Non-regulars at a Derby tend to go around collecting information on race favourites, under-dogs, etc from anyone and everyone they come across
Non-regulars at a Derby tend to go around collecting information on race favourites, under-dogs, etc from anyone and everyone they come across. They eventually put their money on a common name thrown up across three or four suggestions received.
One set of youngsters approached this correspondent for a tip.
Going by Sunday MiD DAY's race selections, Moonlight Romance was the obvious suggestion, and as it turned out theu00a0 Cooji Katrak-trained filly emerged triumphant.
Needless to say the teens were ecstatic. "MiD DAY rocks," the boys yelled out when they bumped into this correspondent after the race at the Tote counter.
'Next time ghoda nahi, gadha chala'
The passion among horse-racing lovers is astonishing. They love their horses and jockeys alike, but when a race does not go according to their liking, that love instantaneously turns into hatred. Yesterday, a group of 'regulars' were seen hurling abuses at one of the Indian jockeys, who finished outside the places (Top three) despite riding the favourite in one of the races before the main Derby race. "Next time ghoda nahi, gadha chala," screamed one of the spectators firing a round of expletives thereafter at the jockey cantering across after the race. Not one to keep shut, the rider eased past raising his middle-finger at the men.
Lots in a number, if you're a first-timer
There were quite a few first-timers at the Derby yesterday, as is the case every year. But this one guy took the cake, when it came to placing a bet.
"Horse numbers 4, 5 and 12 place and win Rs 100 each," shouted the man, probably in his mid-30s, at one of the Tote counters. Pat came a query from across the window, "Barah number tumhara ghoda hai kya? (is horse number 12 owned by you)." The man innocently replied in the negative.
"Toh pehle woh ghoda khareedo, phir race main entry karo aur uske baad bet lagaoo, kyonki iss race main sirf gyarah ghodein hain (then first buy that horse, enter it in the race and then bet on it, because there are only 11 horses in this particular race," yelled the RWITC official as everyone at the counter burst into
laughter.
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