It has been over a decade since I last had a share in a racehorse, but that all changed a few months ago when after the idea was conceived in a YouTube Show and we formed a Goodforthegame Syndicate with Gary Lentin from GGGaming and purchased shares in 2 fillies.
The intention was that they would run in the first few months, but of course COVID-19 had other ideas and we have been waiting patiently for them to be ready for the track. Sadly one of the fillies, Incense, got very sick and had to be euthanized, but the other filly, Loving the Victory made her debut for us last Thursday at the Vaal Racetrack.
I couldn’t go to the track due to work commitments, but I found myself getting very excited as the race day approached and even more so on the morning of the race where while in meetings I was constantly checking my phone to see how much longer until the starting door stalls burst open.
As it happens our filly was quite highly fancied and started favourite for the race and had you been listening to the commentary only, you would have thought she was handily placed as the commentator mixed her up with another horse. My daughter was watching with me and I explained that Loving The Victory was not even in sight at the 400 metre mark, but she finally figured out what this game was about and charged through the field to finish 5th. We cheered her home.
Fortunately due to the fact that she was a fairly short price for a first timer I decided not to get too involved as far as the betting angle goes and while disappointed that she couldn’t win on debut, there was certainly plenty of encouragement in the run.
I have been starved of watching my children play school sports this year and I guess watching a horse, you own a share in (even if my wife says it is just the tail) was the next best thing in this crazy year of 2020.
The Syndicate is now looking forward to her next run and I am certainly hoping to be able to go to the track and watch her and with a bit of luck lead her into the winner’s enclosure.
Twitter: @BrentGraham.
This article was written for the CitiGaming supplement of the Citizen Newspaper and was published on the 17 September 2020.
Brent Graham is a blogger on www.goodforthegame.co.za and sends a free weekly e-mail list just CLICK HERE to register