Horse Racing

listening to the verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony'...

I intended to blog about the trip to the racecourse after the photos are ready, so I could show you pictures of the beautiful horses. However it seems like it would take a while longer before TY uploads them.

Anyway, we were invited to attend the Ladies' Night at Turf Club last Friday. Dress code was national dress or equivalent. There was free flow of food and wine, and there was a race at every half hour interval. Boss said we had to try our luck at least once, and I lost $5 on my first attempt. Bleah. Kay's no punter, so I thought I'd be bored to tears. Boy! WAS I WRONG!!!

From the glass booth where we were, it was pretty exciting to watch the horses gallop towards the finishing gentry. But when they brought us down to the tracks,. The horses were paraded in front of the crowd before each race for people to view and judge before placing their bets. Black horses, brown horses, speckled horses trotted round and round.

When horse No. 3 for the fifth race was brought out, that was the moment I fell in love. I can't remember its proper name, so I just called it 'Zappy' (yeah, like Zappy my Suzuki). Its glossy brown mane and elegant poise captivated me. My mind went blank and suddenly, the incessant chatter of the crowd turned silent. I swear Zappy looked at me.

Then it was time to place the bets. I didn't have to contemplate or look at the horse guide.
"Five bucks please. Horse 3. Win," I told the lady at the counter. 'Win' means you predict the horse would come in first. If it does, you get the dough. If it doesn't, kiss your money goodbye.

The race began and we watched from the sidelines. Zappy was trailing behind until the last two hundred metres. I lost my composure and started cheering at the top of my lungs. Before my very eyes, Zappy dashed across the finishing point and left the others to eat dust! The crowd was at fever pitch and I couldn't conceal my exhilaration. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!! I was $28 richer!

I refused to bet anymore after that race. Anyway, I had some odd stroke of good luck that night. Managed to predict a few winning horses for my boss, which won her $200 plus. And when I stepped into my car to leave the Turf Club, the radio played my favourite song. How lovely! Told Bei about my lucky night and my horrible friend warned me:

"Du chang de yi, qing chang shi yi,".
Read: when you win at the gambling table, you will lose in love.

UGH!!! NOOOOOOO!!!
Take my $28 please...