The race was organized on December 12, 2017 when 872 birds were released from Weng Yai, 330 km northeast of the loft location in Bangkok. The field is reduced to 62 percent of the starting registered number of 1,425 birds. Prior to the race day, the birds were trained 22 flights from 20 km to 250 km with total combined air distance or about 2,200 km. Ninety percent or 1,293 birds were basketed for the first road training in mid-October when the weather condition was still rough and unpredictable resulting in high percentage of losses, the same situation experienced by all club races in Bangkok around that time.
Weather on the race day was quite acceptable, neither too hot nor windy. This year was the first time that we change the route by racing from the northeast direction instead of from the north. This should be easier for the birds because they will fly with the wind in the back. Liberated at 6.45 am, the first batch of 19 pigeons arrived home at 11.06.00 am The first bird attained the speed of 1263.0773 mpm. Positions were separated by fractions of second while the first 50 birds were clocked within three minutes only.
The first prize winner, C17-15602, belongs to Mr. Robert Neuschwander, a regular participant and a long time expatriate residing in Pattaya. Followed half a second later was INA17-512 an Indonesia ringed pigeon raised in Thailand and registered as a local bird. The third prize winner H17-42189, only one second behind, was a local bird entered by ‘Dream Team’. The fifth place and the first real foreign bird was entered by Hardy Kruger/Oliver Eschenberg, a new comer but very well known in OLR racing around the globe. Team Bagillit, last year final race winner, scored 6th place in this race which is the same position they got in last year first hot spot race. Jassim from Kuwait, Klap-Phetsuwan, Harrie Van Boxmeer, Jos & Lars Vercammen and Premier Stud/Mike Cooney are all familiar names who had their places in the first fifty birds whilst local Blue Blood team raked in 6 prizes in the fist 50.
Sixty three percent of the winged racers made it home in the first day indicating the race was not easy. In all, 736 birds returned and they would be trained three more to get ready for the Hot Spot 2 race scheduled on December 26, 2017. Please note also that the final race from 530 Km will be on January 9, 2017.
Winners
| Rank | Fancier | Pigeon |
| 1 | NEUSCHWANDER ROBERT | C17-15602 |
| 2 | GARUDA (TEAM 2) | INA17-512 |
| 3 | DREAM TEAM | H17-42189 |
1. NEUSCHWANDER ROBERT St. C17- 15602 (grey, male)
2. GARUDA (TEAM 2) INA 17-512 (Grey Male)
3. DREAM TEAM H17-42189 (Female)
