October
MarchToo old to matter?
I am one of those punters that goes to the races every week. Maybe if I stayed away more often, like Dan of Kensington (26/2), my opinion would count for more but I suspect my problem is more one of demographics.
In recent weeks at Flemington and at Caulfield we’ve had people with clipboards asking us to do a survey, which I received online.
Firstly, why do they want to know my age? What, do you become a second-class citizen when you turn 60? I started following races when I was young.
I rang Caulfield racetrack and they informed me that I could not reserve a seat as I have done for about 20 years as the Rupert Clarke stand would be closed to the public.
"Public" — what a bad word, and that’s what’s happening at every racetrack in Victoria.
If I joined every race club as a member then I would not have any money to enjoy my racing as I am only a battler.
Yes, I am 70 but I’m fit — and anyway what has that got to do with my love of racing, which I have attended weekly for almost 30 years?
Previously I have been able to reserve a seat for the Blue Diamond but this time we were shuttled like cattle into the donwnstairs area, where the sound was that loud you couldn’t have a conversation.
I did, however, find a person who had a badge and inquired as to why we were not allowed to go up to view the races — the stand was half empty all day!
It was because of the members, who never go. Now that they have Mornington on board, once more the everyday punter gets the raspberry.
He informed me that I could go out on to the lawn, but fit as I am at 70 it was 30 degrees.
Also, I don’t like to drink at the races, which appears to be a crime these days. I like to have a drink and dinner after the races, while the majority of those out on the lawn are loud and are more interested in getting drunker than in what’s running.
I spend a good deal of money of the races as I like a bet and don’t like going to the TAB — being a woman you are treated like you have two heads. The service is appalling,
So thanks, Mick of Richmond (26/2) and Dan of Kensington. Perhaps they might listen to a couple of youngies, rather than to people like us who are the regular racegoers, not these beautiful people who go maybe three or four times a year.
At Caulfield last Saturday we were standing watching a race outside in the heat when a girl came and asked us to move as they wanted to take a photo of two birds in racing gear.
Yes, I politely told her to go jump as it’s a racetrack about beautiful racehorses — horses, get it! — not booze, not partying but racing.
Look, I love racing but it seems to be run by bureaucrats and men in suits who would not know the love of racing that I have.
via e-mail