Did I mention Horses??? And luck!!!
So, yesterday (*or was it the day before) as we were wending our way back from Wellington toward Auckland, we stopped for lunch by Lake Taupo, site of the largest volcanic eruption in the laqst 5,000 years (in 186 AD - Janet wrote about it a while ago). On a lovely blue day (many of the days here have been that), we picked out a picnic table by the lake, when this craggy but cheery New Zealander and his wife happened by and said "Let's sit with these people and have a good "yak."
Turned out to be a riotous conversation (and this was not the first nor the last New Zealander to approach us in this kind of manner).
The guy (soon joined by his two sons and his 2 year old grand daughter Alex) was a retired contractor who owned a few race horses and was on his was on his way to enter two of his horses in a race, in a place called Hastings, to take place earlier today. His horses were "Red Chief" and "Western Legacy."
I asked if I should stop by an off track betting parlor (they are all over the place) and bet the farm on this. He asked if I had a farm. But he knew.
He said sure - bet them "both ways" - meaning to win and to place (which here includes 2nd and 3rd. he also told me he only had one horse that ever paid his way - some years ago. These were not paying there way. Anyway, this morning I bet $10 on each "both ways."
Tonight when we got back to Auckland I stopped by a betting parlor to see what happened. Both WON!!!! They paid $186. The horses are paying for our hotel room tonight! By the way, the horseman, Paul, got so bored being retired he bought a plum farm. Fascinating folks these kiwis.
Tomorrow we fly to Melbourne and the land of oz.
Mel
Turned out to be a riotous conversation (and this was not the first nor the last New Zealander to approach us in this kind of manner).
The guy (soon joined by his two sons and his 2 year old grand daughter Alex) was a retired contractor who owned a few race horses and was on his was on his way to enter two of his horses in a race, in a place called Hastings, to take place earlier today. His horses were "Red Chief" and "Western Legacy."
I asked if I should stop by an off track betting parlor (they are all over the place) and bet the farm on this. He asked if I had a farm. But he knew.
He said sure - bet them "both ways" - meaning to win and to place (which here includes 2nd and 3rd. he also told me he only had one horse that ever paid his way - some years ago. These were not paying there way. Anyway, this morning I bet $10 on each "both ways."
Tonight when we got back to Auckland I stopped by a betting parlor to see what happened. Both WON!!!! They paid $186. The horses are paying for our hotel room tonight! By the way, the horseman, Paul, got so bored being retired he bought a plum farm. Fascinating folks these kiwis.
Tomorrow we fly to Melbourne and the land of oz.
Mel
posted by Mel and Janet Muchnik | 2:22 AM
3 Comments:
Janet & Mel:
So now you are not only touring the south Pacific but you are doing it free of charge thanks to your horse racing winnings! What a charmed life you are both living. Thanks for the blog postings and emails - it has been fun to track your trip from Park Forest.
Tom
The luck with horses in the Southern Hemisphere must run in the family, remember Syd was the big winner at the Adelaide Cup!
Love,
April and Greg (Syd and E sleeping)
You're right April about the ponies and thte luck of the Muchnik - in the southern hemisphere. I remember Sydney - on my birthday in 1997 - being the ONLY winner!!!
And Mary - if you get to this comment - just trying to keep the winning tradition alive. Janet was deighted but still wants her gum when she puts money in the machine.
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