Are you a lucky person? Or do you not Bet? Would you believe that I normally can look at a Horse {before the races} and have a good hunch which horse will win! And yet I don’t place bets – crazy hey!

And I am also very lucky with winning competitions online – I have won a few trips to Melbourne {it keeps on taking me back there!} through our blog. And I do put on a Lotto ticket every now and then, and while I win its only a small win – but its the feeling that I love when I do win – its really addictive. The rush, the feeling, the excitement – I so can imagine its like that when you place bets on Horse Racing?

I won’t play the Pokies Machines – only cause of my personality. I get fixated on something and I can’t stop {yeah we don’t have chocolate in our Motorhome anymore!!!} So I know that it would be extremely dangerous if I was to play the pokies – I would get hooked in no time, and I would blow way too much money.

I haven’t actually placed any bets on the Grand National Day, not even when I was in England visiting family {back in the days before being married/Mama}. Which is strange cause my late Grandad loved to place bets on Horse Racing. Maybe I went in a different time of the year to the event?

I actually spent two months in England – One month on side of London, and another month on the other side. I loved my time there, visiting all the Museums, Old churches, Castles, Tourist attractions, and even visiting the most amazing place ever – I can’t remember what it was called, but there was a place where they had the tallest Clydesdales I have ever seen.

Have You Been To England?

Do you know the place where they had huge Clydesdales? If so I would love for you to tell me the name of the place – I think it was like a Museum, but had stables, and you could walk up and down and see all these majestic horses?? And they had a guy talking about their history.

I even stayed with an Aunty who was Horse Mad – she loved horses more then I do which is next to impossible. And we visited a friend who owned a Horse Riding Training School – I got to have riding lessons, which made me hooked to learn more.

Melbourne Cup Races

I haven’t been to the Melbourne Cup races here in Australia, and I always forget to watch them on TV – I never even know its on normally till I see all the media cover of the event on Facebook, and by then its too late for me to place a bet! I do love how everyone gets dressed up for the occasions, only cause I couldn’t imagine being that glamours – I don’t own hats with feathers, and I don’t normally get all dressed up with high heels!

There is also a Grand National Day in the UK – a bit like the Melbourne Cup, but with a twist – the England version has 30 fences for the Horse to jump over! How crazy does that sound? And then there is the fact the National Hunt Horse Race {as its also known as} is over 4 Miles long. The day has become known as “the ultimate test of horse and rider” with a prize value of 1 Million Pounds – CRAZY amount of money {cant even work out how many zeros that is!!}

I guess its like the “Race that stops the Nation” – I wonder if they have women dressed up for the event like the Melbourne Cup does?

The Next Grand National Day will be held on 9th April 2016, with an estimated 500 to 600 million people in over 140 countries to stop and watch the race on TV. I wonder if its shown in Australia?

Don’t know, and wont be watching it cause I probably will forget its on that day! Just like I do with the Melbourne Cup, funny enough I do remember when the Sydney To Hobart Races are on!

Are You A Betting Type of Person?

David only remembers the Melbourne Cup because normally where he works they have a combined work bet – must ask him if he joins in and places a bet? He does play Lotto – only when its a big one. And like me he normally has a small win.

What about you? Do you place a bet on a Horse when its racing?Or place a bet on Lotto Ticket? Are You Lucky? Do You Place Bets On Horse Races and know which one to back?

I remember reading about an lady who was in her late 80’s and she placed bets on horses every single Saturday of her life. She sat and listened to the radio broadcast, and knew her horses well enough to know which to back, which would win, and which weren’t good enough yet. She called it her hobby, but gee she was good – she made money every weekend from placing bets.

Phar Lap History ::

I also remember Phar Lap as being the most famous horse – I can’t remember how I learnt about him, but maybe it was a history lesson in Primary School? Or maybe a Movie – I do remember how much more weight was added to his saddle bags to see if that would slow him down, but he was the Horse that everyone needed back when the Depression was going on – he won 32 out of 35 races, 14 in a row.

Not bad for a horse that was purchased for 190 Guiness, shipped and arrived in Australia – with a face covered in warts, too skinny {gangly}, and an awkward gait. Luckily his trainer seen the potential and knew he came from a good bloodline, and agreed to train him for exchange of 2/3 of the winnings.  Many tried to halt his progress, shooting at him {Luckily they missed} and many didn’t believe in him, but he was a horse that we all can remember!

Racing is a huge sport – I think its bigger then Football, or maybe I could be wrong? But I do hope that one day no horses will be hurt in Horse Racing events. And that drugs given to help them compete will be banned for ever.

Horse Jockeys ::

Kyle {our youngest} would love to be a Jockey – I am not sure why or where he heard the word or even knows what it all means? But I do know that here in Australia he is way too tall already and is still growing – I reckon he will be taller then David! Jockeys have to be a certain height/weight so that they don’t damage the horses in the Races – they have to be able to stand up in the saddle through out the race, and be lightweights.

The Grand National day is a bit different – it was once considered a race for the Gentlemen riders of the nation – and has evolved and changed over the years. It used to have Amateurs and no females allowed. Now days there are hardly next to no Amateurs in the Race, and the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975 means females are now allowed to enter. I am not sure if they also have the height/weight restrictions that we have here in Australia? I guess if we moved to England Kyle could get his wish?

We are not a betting horse family, but if we were, it would be the race to be watching! Now to find out if Australia will air the Grand National Day?

If You Could Bet Who Would You Back?

Do You Place A Bet On The Melbourne Cup Day?

Cheers

Lisa

New Life on the Road

*** This is a Sponsored Blog Post for William Hill Grand National Day ***