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Friday, November 21, 2008

A day at the races!

This is something we just don't do much of in Canada... well at least not in the world I grew up in! A fun way to spend a Saturday in New Zealand is to get dressed up (or not) and go to the horse races! You pack a picnic lunch, and if you go with a group of people like we did, you eat and drink in the hot sun (hopefully) and spend money placing bets on horses. Drinking and betting... healthy huh? Here I am with Kelly looking all snazzy in our race day outfits.

This was my first day at the races and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I relied on my friend Daz to help me learn the "lingo" (see my notes below). I studied the program and asked questions about which bets to place. It was a whole new learning experience. I won about $26 in the second race and I think that made me feel a bit over confident, overall I lost money... but it was still heaps of fun and I got a buzz from watching the horses race.

I would have liked to win instead of lose, but I think I might have developed a bit of an addiction so this was probably for the best.




















Thought you'd all like to know a little about what I learned:

A Girl's Guide to Racing:

Let's face it - we all know nothing in life is a dead cert and that life itself is a bit of a gamble. While choosing a horse can be a science to those in the know, girls who just want to have fun can apply feminine logic…choose by names, the colours of the jockey's silks, the jockeys themselves or surrender to those who know and pick a favourite or take a tip from someone you can blame later (this was the method of choice for me).

Picking the form of a horse can be technical, but not nearly as dicey as picking a husband - after all you can see what they've achieved recently, how much money they've won and you can have a good look at them 'au naturel' before you commit.

All bets are placed in $1 multiples.

$1 for a win: means you will receive the win dividend posted on the board if your chosen horse should bolt in. Otherwise referred to as 'on the nose'.

$1 for a place: means you will receive the place dividend posted on the board if your horse comes first, second or third.

Each way: Otherwise known as 'hedging your bet'. It is a combination of a win and place bet. If your horse wins, you walk away with both the win and place dividend, and if your horse comes second or third, you will collect the place dividend.

Quinella: Not a trendy dress shop in Newmarket. Just pick two horses to come first or second in any order and you will receive the Quinella dividend.

Trifecta: Not some new name for a bug caught while on holiday in a far off land… pick three horses in the order they will romp home in and you will receive this dividend.

Box Trifecta: Not the packaging for the vaccine for the above - just pick three horses and if they win in any order you're a winner!

Easy Bet : A much hackneyed phrase also found off the track in a hopeful man's vocabulary. Just think of this as the dating agency of the racecourse - simply pay your money and let the computer choose!


Here's some other helpful jargon that you can slip into conversations to make you sound like a well seasoned racing guru!

Stayer: A horse who can handle long distances or someone who can drink all day. The Auckland Cup (held in March) is an historic staying race.

Mud-lark: A horse that likes rain-affected tracks.

Maiden: A horse or rider who has not yet won a race.

Birdcage: Actually for horses not parrots…the horses head to the track via the birdcage and the jockeys dismount here after the race. In the birdcage is where you'll spot important trainers and owners.

Photo finish: Not only flawless make-up, it is a finish of a race which is so close that they need to examine a photograph to determine the winner.

Spelling: Leave the dictionary at home…a horse will typically race until it needs a rest or is injured and then it will be turned out in a paddock to recuperate or 'spell' (if a horse had spelled recently it will be marked under the horse's form in the racebook as 'X').

Flutter: A small bet.

Plunge: Not a dress neckline, but a very big bet (we did this at the last race as a group bet - we lost everything).

Blinkers: Although batting your eyelids is a great flirting technique, blinkers on the racetrack serve to improve a horse's concentration by limiting their vision of the other horses running. The racebook will indicate which horses are wearing blinkers.

Blaze: A white marking on the face of a horse

Scratched: When a horse is withdrawn from a race before the start.

Length: Describes the distances between horses in a race. Horses can win by anything from a nose to a head to a length or a number of lengths. A length is approximately 3 metres, the length of a horse from nose to tail. (Anything over 5 lengths is commonly known as daylight).

In the money: When a horse finishes first, second or third.

The toppie: Horse number one usually has the most weight, which means it was the first to qualify for the race and will be carrying the most kilograms of extra weight.

Group one: A Group One Race is the best there is (kind of like travelling first class) and it is all downhill from there.

Favourite: The winner of the popularity contest for that race. Also known as 'a certainty', 'the banker' or a 'sure thing', it means that all of those in the know expect this horse to win. The favourite will be paying the shortest odds. Be warned: there is no skill in backing favourites but if anyone mocks you for playing it safe just say: "Better a short-price winner than a long-price loser".

Roughie: a roughie is more than just someone who has had a late night! Also known as 'a long shot' or 'a rank outsider', it is a horse with very long odds. Backing a long shot that wins takes a whole lot of luck and skill but if you win on a roughie, you will be basking in the glory all day.


So now that you know a bit more about the lingo I thought you might like to know a little about "what to wear to the races"...

