Why I love racing

Should we assume you intend to become a horse breeder then, given its guaranteed returns?

The beauty also of thoroughbred racing is you dont even have to do the form if you've got a good eye and general knowledge especially at this time of year ... I'll punt til I die its a great source of income...

I grew up going to the races and watching it on tv, when it was on there every Saturday. My passion for it, has always been and will be, for the love of the horse. I just love watching them race. I have my fav horses, trainers and jockeys, who I cheer on madly. But any race can grab my attention, and get my adrenalin pumping, even if one of my favs aren't in it. To watch these beautiful animals, in full flight, as they compete against each other, with the jockeys on their backs urging them to win, is not only an awesome display of strength and power, but also beauty. Right now the industry is copping a beating from the billboard put up by those totally against racing. People who consider this sport nothing more than abuse of the horse.And as you can imagine the billboard has angered so many who work in the industry and quite rightly so. And these people working in the industry have been vocal over the last few days via twitter and articles to condemn the people, who are condemning them. As as a survivor of extreme abuse and an animal lover, I would not support or be into an industry that did not put the welfare of the horse above the dollar. Because no matter how much money you can make or want to make via gambling, or owning a horse, or breeding a horse. The welfare of the horse should be the most important thing. And I do believe that the industry we have today, is doing its utmost to do just that. I don't gamble, because I don't have the money, plus I'm a hopeless tipster. But that does not stop me loving the sport , watching it, admiring the feats of these equine and human athletes, doing my research into the sport ,and being involved with it via online sites like this. Great article, and yes I dream everyday about being able to one day have the money to own a racehorse or two :) But for now I just have to be content in watching other peoples horses race, and living my dream via them .

It always bugs me a little that people can't seem to see that people may watch and be involved in racing without the interest in gambling. I sit down most saturday afternoons when I should be studying to watch the races. when mates come round they don't see it as me watching a good sport for interest, they see it as me sitting round gambling. This despite the fact that I'll usually watch all the main aussie and Nz meets and usually only have a bet on 3-4 races. Anyway, rant over, I never have had anything to do with racehorses themselves, but my family has been and I had and rode my own pony as a youngster before we had to give it away when we moved into town. I remember going to the boxing day races at ellerslie each year for a few years, and being amazed at the festival atmosphere, and the grandeur of the whole thing. But it wasn't really that which i liked. There was a meeting in our small town each year, (when i say small town i mean a pop of about 6000 people) and loving it maybe more. They weren't the best quality nags as you can imagine, but they had a rail right up close and would make an effort to parade each horse past the straight before heading on down to the start, and i just loved watching them romp on past to finish. It amazes me still when i go to that meeting how many people turn up from around town, who I know have no affiliation with racing or any other interest so far as i'm aware, turn up for a good day out. It's still one of my favorite meetings. I don't see any live racing really at all during semester, but when i'm home during I'm only an hour or so away from both Te rapa and ellerslie, and my brother and I make a good effort to try visit a few group1 meetings. I've seen some decent horses too, ones you all are probably familiar with like Bounding, Lucia valentina, Silent achiever and a few more. I'm always a little disappointed when they head off shore, but I know it's the way of things with the serious lack of prize money over here. The spin off is when i see them racing in your big group1's it really gives you a connection, someting to cheer for. It then kinda becomes no different to watching you favorite sports team all of a sudden. Not gambling, Not boozing, just Backing your nag to get to the line. It's bloody brilliant. I really would love to get over and see some of the big spring and autumn races live sometime. I have time on my side at least. I really just wish more people could see it as a sport rather than a televised casino.

If you want to make REAL money from racing, become a breeder; it TRULY IS a LICENCE TO PRINT MONEY! Breeders make money from every mating and every successful (i.e., not still-born) foaling, regardless of whether or not the horse will eventually race.

Nice read Brent, a friend took me to the St.Ledger enclosure at newcastle racecourse. we were only kids with little to do on a Sat. arvo and it was free to get in. i didn't come from a betting family but my buddy did. So i was all curious and not interested in the gambling side of things. After watching a couple of races from the rails i was hooked. i actually remember thinking, i've got to get involved in this - never been near a horse before but within a couple of weeks i was working in a racing stable barely into high school. had one morning off in the first 2 years. Wages were a couple of dollars/wk and a 'sling' when we got a winner. continued right through high school, morning and afternoon. it might sound abusive employment but it wasn't. Country stables couldn't exist without kids. and as kids we got to work with these beautiful animals and enjoyed every minute of it. so started a love affair that has lasted more than 50 years. even though i left the trade-side a quarter-of-century ago it was never gambling that held my fascination, even though it became a means. i ALWAYS loved the contest between horses, between jockeys, between trainers and between the smarties and the smarter-ones. i was lucky that i could separate the passion from the pocket. i was also lucky during my trade career - right place, right time. i was surrounded by very good racing people who taught the kid about the game. during my trade-time my luck continued, to care for quite a few G-horses (inc G1s) but if you asked me who my fav. horses were, only one of them was G-class, the others, honest racers who were absolute characters. you've got no idea. arriving at the stable hardly awake, cold, dark ... it was always great to be greeted in the morning by a friend. Racing is pretty much pointless but than again there is little in this world that has a point. The racing-man and the Noble-Prize winner get planted in the same dirt.

It's all about designing a money machine. A system of punting just might jump out at me one day, solving all my problems. The paddock needs about 150kg of cheap feed every week. As for registration fees, transfers, admin, silks, etc......I'm long gone.