It's the first Tuesday in November today; It might not mean much to most but here in Australia it's Melbourne Cup day - Australia's biggest and most lucrative horse race. They call it the race that stops a nation although a more ludicrous statement I've never heard because the nation doesn't stop at all.
It'll be a Melbourne Cup with a difference today as zero spectators are permitted at Flemington Race Course for the event - Normally there'd be 100,000 people eating, drinking, revelling and, of course, betting. It's one of the most attended events in Australia each year. The pandemic situation has thrown a wet blanket on it this year though. The betting will continue however, there's never any shortage or people willing to part with their hard-earned money and hand it to someone else based on chance. Some win, most lose; That's the nature of gambling.
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I don't like horse racing; I think it's cruel. Getting whipped with a riding crop around a track doesn't seem like a lot of fun to me and whilst people say the horses love to run I wonder if they love to get beaten too? On occasions I've offered to beat a human being with a riding crop, just to see how fast they can run, but I've never had anyone put their hand up for it. Funny that huh? Some say the horse isn't beaten that much, or doesn't feel it...I don't agree - Just my opinion.
Anyway, I don't support horse racing and am not a gambler so when one of my colleagues came around to get some money from me for the office sweep I declined...You know what he said? "Don't you like fun?"
I deployed one of my withering looks, and said colleague slunk away without another word.
I've never been a gambler. Sure, I've taken gambles in life, risked things, including myself, on chance outcomes, but I've not been an active gambler; Certainly not on horse racing. There was this one time I was at the Casino in Monte Carlo and I had a few goes on the roulette wheel, but that was more of a situational thing, a tourist thing...I was pretending to be James Bond. It wasn't cool because I lost 50 Euro. No, in the main gambling hasn't been my thing.
I don't think my aversion to gambling is behind my dislike for horse racing though, despite the whole industry running wholly and solely around gambling. I think it's about the horses and the way humans feel comfortable whipping an animal around the place for their own personal enjoyment. It disgusts me actually.
Anyway, today is the race that stops a nation and whilst some of the country may stop at 1500 AEDT, when the race is due to start, not all of it will...I'll be working.
I'm interested to hear what your take on it is...Gambling and horse racing I mean.
It's said Australians will bet on two flies walking up a wall and that's not too far off the truth! We have a gambling culture from way back when, and since the introduction of electronic poker machines it has become a social plague amongst many Australians, curiously most prevalent amongst the lower socio-economic demographic - Certainly as far as poker machines go.
Some $24 billion is lost to poker machines in a year here in Australia; Not surprising considering we have over 20% of the worlds poker machines here. This in a country of only 26 million people. Most clubs and pubs have them, and of course casinos too.
So what do you think? Do you have a gamble now and then? Do you buy scratch-off and lottery tickets, bet at the casino, on the dogs, horses, maybe cock or dog fights? (Which are illegal here). Betting is available on almost everything around the world, most sports and major events including political elections...So do you take your chances or are you more like me...Happy to spend your hard earned money on other things?
Feel free to drop in with a comment...And if you want to volunteer to be the one I whip around a track with a riding crop as above, let me know too; I'm keen to test out my experiment.😁
EDIT: As an addendum to this post the horse Anthony Van Dyck was put to death after the running of the Melbourne Cup today after it broke down - The 7th horse to be killed on Cup day since 2013. What a great fucking sport huh?
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My wife and I are not gamblers either. We live about 30 minutes from good old Atlantic City NJ, so if we really wanted to we could easily waste all of our hard earned money for a tiny chance at winning it big! Sounds like fun.. NOT. I like to go and people watch though. It's an interesting environment to say the least. That's the part I enjoy the most.
As far as horse racing goes, I am not a fan of that either. I agree.. the abuse is not my cup of tea. I don't like the idea of any kind of animal racing where they have to stimulate the activity they want in a forceful or potentially cruel manner. Just my opinion as well.
We have a place not too far away, maybe a 3 hour drive, where they have wild horses. I admire them from a distance though. They can be pretty aggressive and even kick or bite you. I'm good at looking from far away thank you. haha.
Assateague Island National Seashore: "Large natural sand barrier famous for its wild horses also offers camping & outdoor recreation." https://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm
My parents live a short drive away, so sometimes we take a drive through the park if we're bored. Sometimes you see the horses and other times you see one if your lucky. You never know. It's something to do.
Horses are a pretty smart creature and have worked closely with humans for a long time...They're used for work, transport and enjoyment guess, but I'm not one to support an industry based around them in which they are abused. Sure, people say race horses like to run and are well treated However, one of the runners yesterday was run that hard it broke down...And was destroyed right after the race...I can't imagine any horse choosing to run itself to the point of break down and death. Only a human would ask it to do that...All just to have a bet on which one comes first. It's rigged anyway.