Think about the occasion: Racewear sits in its own distinct sphere within the realm of fashion. It should be lady-like, elegant and feminine and most essentially it is daywear and not to be confused with cocktail or evening dressing.

Coordination is key: It's important that you're clever with your coordination. You don't have to match colours and fabrics from head to toe, but make sure you consider the bigger picture and remember that accessories can make or break an outfit.

A passion for fashion: Don't forget to be fashionable! While racewear is often very classic looking, it doesn't mean you can't have fun with the current season's trends.

Top it off: Nothing screams racing like a hat - don't underestimate the value of a fantastic headpiece or gorgeous feathered fascinator to make you stand out from the rest of the field.

Bearing in mind you'll be on your feet for much of the day, you may opt for lower heels - but take note of this quote from George Bernard Shaw: "If a woman rebels against high-heeled shoes, she should take care to do it in a very smart hat".

For the Guys

Ricardo Simich
  1. Entering the fashion event might make you feel like a poser, but fab prizes aside, your partner will love you, you will score the ladies and it is something you should try at least once (doing wonders for you confidence and making your mum proud).
  2. Cup Day is a prelude to autumn fashion, beach season is over and interpretations of fashion are vast.
  3. Study up on hats: once upon a time wearing a hat was mandatory - it also can make receding hair lines disappear for the day.
  4. Think Ascot, top hats, morning suits, tails, three-piece suits.
  5. If you have to wear a three button, the rule is fastened top two buttons; two button, fastened top button. Jacket on at all times - when you're seated is the only time you have a choice.
  6. Shoes should be polished to military standard.
  7. A tie is a man's jewellery - be bold yet cool with colour, create a story between the tie and shirt, accessorize with the satin in your hat band or silk handkerchief in your suit pocket. The bigger the Windsor knot the better and your tie should just brush your Christian Dior Homme belt buckle.
  8. The Charcoal suit is now a uniform, so watch out for birds eye fabrics, which are the modern mans tweed. Prince of Wales checks are back with a vengeance as are obvious pinstripes. Light merino wools with mohair or cashmere are the new Ferrari in suiting.
  9. If you're wearing a bright suit, make sure it's not cheap and you don't look like an out of date American anchor man. If you must wear double breasted, check out the latest European looks, very, very fitted and longer jackets.
  10. Lastly, Miami vice pastels are still in so mix them up and try for new interpretations. You're the man.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Natalya and Chantelle


Last weekend was our labour day long weekend and the girls came to stay with me. It was the first time they have been back since they left in June. Each of them had a friend over so it was a full on GIRLS weekend! Here they are with their adopted Granny Mabeth who has missed them terribly. Haven't they grown up so much?? I absolutely love these little girls.

They arrived Friday night and it was so good having them "home". Chantelle slept in my bed that night and I have to admit, it was so nice sharing my space and waking up to that smiling face of hers.

They are growing up so fast. They both have cell phones now as they are fairly independent. Brian works so much and they are left to look after themselves most of the time. I am so glad I gave them the skills they needed for this stage of their life. Brian tells me that I should be proud of myself for what I did for them - and I am.


On Saturday Rebekah and Bree arrived and that's when the party really started around here. First thing's first... teeth check!!! I made sure all four of them properly flossed their teeth! Just because I'm not technically a "mother" anymore doesn't mean I'm any less of a mother! Some things just don't change. Boy, don't I sound like loads of fun?


The girls had a movie marathon Saturday night while my friend Julia came by for a visit with her adorable baby Grace. I'm not normally clucky over babies but Grace is so perfect! I absolutely adore her and I crack her up. Seriously, this baby splits her sides with laughter when I talk to her. It's hilarious! Must be my funny accent or somethin'.


Sunday morning we all walked to church. It was drizzling a little... here's a photo of Bree and Natalya wearing the Canada umbrella hats.


I was teaching Sunday school... and the lesson that day happened to be all about unconditional love, what it means and how important it is to learn to love yourself first. How appropriate. During our discussion both Nat and Chan mentioned that they hated themselves numerous times. I was able to explain to them that they needed to love themselves before they could possibly love anyone else. We then traced the outline of a body and inside we wrote all the things we could think of that we could do to "love thy neighbour". It was a fun project and they all enjoyed it. I hope the lesson sticks with them.

They went to the buskers festival Sunday afternoon and then more movies Sunday night. Monday morning we all went to the Hot Pools for a long soak. I was exhausted at this stage... and just about ready to send them home. They both have a bad habit of fighting over who can boss who around the most. It can get very irritating. Sometimes I wish they would just love each other and stop trying to hurt the other one. It always ends up in tears and Nat having a major fit (she's almost a teenager).

Neither of them wanted to go back. I think they are terribly lonely. It was nice to see that they are living in a lovely home on a quiet street. Brian has done a good job. Unfortunately this is just life. They know that they are loved... and that's more than a lot of kids out there.