Currency~Sunday Stills Challenge~110809

I don't have any exotic money hanging around the house or much money, but a few years ago, I did enjoy going to the horse races in Southern California. I'd been away from racing for many, many years...raising my family and moving to the desert. Then, I read a book about racing and decided, hmmmm....I used to be fairly good at this (I could ALWAYS pick the 3rd place horse in a race, occasionally the 2nd, and once in a blue moon, the winner!), so hubby and I, armed with our cameras and some spending money, spent a season going to Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, and Del Mar. I learned the ins and outs of betting (well, sort of...) I never picked an exacta or trifecta, but instead bet on horses to win, place, or show (1st, 2nd, or 3rd). Sometimes I even bet "across the board" which means you pick one horse to come in EITHER 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a race. For a $2.00 bet, that would cost $6.00. Depending on the odds and how that horse finished, one could make a little money on that. I usually just bet $2.00 to win OR to place OR to show. Our daughter would sometimes come with us (yes...she was over 21), bring $20 and usually go home with $20 and bet all day. She was what I would call a conservative bettor. My husband, on the other hand, the "Type A", logical, thinking, strategist, would go all out on a hunch and bet $20 to win! I was astonished. Here, beside me, was "Mr. Cool" who would bet on a name, or a color, or because he liked the trainer! Me? HA! I'll NEVER reveal my secrets! (just kidding). I ALWAYS went down to the saddling paddock, looked over the horses, and then bet. I hit paydirt when, in 2005, I spotted a young two year old colt, Stevie Wonderboy. One look at him and I knew he was a great-grandson of the great Secretariat. I bet on him in every race he raced in Southern California, followed him to his races, photographed him, and when he ran in the Breeders' Cup in 2005, I bet $50 on him "across the board". When he won, that started my "horse fund" and I was able to purchase my first two rescue horses, Beauty and Gigondas. These are some pics from Hollywood Park in 2005, when we were going to the track. You can see some of the payouts. Funny story: One time, at Santa Anita, I spotted a beautiful, chestnut mare, Sweet Catomine. She was so impressive, I bet $20 on her to win. Hubby was up in the stands. He had placed his own bet, $100 TO WIN! I nearly fell over. Of course, she won. After the race, I asked him, "HOW did you pick her to win? You didn't even see her in the paddock!" "Ah, yes," he said, "But I saw her trainer's face and he had this @#$%-eating grin on his face and he looked like he had confidence in her, so I bet on her to win." Needless to say, his winnings paid for our ENTIRE weekend! Go figure. Another story: One time as I was cashing in my meager winnings, the guy in front of me was telling how he picked the winning trifecta: His ten year old son gave him the numbers off the top of his head and he placed the bet. He won over $800. Go figure. Currency, Sunday Stills for November 8, 2009.