Its Wellington Cup day today. A chance for Wellingtonians to dress up in their finery, get on the train to Hipkins country, hide from the sun (its already pushing 20 degrees) and drink beer and wine from plastic cups. I will be there. I blame geography for my interest in the horses. I grew up a stones throw from Forbury Park in Dunedin. My father and I would sometimes go down in the evening, filled with Presbyterian caution and put $1 each way on number 7 or number 9, his lucky numbers. Just after he passed away last year, I took my brother back there, and an evening of betting on 7 and 9 netted us a healthy return.
Later on I flatted with Terence who thought he had invented the perfect betting system. This was before the days of home computers. The whole thing was on index cards, and took paintstaking effort to keep up. The system eventually fell away, but my interest stuck. I dont get to more than three or four meetings a year nowadays but I still love it. For me it is the only form of gambling that I have any time for. There is some considerable skill and knowledge that you can apply, and there is the thrill of the race itself. Interestingly problem gambling is less associated with racing than other forms of gambling. Though that is not to under-estimate the dangers. I have not shaken the Presbyterian caution, but inflation has caught up!
Cup Day is a great day, one of a number of well attending race meetings in the summer period. But I know the Wellington Racing Club and other clubs would love to see bigger crowds throughout the year. I share my colleagues concerns about the some time unhealthy relationship between the gaming trusts and racing clubs, but I also want to see the clubs survive. Any trip to a summer race meeting this year will have made clear to people that these are great events for bringing communities together. Clubs have gone to great effort to make days family friendly as well.
Anyway time to get ready. If you are looking for a tip for the Wellington Cup (timed to go at 4.42) you can’t go past Red Ruler. With a name like that I have to support it really, but it is also the favourite. And as a bit of an outsider, take a look at Manonamission. But keep that one to yourself 
The Wellington Cup , thats 2400m isnt it? Very similar distance to the Melbourne Cup. I was at Flemington the year Kiwi won. Yes I had a bet , but only because of a tip that Kiwi had won the Wellington Cup of similar distance. After wards the Aussies were all speechless, hard to believe but true.
I notice the timing of the race is now for international considerations.
Have fun Grant!
You can never have a perfect betting system. Unless you have a way of predicting the future.
I always take a horse on the Summer Cup but not on the Wellington Cup. This year I pick Cassini.
Good tipping!
Red Ruler wins as tipped by Grant. Congratulations
Future Minister of Racing perhaps Grant?
lol Dominic, not sure if tipping success is how that job is given out , but yes, a great day out, and first and second in the Cup!
Did you have a few $ on the quinella (don’t worry I won’t tell caucus so you will only have to buy me coffee on Tuesday)
…and me
@Trevor. I did, but the man you need to talk to is the Leader. He took the advice, but with a bit less caution than me. I think we could be looking at coffee and scones at Caucus….
You’re a dark horse GB
I told Phil he was in safe hands with you as the “ring-in” tipster. Wonder if I get a cut because I gave him the tip to use you as his investment advisor on the day?
Looks like it was a great day – I’ll be back at Trentham next year.
Great post and it made me laugh as I have always enjoyed sticking a dollar each way on a horse at a meeting, I remember being at a trotting meeting in Dunedin and in a sponsors box due to generosity of my employer. I was never asked back due to taking a boxed trifecta at a cost of $6.00 and ending up with a $60 payout, apparently a dollar each way or a $6.00 boxed trifecta is not taking the sport of kings seriously enough. Anyway tahnks for the post I will be going to the next meeting at Alexandra Park because of it.
gee, while is nice to see all having fun at the races, could I suggest that if you have a feel for racing ‘industry’ politics then you might like to ask the NZRB while they still have NOT posted their yearly report!! and either don’t reply or say its coming out soon – yet xmas has come and gone.. – when ask why not!!! perhaps the delay might be because the rather obseen amount of their current employees getting multi $100k wages!!!
Also, how can the CEO on this outfit be getting paid $900,000!!! it stinks! like so much on the NZ racing industry…