I popped over to the Gold Coast last week for a brief break before the spring racing gets really stupid.
As with last year, our group of friends wandered along to the Gold Coast Turf Club for an afternoon of punting.
It will come as no surprise that even with, ahem, a racing ''expert'' such as myself, we were battling on the collecting front.
Even when we did ($8 back from $30 spent), I managed to lose the ticket.
We were saved by the Caulfield Cup in which we nailed the quinella and 33% of the trifecta which actually meant we tripled our money - a feat which still has me shaking my head.
Anyway, my point wasn't to talk about our punting successes and failures.
It's the racing experience.
... the competition
Admittedly, the Gold Coast club is at a large advantage - it has regular dates (racing every Saturday of the year) and is in the heart of a large population base of more than half a million.
But the efficiency was impressive - from the entrance, the wide choice of places to plant ourselves (inside, outside, out the back with the bookies), easy access to bars and food, and the ease with which we caught a taxi van afterwards.
Several of my friends aren't racing fans, but after such a positive experience (we ignored the guys getting arrested for questionable substance use in the toilets), I don't think they'll be averse to heading to a race meeting again.
Backing our boys?
Don't get me wrong - I'm a big fan of the All Blacks.
I'm even more pleased that some of them maintain interests in racehorses.
But I'm scratching my head trying to see the point of an advertisement on TAB Trackside which mentioned horses owned by All Blacks followed by a message of support.
Was that really a valuable use of editing and production time?
Having been a producer for 4 years, I know it wouldn't have been whipped up in half an hour, and I just don't really get the need for an advertisement the team is unlikely to see.
But hey, maybe I'm just a patriotic Scrooge.
Lazy Fiver
I was out of the country last Friday night, so only saw the result of Kimani's third.
It wasn't until I saw the replay that I realised how close it was.
Anyway, he didn't win, and I let Peter Holmes down.
Ross Hoskin, from Queenstown, has been drawn out this week, and he may or may not be thrilled to learn he is cheering for Special Memories in race 7 at Riccarton tomorrow.
This week's question: On Wednesday, which horse was made favourite for the New Zealand Trotting Cup? (Hint: he is trained by Barry Purdon). Name, contact number and TAB account number (if you have one) to the email below.
• Check out Matt's two-minute racing tips video at www.odt.co.nz every Friday.
