One of my favourite days of the year, alongside with New Years day (if I haven't gone out the past day or two), Aussie Rules Grand Final as these days are AWESOME for riding the motorbike as stuff all traffic, stuff all police and usually great weather due to being in or around summer.
On topic of horse racing, my dad was a BIG better (Stories of him putting more than $20,000 per bet during the 70s - He used to earn like 500 pounds a week maybe as a truck driver in the 50s? Whatever it was, I DO remember that it was worth around $10,000-$15,000 per week around year 2000 when we had a reminiscence talk of the "old days" for both of us we had, my dad and I). I was announced on 3AW as dad just knew "everyone" in the social circle of the rich people/celebs. The days of eating out at The Flower Drum restaurant like each week/fortnight or so. I had a membership to all the race tracks as a kid (less than 10-11 years old from memory) we used to go to ALL the race meets on each weekend.
I've seen enough horse racing to last several last times for me, soooo doesn't interest me anymore. I do have fond memories of some computer betting machine, kinda like an ATM except it was just to place bets and you put money IN, not out
The best thing about them was this insanely detailed "betting book" that the makers put out. It had ALL the relevant stats for horse racing, so good for me in fact, being a "mathematics/statistics head" in my pre teen days, I had picked the winners of all eight races for a "few meets", mum was a witness, she was impressed with the betting skills I had, sadly the book was pulled not too long in, I guess the mathematically/statistical inclined people like myself were cleaning up in the betting! Mum was "allowing" me to put $5 a race on, I think she recalls one meet of me winning $180, MAY have been $380? I really don't remember, the memory of this doesn't get thought of much so the finer details whittle away over the years heh.
All in all though, it's CRAP forecast for the weather, I don't think I'll be doing that much riding on the day, let alone in the whole week. Plus being a daddy bites into lots of riding time now, more so that a certain someone is pregnant again!!! :D If you know Emma, PLEASE don't let her know you know, she really doesn't want it known. Oh well, she hasn't read bluelight in years, she won't know I let her secret out here *wink*
Enjoy the day if you are into horse racing, I much prefer racing of the 2 wheel variety, actually watching MotoGP race now as I type this, if I wasn't, I'd be busy playing my (new) PS3, having a few dozen (hundred?) games during wet weather is a god send
*edit*
Oh yeah, the bad news. We moved to Geelong mid 80s (I was 13) as there was a fire at a chemical factory "near' us in Altona, Dad took a new job (truck driving still), it stuffed him/us up bad, the boss didn't give him extra work when he outlaid $$$$ on a new truck ('just' 8 tonne, not the HUGE trucks), in fact, he got less and less work. Dad was earning stuff all and used to spending up BIG, good food/restaurants, betting big. Spent his savings in about a decade I think he told me it was. Heh, oh well, he had (has) fun doing what he does, he is almost 80, still living life great, good on him.. :D
