Johnnyb4 flickr
Today our nation stops to watch a horse race. Well, not just watch. You also want to have a punt. Plenty of people who bet no other day will bet on this day. The office sweep goes around and everyone else kicks in – why wouldn’t you? The papers will all have lift out sweeps. The TAB & Casino will have special staff on hand to help those not sure how to part with their money. The news last night featured the high rollers putting down $400,000 bets.
There is something quinteseentially Australian about betting on the big race (and something puritanical and WOWSERish about not taking part).
My Dad worked for an SP bookie when he was a kid. I ran a book at school and sold tickets for the Calcutta Sweeps. I’ve got very clear memories of the year Kiwi won the cup in 85 – running from outside and behind to pass half the field – I think it won at 50/1 – I had a friend who’d got $5 on it.
And we had horses at home. Not racehorses. But there were always horses around. A mate’s dad had a Caulfield Cup winner, one of the school families had the cup favourite one year. Seeing racehorses in the flesh is very different from TV. The muscles just ripple under the skin in huge waves. Their temparent varies but even the untrained eye can see this doesn’t look like anything that will go slow. To see them close together, thundering down a straight is a thrill.
Holding a ticket is exciting. I’ve never wagered much at all. I made more money as school bookie than I ever did making a bet myself. But even a small wager lets the adrenaline kick in. You can feel the disgust as your sweep drawn favourite dies in the first mile. Or your heartbeat can start to race as your outsider is into 5th and moving forward in the final straight.
But today I won’t be watching. I will kind of miss it. Its my own little protest against the evils of gambling. I know it sounds like Captain Killjoy but gambling is such an enormous problem in Australia that I can’t be party to it. $140m was wagered last year on the Cup. Nice for those with TAB shares but misery for the families of problem gamblers.
Its not just the consequence is wrong either. To wager a bet is to commit yourself to fate. Augustine has a few great chapters in City of God where he rails against belief in fortunas, felicity, and fate. The universe is not held in their hands. Instead our Father holds everything in his hands. We’re to entrust ourselves to him rather than have a false belief in fate.
There are much better causes to give to than the TAB. Why not have your own little protest and give $20 to a charity of your choice today. You’ll feel good. You won’t have to queue. And you can tell everyone you backed a winner.
How do you feel about the big race? I gambling a problem for you?
November 3, 2009 at 9:13 am
I’m with you on this Michael. I just can’t bear the thought of being involved in something that causes so many problems for so many people. Whenever I hear the news on the evening of the first Tuesday in November and they talk about how much money was gambled that day, all I can think about is how many children might have to go without dinner that evening or miss the school excursion next week because there’s no money left.
One year I suggested that our team donate half of the money raised in office sweeps to charity. There wasn’t much support for the idea.
I know for most people it’s just meant to be a bit of fun, but I never want to be a part of it. I imagine this year I will again be the only person left quietly sitting at my desk this afternoon.
November 3, 2009 at 9:45 am
PS anyone who understands statistics can tell you that gambling of any kind is a silly idea – unless you’re a casino or a bookie
November 3, 2009 at 9:59 am
Thanks George
I wrote this post this morning at 6 before the SMH was delivered. Unwrappping it over breakfast it had the massive wrap around spread coverage and pages inside. The coverage on the radio was also non-stop. Adam Spencer nailed it when he said it would be un-Australian of him not to cross to Flemington.
Are we really the Lucky Country?
November 3, 2009 at 10:34 am
[...] the day when $100M + gets flushed down the gambling toilet. Mike K shares his opinion on the matter here. Like commenter George, I’m sure I’ll be one of only a few who’ll keep ploughing [...]
November 3, 2009 at 10:52 am
[...] Is gambling a problem for you? « …that great city thatgreatcity.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/is-gambling-a-problem-for-you – view page – cached Posted by Michael Kellahan under Uncategorized | Tags: Christianity, gambling, Melbourne Cup, problem gambling | Leave a Comment — From the page [...]
November 4, 2009 at 11:10 am
Michael,
Have you read the article in Sydney Uni Alumni Magazine (Spring ‘09) about us being “the lucky country”? Anne Summers quotes figures from 2005-6 that said that Australians lost a total of 17.5 billion dollars ($1122 for every man, woman and child) that year. Vastly exceeding the amount of household savings. Just imagine what could have been done with that money, and how much of that went to the government…
I guess that is another problem with gambling.
November 4, 2009 at 11:38 am
Angela
those figures are staggering aren’t they! People joked about the effects of the Rudd Flat Screen TV handout & Costellos baby bonus – but imagine putting $1122 out of the hands of the gaming industry and into more worthwile sources. I guess when our State govt is so dependent on gaming revenue itslf it will not tackle this issue
November 6, 2009 at 7:46 am
Bizzarely enough, in Canberra, we have recently introduced a public holiday on Melbourne Cup day. But, the interesting effect is that, since then, everyone goes down to the coast for the day, and no one has paid the slightest attention to the cup. Much to the chagrin of the local TAB.