Wednesday, November 7, 2007 Gamblers Posted in Home Schooling As per tradition, on the first Tuesday in November the Group 1 Melbourne Cup was contested at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. Like the Kentucky Derby in America, the Melbourne Cup is "the race that stops a nation", with 122,736 fans in attendance at Flemington and millions elsewhere watching on television or listening on the radio. We decided this year to follow the race & take a bet. – So 11.30am the kids & I walk into the local pup which has a TAB included – having no idea how to place a bet or how much it costs the lady explained lots to us. In the end I said for the kids to choose 3 horses each & we put $1.00 each way on their horses, which meant a win for a first or a place. –Cost $2.00 per horse so I splashed out $18.00 I took – Black Tom – had to as my tom cat is Black, Purple Moon & Blue Monday – because I like Purple & one of my favourite roses which is on top of one of our first breeding cat – Sam is called Purple Moon. James took Efficient, Purple Moon & Eskimo Queen Abbey took Efficient no 6 as she says no 6 is her lucky number, number 21The Fuzz as her birthday & Sarrera as the write up on the wall said this horse had done real well. New Zealand born-and-raised Efficient has won the 2007 Melbourne Cup in a thrilling finish. Paying # Name Jockey/Driver/Trainer  Win  Place 6 Efficient Michael Rodd  22.40  7.00 12 Purple Moon Damien Oliver    1.80 24 Mahler Stephen Baster    4.00 Much to my horror – James announced he was now addicted as he chose a winner & 2nd place! He asked if we could go straight away to collect his winnings – he got $31.20 Abbey $31.40 the winner & her horse no 21 was scratched so she got her money back. (Abbey has just informed me she spent $6.00 on the horse no 6, on the 6th day of the month) Me: $1.80 as I got a 2nd. Total winnings from $16.00 = $62.40 We can’t believe the first time our kids have a bet they won! They are saving $20.00 & the balance to re bet – I said I’d take them to a day’s race this month – with a picnic lunch so they have been there & done that. Kids agreed I shout them as this was an educational experience & hence should come out of education budget. They said they learnt spelling (horses names), writing Filling in the form, maths (numbers & times tables working out winnings – percentages & adding), health (addiction & drinking at pub from 11.30am – 5.30pm which James noted one man & car was there both visits), social skills (talking to fellow punters – we found it interesting that they said they were putting the bets on for their husband & vet receptionist was sharing her betting tips with James & I today), sport (horse racing) & they said they could of learnt home economics if I had purchased them a beer. A memory making Day!   • Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend! Comments