God. What a day. I'm still recovering from watching Nick Rockett storm home in the Grand National (and the six pints that followed). My wallet feels significantly lighter after backing the wrong horse - again. Typical me.
The Novices' Chase at 5pm was next up after teh main event, and I'd promised my brother-in-law I'd text him the results since he was stuck at some godawful wedding reception with no signal. Poor James. Missing the racing to listen to drunk uncles give speeches about "the journey of marriage" or whatever.
Where the hell are the results?
Listen. I know you're here for the results. So am I! But as I'm writing this, they haven't been officially confirmed yet. The stewards were taking their sweet time reviewing something - probably some millionaire owner complaining that his million-pound horse didn't perform as expected.
I'll update this as soon as they come through. Promise.
My day at Aintree (or how I lost £120 in under 8 minutes)
Arrived at Aintree around 11am this morning, already regretting my choice of shoes. Why do I always wear new shoes to events where I'll be standing for 9 hours? My wife warned me. She literally said "those will give you blisters by noon." She was wrong though - the blisters started at 11:45.
Met up with Dave and Chris by the first bar. Chris was already three drinks deep and wearing a hat that made him look like he was auditioning for Peaky Blinders. "Started early?" I asked. His response: "Never stopped from yesterday."
I spent £4.80 on a half-pint that tasted like dishwater. Welcome to racecourse pricing.
The Festival So Far - Winners and Wallet-Emptiers
Thursday kicked off with Impaire Et Passe taking the Manifesto Novices' Chase. I had a tenner on him, which was the last time I saw any return on my bets. Murcia, Gaelic Warrior, and Lossiemouth all romped home for punters who are clearly smarter than me.
Friday's racing saw Caldwell Potter absolutely dominate the Mildmay Novices' Chase. That horse moves like... well, like a much faster horse than anything I bet on.
And then Saturday. Deep Cave (missed that one), Honesty Policy (backed the wrong one), Cruz Control (wasn't even on my radar), and Hiddenvalley Lane all crossed the line first while my selections were still thinking about it.
Then the big one - Nick Rockett in the National. I had £50 on a horse that I'm pretty sure is still running now.
The complete schedule (or "evidence of my poor choices")
For those keeping score at home, here's how the Festival played out:
Thursday, April 3
All times BST
1:45pm: Manifesto Novices' Chase (WINNER: IMPAIRE ET PASSE)
2:20pm: Juvenile Hurdle (WINNER: MURCIA)
2:55pm: Aintree Bowl (WINNER: GAELIC WARRIOR)
3:30pm: Aintree Hurdle (WINNER: LOSSIEMOUTH)
4:05pm: Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (WINNER: GRACCUS DE BALME)
4:40pm: Red Rum Handicap Chase (WINNER: SANUS BRUIT)
5:15pm: Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (WINNER: SEO LINN)
Friday, April 4
1:45pm: Mildmay Novices' Chase (WINNER: CALDWELL POTTER)
2:20pm: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (WINNER: WELLINGTON ARCH)
2:55pm: Top Novices' Hurdle (WINNER: SALVATOR MUNDI)
3:30pm: Melling Chase (WINNER: JONBON)
4:05pm: Topham Handicap Chase (WINNER: GENTLEMAN DE MEE)
4:40pm: Sefton Novices' Hurdle (WINNER: JULIUS DES PICTONS)
5:15pm: Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle (WINNER: SHE'S A SAINT)
Saturday, April 5
1:20pm: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (WINNER: DEEP CAVE)
1:55pm: Mersey Novices' Hurdle (WINNER: HONESTY POLICY)
2:30pm: Freebooter Handicap Chase (WINNER: CRUZ CONTROL)
3:05pm: Liverpool Hurdle (WINNER: HIDDENVALLEY LANE)
4pm: Grand National (WINNER: NICK ROCKETT)
5pm: Maghull Novices' Chase (Results pending like my will to live)
5:35pm: Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Racing TV)
That awkward moment when you realize you have a problem
I'm not saying I have a gambling problem. But when the barman knows your usual drink AND your usual excuses... maybe it's time for some reflection.
Back in 2018, I promised myself I'd only bet what I could afford to lose. Today, I apparently decided I could "afford" to lose my daughter's birthday money. Don't worry - I'll replace it before next month. Probably.
Gamble responsibly (unlike me today)
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
I'll update with the full results of the Novices' Chase as soon as they're confirmed. Until then, I'll be at the bar, trying to convince myself that next year will be different.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you determine a horse's level of fitness before a race starts?
Fitness of a racing horse is assessed by a combination veterinarian checks, trainers observations, and the performance in workouts. Trainers watch for changes in the horse's behavior during training while vets are looking out for signs that it is injured or sick. The behavior of the horse in the days leading up to the race is also a good indicator of its readiness to compete.
What type of surfaces do horse races take place on?
Horse races take place on different surfaces such as dirt, synthetic tracks, and turf (grass). The different types of surfaces can influence a horse differently. Some horses might even have a preference. A wet track can affect the outcome of races.
What factors influence the outcome of a horse race?
Numerous factors can influence the outcome a horse race. These include the horse's condition, its breeding, and its training. A jockey's ability and experience are also crucial, as is the track conditions and distance. Weather can also play a significant role, as some horses perform better on certain surfaces or under specific conditions than others.
How do handicaps in horse races work?
In horse racing, handicapping is used to equalize the field and give each horse a fair chance of winning. Horses receive different weights according to their past performance, and the better horses are given more weight. This system was created to ensure fair competition.
What role plays the jockey during a horse race.
The jockey can make or break a horse race. Their decisions and skills are crucial. An experienced jockey knows how to pace the horse, when to hold back or push forward, navigate the field, and effectively use their whip to coax maximum effort from the horse in the final stretch of the race. The rapport between horse and jockey is also paramount for a successful partnership.
Statistics
- Horse racing is known to support roughly 1.4 million full-time jobs in the United States alone.
- The record for the highest horse race betting turnover in a year is held by Japan, surpassing $22 billion.
- The average racing career of a Thoroughbred horse spans approximately three to four years, after which many pursue breeding or other equestrian activities.
- There are over 9.2 million horses in the United States, with a significant portion of these bred for the purpose of racing.
- The Thoroughbred industry in the United Kingdom heralds over £3 billion in economic output annually.
External Links
How To
How to Place a Bet on a Horse Racing Track
You must first decide how much you will wager to place a betting at a track. Decide whether to bet on a win-place-show bet or a more complicated exotic bet (exacta or trifecta). Then, approach a window to place your bet and make sure you clearly state what the race is, the horse's number, and which type of betting you want. Take the printed ticket and double check it before you leave the window. Save your ticket for when you are able to claim your win. For more privacy, automated betting machine are available. They also have shorter lines.
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