Fillies, Maidens & Yearlings

Tuesday, we took a short drive through Phoenix to Turf Paradise. We were accompanied by Sandi & Tito and Rob & Julie. Our expectations of winning were high because Rob & Julie had actually owned horses back home in Iowa. However, our chances of winning depended heavily upon Sandi's pony tail (for luck) and Rob's ability to pick the right ponies.

Yvonne says: Look, the sign says "Tuesdays - Seniors Free". We'll lie about our ages and get in for nothing! 

I could see that Sandi and Tito were put off by this tactic. There's no way "we'll" pass as seniors. Surprise....

The seniors set up camp in the Turf Club and it only took a minute before the table was covered with racing forms and cold drinks. We quickly scanned the program and the girls giggled at some of the horse names: Tony-the-Pony, Strum-Bum, She's-on-Top-Yodeling and Hello-Vodka-it's-Me,  just to mention a few.

Outside, you can see the horses gathering for the 1st race and we still needed to pick our winners and place our bets. As it turned out, there was no need to panic.  You can place a bet right up to the point where the horses are standing in the starting gate. During one race, Tito's horse was disqualified while in the starting gate. Apparently, a horse cannot lie down in the starting gate. Tito managed to change his bet.

Two of the ten races were actually run on the turf (grass) track.

I found it thrilling just to be near the track as the horses come thundering by.

Outside by the track, Rob secretly seeks advice from the girls.

Yvonne and Julie take a stroll to see the horses up close. 

Some slow shutter speed action.

Blinkers. Some wear them, some don't. 

Happy Jockey being congratulated by an owner  in the Winners Circle.

All in all,  it was a great day even if none of us came home rich. 

But you could hear the mumblings from the back seat on the drive home. "If only we had bet on Coco Beans in the 10th". 

Coco Beans was a 35:1 long-shot and paid $78.80 on a $2 bet.