A Day At The Races
 

Yesterday the good lady and I together with a gaggle of friends went to Thirsk Races. Now first things first, I don't gamble because although I have been very lucky in life when it comes to any form of gambling I am to be perfectly honest rubbish at it. Now you should also understand I know three things about a horse, where the front and back are and if it runs over you its going to hurt. I fail to comprehend form sheets if the going is good soft or hardboiled. So all dressed up looking like Ive just gassed some badgers or shot some hunt saboteurs accompanied by the good lady dressed for the Royal Wedding we arrive. Now my philosophy is to go and have a good day and not to win anything that way I'm not disappointed and anything else is a bonus. My philosophy for picking a horse is scientific and is based on which names sounds coolest whereas my wife goes on which jockey has the nicest colours, a strategy which oddly enough has yielded her quite a few quid while I have returned professionally poorer. So with that in mind I get talking to a few people and suddenly find that most racehorses have two names one they race under and their real name. So here are the real names of the horses I backed yesterday judging on their performance.
Jake The Peg
The Blind Beggar
Slo Mo
Flash The Sloth
Wheezy Boy
Limp Along
Forty Winks
Having said that a great day despite the weather and a big thank you to all at Thirsk Race Course.

Re: A Day At The Races
 

I have only been to the races once.
I would be maybe 11/12yrs old and my Grandma(who lived in Sheffield) took me to the Doncaster St Leger meeting.
She liked a bet, followed form, understood the 'going' and the odds and could work out to the penny what you might win.
She gave a shilling to bet with(illegal, I know)....but I chose the horses and she would go and put my bet on for me with the trackside bookies.
I came away from that meet with a lovely ten shilling note.
I was not scientific in my choices, but was guided by Gran.
I would choose horses that had the third letter of their name as an R...like my Gran, if there was a grey horse in the field I would put money on that.

At that meeting by the side of the race track was the fairground....so it was a lovely memorable day....I enjoyed watching the races, the atmosphere was electric....I got to eat junk food and I came away with winnings.
That was MY day at the races.

Re: A Day At The Races
 

Great memories Margaret and nice to know you won. We had a great day but the reality is if you win its the difference between a great day and a memorable day, even if its only a couple of quid. I think it may be some belief that you have beaten the system. After all you never meet a poor bookie. And it is a great feeling when you win and I can see why people get addicted to it. As my dad always used to say whatever you do always quit while your ahead. Love the way you picked your horses. My mate picks horses that have names similar to any pets he has owned or have a jockey wearing colours of West Ham United.

Re: A Day At The Races
 

I was what my Gran called 'a canny kid'.
I had two pockets....and if I won anything....the money was divided.
Half went into the spend it pocket....and half went into the save it pocket.
That St Leger meet was memorable because I had never ever possessed paper money of my own until that day.
My winnings were really down to the guiding hand of my Gran...and she got just as much enjoyment out of 'leading me astray' as I got from being led.
She even let me have the froth off her beer.
And do you know what?...illegal it might have been, but I did not come to any harm and I had fun.

Re: A Day At The Races
 

We from English Electric at Clayton went every year to see the Grand National at Aintree. We had are own made stand where everybody could see the race. The stand was put underneath the bus in what was the baggage hold, we would then build the stand up.

Cheers

Re: A Day At The Races
 

prefer the marx brothers version than the real thing. two min. race then 30 mins to wait watching the clouds roll by. nearly as bad as formula 1.