My memories of SA racing

Huchergh wrote: I was a runner and I remember 4/1 and 9/2 being traded,although she may have started shorter by race time(can't remember,I must be getting old).

I reckon she went off at 9/2 as thats what we got

manwatweet wrote: My first memory was in 1985 when my dad punted a horse called Gondolier in the Rothmans July. I was only 8 years old. 32 years later and my dad and I still have a punt every day. Paid plenty of school fees over the years but have no regrets. Once a punter always a punter........

Likewise. The first ever horse I told my dad to back for me was Gondolier when it won the July hence it was my first memory. I was staying at my Uncles house and my father phoned. My Uncle showed me the race card and told my Dad in no uncertain terms that Gondolier will win over the phone. I was 7 years then.

Ahhhh memory's

The hubbub, the crowds, the anxiety,the joy, the tears, the atmosphere, the bookies,the bucket shops,the "runners", the magnificent sight of a horse in full stride.....

Loveday street Tattersals and The Benders Arms
Turffies and La Parreirinha
Goforth Park and Taylors Travel Lodge
Newmarket and.. :blush:

Thanks for a great thread and the contributions.

For the life of me I can't remember the horses name,but @ the turn of the century I was on the right side of a lovely betting move.

The word was out that Payne would win the 1st at Kenilworth.Shea's mount had shortened into odds on the previous day,but when I arrived in the 'rooms' I heard a whisper that Mark Neisius was on the right one.The story was Mark didn't even know.

I managed to get 30 000/6000 the payne stable companion,in fact the bloke who took my call at HW laughed when I called the bet of 20 000/4000.

I've never seen a horse shorten as quickly in all my years in racing though,it took exactly 3 minutes before Mark's mount was odds on,and it duly arrived comfortably.

Rumour has it Mark had ridden it in work but didn't know the name,and only found out in the ring that he was on 'the business'.

Maybe he can confirm the details for us.

Millenium Diamond,that's the name.

Dahere's Passion may have been the other horse.

Mac wrote: Be it Ascot Bulawayo or any other course, I remember the excitement pumping me with adrenalin. I don't get that feeling anymore

Seriously, racing has lost it's sparkle.
Sad to say, but I agree with Mac 100%.

naresh wrote:
Likewise. The first ever horse I told my dad to back for me was Gondolier when it won the July hence it was my first memory. I was staying at my Uncles house and my father phoned. My Uncle showed me the race card and told my Dad in no uncertain terms that Gondolier will win over the phone. I was 7 years then.

I backed Wild West that year.....nothings changed as far as my form goes..

Titch wrote:

naresh wrote:
Likewise. The first ever horse I told my dad to back for me was Gondolier when it won the July hence it was my first memory. I was staying at my Uncles house and my father phoned. My Uncle showed me the race card and told my Dad in no uncertain terms that Gondolier will win over the phone. I was 7 years then.

I backed Wild West that year.....nothings changed as far as my form goes..

Hoped you backed Wild West in the Met the following year.

Here is a story for you. A few years back I had a 50% interest in a filly who had to be ridden in a particular way to get the best from her. We were in the parade ring before the race and my good friend Bob said to our jockey, Gavin Lerena, "I want you to ignore the trainer's instructions. You must drop her out despite having a good draw, then go wide on the bend and then drop to the back of the field turning into the straight. Cover here so that you can't get out either side until 200m from the line where you pull out wide again and come with a strong late run to finish second or third, and before you say you can't do that just remember that's what you did he last time you rode her". Luckily Gavin has a good sense of humour.

Ha ha

Another true story about another guy called Bob. Bob had a few runners with the late Buddy Maroun. Bob was an 80-yo widower who had two wealthy sons who were not interested in racing. His sons questioned him why he "wasted" his money on the horses and Bob's answer was that it gave him a kick to which his sons answered "well get a whore". Bob's reply was "I don't have a f*c*en prostate".

I'm only 20 hahaha turned 20 last week but I have been a punter from the age of 13 the first time my uncle showed me a multiple ticket that was paying R65000 for R10 I remember asking him can you really win this much with soo little bit of cash!!!he said yes of course if you got the rite luck!! I didn't know what the rite was :lol: HE WAS ALWAYS DRUNK WHEN HE PICKED HORSES SOO I GUESSED THAT WAS THE LUCK AND THEN HE SHOULD PICK RANDOM NUMBERS LIKE HIS FATHERS BIRTHDAY AND HIS UNCLES DEATH DAY AND THEN HE CALLED 3/5/7/9 DEAD MANS NUMBERS HAHAHA LOL :lol: :lol: I remember my first bet was a quartet it was a Saturday afternoon I went to the tote with my uncle I had R50 with me he showed me the race card of the race that was up next and told me pick6 horses don't really remember what I picked but I know the 2 horses were COOKIE MONSTER AND NO WORRIES he asked me how much I want to take the bet for I said R10 as I was scared to loose my money I got 2.77% of the quartet for R10 when the race was over I looked at the screen and the numbers I picked were their he told me go to the counter and cash the ticket when I went to the counter their was an old lady their she asked me where did you get this ticket from and you are to young to be here :lol: !!! But she cashed it anyway YOU KNOW THAT EXCITING FEELING YOU GET WHEN THEY SCAN YOUR TICKET AT THE TOTE COUNTER AND YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COME UP :woohoo: when I looked at that small screen and I sore R680 I was shocked :ohmy: !! Their was butterfly's in my stomach I remember telling her tomorrow is my birthday thank you god!!! When I went home my mum was shocked at where I got the money from my uncle told her and later that night I bought PIZZA with the money and gave my mum R200 for herself FROM THAT DAY ON I SAVED EVERY SECNT OF MY DAILY SPENDING AND EVERY SATURDAY WOULD HEAD TO THE TOTE AT FIRST THEY SHOULD FUSS TO TAKE MY BETS AS I WAS UNDERAGED BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS THEY GOT USED OF ME!!! WHAT EVER WINNINGS I SHOULD MAKE I WOULD GIVE MY MUM MOST OF IT AS TIMES WERE HARD!!! AND KEEP SOME FOR SPENDING AND TO BET AGAIN!!! MY MUM KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING WAS WRONG AND SHE SHOULD TELL ME!!! AND I LISTEND TO HER WHEN IT WAS EXAM AND SCHOOLING STUFF THAT ALWAYS CAME FIRST!! I LOVE HORSES AND THE THRILL THAT RACING GIVES YOU :woohoo: :huh: I know its not a GOLDEN OLDIES STORY LOL but its how I started punting