This is the seventh death in seven years at the Melbourne Cup, so seven races...Imagine if seven Formula One drivers were killed in seven consecutive races...I think there would be some raised eyebrows...Horses though...Who cares right? As long as people can have a bet. #disgustinghumanbehaviour
Oh this speaks to me....!!!
Despite WORKING for the Victorian Country Racing Council and Racing Victoria for several years as their strategic consultant, I abhor horse racing (yes, it's cruel) and will gamble with my life and on business ideas and even romance 🤣 but betting is simply not in my makeup. It bores me stupid!
Glad to have walked away from that life ... and feel I have regained some integrity by no longer propping up a system I don't agree with.
Ironically we live 5 mins drive away from the 5th Regiment Horse Battalion here in Chiang Mai. LOL. Thai people have a horse battalion in the army cos it's expected. The picturesque drained rice fields around the base are FULL of small mountain ponies who have a glorious life and will never have to do more service that a slo-mo parade on a hot tropical day.
Can't call my mum today cos she'll be wearing a hat the the required senior citizens cup day barbie. Go figure.....
It's interesting to note that there's a difference between the world gambling and betting which you point out. I'm one of those people who just don't get horse racing although I know there's so many that love it. Maybe it's just the way it's marketed, sport of kings and all?
I like horse regiments...I did a post about the Light Horse back a while...Made me cry at the end...They killed every single one, or sold them to farmers instead of bringing those valiant hero's home. A tragedy. I go to the Light Horse Memorial on ANZAC day and attend the service...Place a bundle of carrots in honour. (The apples and carrots get collected and taken for the police horses.)
There's the link if you're interested.
https://peakd.com/showcase-sunday/@galenkp/showcase-sunday-the-australian-light-horse
Oh! @artemislives, you would have really endured a lot withstanding things you don't like, although most of our works leaves us with no option but I'm glad you are no longer there, at least your conscience is free and clear now on that aspect. 😊
I used to work at Churchill Downs, where they run the Kentucky Derby, l'm curious how the hype and anticipation compares.
I like to gamble which is why I don't do it very often. I love watching horse racing but it is a messed up sport. What other sport regularly has participants die on the field? There's too much money tied up in it for much to ever happen with it though.
The Melbourne Cup is a big deal here...Horses from all over the world, $8 million winners prize. It's part of the Spring Carnival thing, a horse racing thing conducted over 2-3 months. Loads of corporate money, hundreds of millions in betting and so much more on the periphery. It's a public holiday in Victoria, but not country wide. It would be same hype as the Kentucky Derby, Dubai World Cup, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup Invitational etc.
I agree with you on the money thing around horse racing...I think that's what turns me off the most.
I will say another man food is another's poison; you like gambling while I don't but what have noticed so far is that, this things are not really bad as the way we it but it's people who stigmatize it the way we see it to be wrong; they've missed use it.
One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, for sure (I've not heard the food/poison version of this saying before, I'll have to remember that). "Bad" is more a facet of the human looking at something than an inherent part of the thing itself. That being said, I have trouble understanding how people can see what the horses go through as part of racing as anything but cruel and bad. The jockeys riding them don't fare much better themselves...
😊, it's their choice to make, there is nothing we can do about that. 🤷♂️
😊, it's their choice to make, there is nothing we can do about that, the horses would have been in the right position to decide but instead they neigh. 😂🤣
I will say I am exactly like you. Most of my friends engage in sports betting but I don't really have the interest to partake.
About the horse raising, might not be funny to you but I laughed a bit when you said you offered a human being to be whipped with a riding crop. 😂😂😂
I would imagine if they were the horses for a while, how would they feel. Since they aren't the ones getting whipped, they definitely can't know if the horses feels it or not.
We are over 200 million in Nigeria if I am not wrong, with a smaller land mass compared to Argentina. People gamble very here as well. I mean like a lot. Most of these gambles are on sport bet like football/soccer or probably virtual games.
I have never played any though but I have seen my friends play right in my front. So I know how they do it but never joined for once.
So many people will disagree with my point of view, and that's quite ok, it doesn't negate my point of view, and certainly not yours. However many, like you, will agree. I guess it's just personal choice. If people want to risk their money on chance that's their prerogative.
Yeah, it'd be funny to see how a human reacted to me beating them as they ran, and other people betting on the outcome...I can't find anyone to volunteer though. :)
😂 😅 🤣, would you have actually whipped had in been there was a volunteer?
Volunteer and find out.
😂 😅 🤣, OK Sir!
The horse racing take I agree with, cruel and unusual punishment. I do gamble a little bit, not much, most of my current gambling consist of a lottery ticket group buy with hive. Mostly in the past, the distant pass, it would be black jack or the nickle slots mostly because of the free or cheap drinks.
I don't think I have ever lost more than 50 dollars, and I don't think I have ever won more than 100 dollars. Reno used to be good for a cheap night out drinking. I haven't been there in a long time though. But it was fun thing to do with friends when I was a lot younger.
