called Wang Computers.
Wang were a really innovative firm that dominated the space of office technologies until they got their strategy wrong and went out of business ... long story.
Short story ... when I worked there, my job was marketing imaging systems. Basically, scanners for taking paper into digital form.
The main reference study for this technology was the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, who used the technology to store information about their members.
From 1988 to 1992, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club was all we talked about ... and I always wondered what the place was like.
Last night, I finally found out.
It's an amazing place.
For example, if you know Hong Kong, dedicating a massive downtown area to a horse club is something else as there's no land available in Hong Kong which is why everything is towers, towers, towers.
The real estate owned by the Jockey Club alone would be worth around US$100 billion.
Anyways, although the 'Royal' has been dropped since Hong Kong moved out of British control to Chinese management in 1997, it still has a very regal structure and ambience.
And betting of course on which horse will win the race ...
I did bet a bit and lost big time until the last race.
Last race, my horse came in at 17-1 and made up for all my losses.
That's pretty much how business seems to go these days, as in you hold your breath hoping your bets will come good and they usually do at the last minute.
All in all, a good night out.
Now, which horse shall I bet on in the payments race?

Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...