Numbers at Santa Anita~Sunday Stills Challenge 030810

Hubby and I went to our local race tracks in Southern California for about two years. I had gone as a child (YES!) as I had a great-uncle who was a thoroughbred trainer. Uncle Earl used to get us into the tracks at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Hollywood Park when a horse from his barn raced. I owe him my love of thoroughbreds. He was the first one to show me them up close, although I was warned to stay away from some of the horses in his barn. But, I loved them ALL! I loved their beauty, their spirit, and their intelligence. Even as a young child, I knew that something BAD happened to those horses who didn't win races. I just didn't know what it was (slaughter). Now I have two rescued thoroughbreds myself (you can read about my horses over at http://deserthorses.blogspot.com/). So, when I returned to the race track, I had to mentally brush up on my numbers while figuring out the odds. Man, talk about "mental math"!!! It was fun going. I spent most of my time down at the paddock watching the horses, while hubby would view the odds carefully and read the Daily Racing Form before placing his bets. I usually came out a little ahead and hubby...well...not always so well. I always relied on my gut and my instincts. He relied on printed media, although one time he won quite a bit of money by just looking at a trainer's grin and ended up paying for our entire weekend with his winnings!! Hmmm...while I studied the horses, he studied the trainers! Interesting, eh? But, if you go to the horse races, there are PLENTY of opportunities to see numbers in action. Here are just a few samples. Sunday Stills for 030810