Tuesday, November 3, 2009

First Monday night in November: the race that stops a city

As long as we are here, it is the first Monday evening in November that dominates the racing calendar. Daylight savings ended last weekend so 3 pm Tuesday is 11pm monday here, and it is Monday evening that expatriate punters descend on the Winners Circle Off-Track Betting (=TAB) Lounge on 7th Avenue at W.38th St for the annual American-Australian Association Cup night, $90 a head including food, beverages, and form guide, raffle tickets extra, with a fashions-in-the- field contest as well.


In the US, it is like NZ: no bookies , all tote (but they talk in furlongs and still do the old odds like 2/1, not $3). The races were beamed in lwith the Channel 7 vision so it was odd siting here watching Bruce Macaveney et al. The Lounge is also licensed so by time the Cup came around, after 4 or 5 Coopers Pale Ales I gave up on Shocking (paying only $6 in the US) and went for a bit of value: $10 win on #16, Galleons Reach, looked lovely parading on the monitor and ridden by one of my favorite jockeys Dwayne Dunne, and paying $123 at post time. Dunny had him beautifully placed in the run (4th with cover) but he failed to see out the trip and was gone at the turn.

couple of fillies discussing the form
fashions in the field
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2 comments:

  1. J and SNovember 5, 2009 at 4:49 AM

    Stephen followed big Phil's advice and it was a Shocking result. Slightly watered down with a few bob each way on his other top tips, but this year he came home with money in his pocket. Haven't heard if Phillip followed his own tip.

    The venue in NYC looks very similar to The Tigers, on a quiet night.

    Jenny

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  2. monica/paulNovember 6, 2009 at 6:09 PM

    not quite as upmarket as Tigers. more like Redfern RSL.

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