Don't get me wrong...I've been to a casino, a few times, and had a bet here and there, but the last time was years ago and it was more of a have a go scenario more than me being into it. I think if a person has the ability to not gamble then it's ok to do so when appropriate...It's problem gambling that is so much of an issue, at least here in Australia. The government have many campaigns against it...But like cigarette smoking they don't truly want it to stop...They'd lose too much revenue.
My mother in law gets a lotto ticket and every now and then Faith suggests we do the same...We get one, fail to win $30 million and then don't do it again for months. Lol.
I never had anyone interest in horse racing I just don't get it.
I'm with you mate...It's all about money, hidden behind a façade of sport.
I wouldn't mind horse racing if they're just running and there's no riding crops involved. I have aslso heard/read claims that the jockeys don't strike with the riding crops, just kind of whip crack them to make a noise. I've never checked up on that.
Also don't mind if it's me racing against friends or something on horses XD
As far as horse race type racing goes I don't really like the shape of racehorses, they look too easy to break, so I guess I feel about the same as any other designer breed (generally summarised as "why" though that's not that accurate).
I'm boring though.
Also I don't gamble as there's too many numbers involved and numbers and I don't get on at the best of times.
The horse, Anthony Van Dyck, was put to death after the race, the seventh since 2013...What a fucked up sport...Just for humans to bet on.
That's definitely not a pleasant aftermath. Would avoid just for stuff like that.
Well, as long as people can have a bet it seems to be acceptable behaviour. Seems typically human to me.
A crop is not a whip. Not even sort of. The crop has two pieces of leather about the size of a silver dollar that pop more than sting. Probably not a more cruel item than a 'bark collar' on a poorly trained dog. That's an electric shock every time the dog barks.
Which isn't to say that I haven't seen jockeys turn the crop on edge and make a horse bleed which isn't the right way. Those jockeys should be banned for life.
D: absolutely.
I don't think I can ever volunteer to be flogged around a track with a riding crop to determine if I can still run faster, no matter the amount that's placed as a bet, I actually don't like gambling; it's not what I will like to do talk less of giving someone my hard earned money to do, and if I get to know that the money was used in gambling, I will hardly give such a person whenever he/she comes around again course what I don't like I don't like being involved in it in any way. I prefer investing and spending my hard earned money on something else.
Hmmm, 🤔 How I wish horses could talk then we will know if they are truly having fun being whipped around as they say, without having a share from the bet. 😑
I don't think any animal would like to be whipped mate.
Yeah! They also are living things; they fill pain.
I'm a player. Not a gambler. It's been a couple of years since I put down my dime but I have learned horse racing and how to bet it. Which has almost nothing to do with gambling. I actually love the mathematics of handicapping and do so once in a while just for sport (with no money down).
On the cruelty of horse racing. Horses do love to run, and there are actually competitive horses that don't like a horse in front of them. Ideally the crop is used for directional purposes and to tell the horse when to go for broke. I realize that isn't the case much of the time, but that's the right usage of a crop in my opinion.
I don't see the crop as the cruelty in horse racing. The pure abuse of racing too often without full physical checks is part of it. I don't think any horse should race until it's a 4 year old and they are fully developed. Yep. Goodbye triple crown in the US. Horses are all aged from Jan.1 so a horse born in October is actually only 3 months old when it becomes a yearling and only 15 months old when it's racing life can start. That's cruelty.
I think gambling is legitimate entertainment for some fraction of the population and an absolute plague on some.
See the addendum at the end of my post, an edit just now.
Yeah. That part makes me very sad. There are things that can be done to mitigate breakdowns on track. Most tracks don't have the optimum synthetic surface that does the most. And quit racing 2 and 3 year olds.
I hate that part, and won't minimize it at all. But. I've shot a horse. Broke a leg when we were chasing calves out of a canyon in spring roundup. My old man made me pull the trigger, said if I was big enough to ride I was big enough to put the horse down. It's a harsh fucking life.
Yeah, it's a harsh life for sure...This is why I support corporal and capital punishment. Raped a woman or molested a youngster? Cool, hanged from the neck until dead, for example.
Seems fair to me in a world where humans are so comfortable in harming animals just to have a bet.
I have never believed in any horse racing or fortunetellers it only makes the rich , richer and the poor , poorer i love a horse when i am riding it myself through bush land and both enjoying the journey 😊
Would rather spent my hard earned money on a good Aussie barbecue with a couple of beers 🤣
Same with horse racing in the UK. Deaths just at the Cheltenham Festival are not uncommon there were 3 last year 2018 it was 7 :(
Yep, pretty shit really. I know animals die and all, but in this situation I think it's unwarranted. Humans huh?
Join the club
I share the same opinion on gambling and horse racing as you do. I don't want to have anything to do with it
I don't agree with horse racing and so don't do anything to support it - It keeps my conscious clear. :)