Let me start off by saying this: the old person couldn't find his bum with both hands behind his back and a road map (Prachett). I ended up finding the free ticket in the console of the car, after he had assured me he had looked everywhere. So, unfortunately I was obligated to go. But then I left the camera at home. We were in an extreme hurry in case when we got there I missed being one of the only 1,000 people who would get one.
Canterbury is not all that far from us, about 30kms as the crow flies. Alas, roads do not follow the crows (and I don't know if that is good or not). We have to take some expressway, where after about 20kms you have to pay money if you want to go any further. Mind you, if you don't want to, there is nowhere you can turn around and go back. So basically you have no choice. About two km after that is the off ramp to get to Canterbury road off King George Road. Why we couldn't go the way that doesn't cost money and is probably a bit faster, but I feel it has something to do with someone having forgotten where to go and totally refuses to use a road directory.
Canterbury Park Racecourse is a nice smallish track in the middle of a very old area, probably the oldest next to Randwick. They no longer keep horses there for training, although I gather it is a quarantine area. It wasn't in use during the EI outbreak, so I might be wrong. But the boxes are lined with wood, so if a horse kicks out it isn't in so much risk of shattering its leg. The stalls are bigger than anywhere else and just seem nicer too.
I have been about 10 times to Canterbury since I first started to go to the races back in 1997. I have never seen so many people there. It seems to have been enlarged and opened up more, but it was in the shade all afternoon so must face directly south. The track and inner field looked lovely and green.
There was group (grade) and stakes racing so the horses were very well presented. There was good racing, as you would expect on a group racing day, although not all of the favourites won. In fact there were a couple of upsets. JB Cummings is a grand old master and since he started his filly in a minor group race, you knew it wasn't going to win, he is just keeping her fit. Sure enough she just toddled along, not last, but no where near the winner. Wait a few weeks till the BMW, or the Coolmore and suddenly she will grow and extra leg. You mark my words. (Oh, oh sorry, Mimi Lebrok). Anyhow, the horse that won the race also had won the day I went to Rosehill last month, and she just toys with them, and spurts on just at the end.
I could go on about some of the horses and their breeding, but that isn't relevant to this blog.
So being ladies day at the races, all the ladies had dressed up. Such a wide variety of dresses and suits, and those of us who are dags and always will be. Dagginess is just so comfortable. Well, I wasn't totally a dag. So many Paris Hilton look alikes, wannabes and a few Angelina Jolies and a few who actually stood out. Like one woman I saw who had this dress that had been designed from the 1940's. It was just beautiful, and full kudos to her for wearing it. Some of the hats were nice, but seriously some clowns do better hat wise. Even blokes wear hats to the races, mostly the older guys. Although the old person wouldn't be caught dead in one.
I thought it was a bit rude that some girls had taken alot of time and effort to dress up and look nice and their bloke partners had not. I saw a few daggy guys I would have kneed if they had turned up for me looking like that after I had gone to so much trouble. It is a guy thing, however. 'Nough said.
The little coupons that were given out as we went through the tunnel were for goodie bags from Nivea. The old person grabbed an extra one so I was able to get the daughter one. I had invited her along, but she didn't want to drag the boys along. It would have been very boring for them. Well, with all those ladies, maybe not for grandson1.
Races always attract some unusual people. Gambling problems come in all shapes and sizes, from pokies, lotteries, casinos and racing. And racing does attract its fair share. I could write an entire blog on some of the people I have seen over the years. I am not game enough to take photos of people without their permission and some of them would probably stalk me and kill me if I did. However, they would make a really interesting photo montages and I would win a Pulitzer or whatever it is. Maybe if I ever get a phonecam I'll get game.
I don't know what else to tell you. Which I know is unusual. Maybe I am tired - lol.
cheers ...
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