Here’s how this goes. Everybody has said, “I went to the
Gold Cup and I never saw a horse.” Har-Har. It’s an old joke. Let it go. This
year, there is the best reason ever to watch the races: YOUR MONEY.
Yes, this year you can place a legal pari-mutuel wager on
the races, so, you might as well pay attention and watch your investment at
work.
There are wide cross sections of groups at the Virginia Gold
Cup with various levels of interest.
There is the "horsey" set that actually cares what
happens. Usually because they know somebody involved with one of the horses or,
better yet, they know one of the horses.
Then there’s the “non-horsey” set who simply finds the
racing action fascinating.
Then there is the “interested to be polite” group. They pay
attention to the races so as not to offend their host or hostess.
After that you have the “modestly interested” set who will
watch a race if they happen to be looking in the right direction when the race
starts. And, finally, there is the “don’t care” group.
Now there is a subset of each group, and eventually these
subsets morph into the “interested” category. That subset is comprised of people who may or
may not care about watching the actual race until they place an actual wager on
said race.
Having a horse to cheer for based on a $1 investment makes
the race much more exciting. Mind you, a modes wager won’t make you rich, but
it makes those few minutes much more interesting.
Fact is there are six, maybe seven race with purses of
$240,000. The Gold Cup is now run for a $75,000. That’s real money.
People spend a large part of their lives looking for the
“right horse” that can jump 23 big immovable obstacles while running four
miles. The horses can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000. Trainers spend
years and years honing their skills to condition these horses properly, and the
jockeys basically risk life and limb.
Now, you can spice it up by wagering on the horse you think
will win.
Then you WATCH the race.
It’s pretty simple…
(Don't forget to bring some cash!)
