'Chills and Fever' with Tom Jones at Sandown Park
Over the summer months Sandown Park Racecourse played host to an array of stars including on the 27th July, the legendary Tom Jones and we sent our team along, to see just how good it is as a venue and what Tom Jones means to the people there.
On music nights the gates open at 4pm for an evening of races followed by the concert. For some the racing was not even on the radar as we watched them already gathering round the
Grandstand area - hovering close to the stage and hugging the barriers in anticipation of the "great man's" arrival.
Tom wasn’t scheduled to be on stage until 9pm so with 5 hours to spare we decided to go off in search of a race card, with dreams of winning a pot of gold - or two.
If you haven’t been to the races before, or are a beginner when it comes to putting down a bet then don’t fear, Sandown is perfect for all - with friendly staff who will help you find your way round a betting slip with ease.
You can bet from as little as £1, making it available for all to enjoy and win or lose, to stand at the finish post and cheer on your horse to the sound of thundering hooves and the roar of the crowd is an exhilarating feeling.
Between races you can grab a drink and fill up on a variety of food, from a punnet of strawberries with fresh cream to a fully cooked meal of pie and chips, complete with mushy peas. If that doesn't take your fancy then you can still grab some noodles, a curry or a hog roast roll.
The concert stage is set at the edge of the square which enables people to not only stand in front but utilise the large stone steps to the side, the balconies and boxes, ensuring everyone has a great view. The venue is intimate but holds thousands.
We were lucky enough to be situated just one row from the front and with a couple of hours spare until the great man came on stage we took the opportunity to speak to the crowd. Most had seen Tom Jones before but had never been to Sandown.
They were very impressed and surprised at the low price that they had paid and were amazed with how close to the 
stage they were, in comparison to a lot of the concerts they had been to before.
Ripples of electricity ran throughout the now dense crowd that had grown behind us and stretched thousands deep. A split second silence fell before deafening screams shot into the night. From the side of the stage a figure appeared and calmly came forward to claim centre-front stage.
Sir Tom Jones had arrived...
Tom Jones career has spanned over five decades and from the second he entered the stage you knew why. Commanding, dignified and owning the night, he took our breath away. Before he had sung a single note we knew this was no ordinary man - we were in the presence of a true legend.
Song after song, performed with a strength of voice equal to any other great performer and enough to give any upcoming star a run for their money, we were entertained. With hips that still wiggle and a twinkle in the eye, Tom Jones gave the crowd exactly what they wanted and more...
Sliding into the evening with songs from his latest album 'Praise and Blame', Tom progressed to some old favourites, 'Delilah', 'Sex Bomb', 'It's Not Unusual' and kept the crowd hanging onto his every lyric with the likes of 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' and 'Kiss'.
Having been to a variety of different concerts and seeing some very attractive men on stage, we have to say this was the first concert we have been to where you needed an umbrella to shield you from the array of different coloured knickers flying overhead.
From string thongs to bloomers - similar to those my Grandma hung out to dry, the assortment and array of styles and colours was astounding. The more they flew - the louder the screams from the crowd. Grown women morphed into teenage girls, showing the younger generation that they once were.
Performing 'Chills and Fever' slightly less erratically than in his younger days he had the crowd eating out of his hand till the very end. The interaction on stage with his musicians and singers appeared natural and unrehearsed; enjoying their time together.
We were left swooning after the performance of a lifetime and one we were glad we hadn't missed.
Sandown Park is definitely a venue to try. Tom Jones is an experience to cherish. The combination of both was second to none.
For more information and to book tickets visit www.sandown.co.uk