Time once again . . .
Excuse the impending pun, but it's been a while between drinks since I've complained about this, so it's time to bring it up again.
Why, after a not-particularly-hard week of work, can I not take a five-minute stroll from the Otago Daily Times offices on a Friday afternoon to a bar with a TAB, or even a self-service terminal where I can have a post-work beer with my very small circle of friends and indulge in a punt?
As I mentioned in this column a couple of weeks ago, I was in Wellington for a catch-up with some mates. We visited two pubs/bars/establishments with TABs in the CBD and, from my time living there, I can think of at least two others which have all the required tools for you to place a bet and have a wager - maybe on the Lazy Fiver, maybe not
. . . for a plea
But here we are back in Dunedin and forced to leave central Dunedin - by central, I mean between the Exchange and Knox Church - if we want to combine the great Kiwi tradition of refreshing beverages and a racing investment on Friday night (or Saturday afternoon, for that matter).
The irony is that I got an email from a TAB head office employee a few months back asking for suggestions for a beer and a bet venue on a Saturday when he was visiting Dunedin. I had to explain to him there is nothing and could he do something about it.
No progress yet, but I'm hoping my ''squeaky wheel'' approach might get some leverage. Watch this space.
Otago online
Imagine my delight when I was invited to ''Like'' the Richards Racing page on Facebook this week. If any of you have photographic memories, you may recall a mention in my column in May about trainers creating Facebook pages to promote their stables.
It takes five minutes to set up, two minutes a day to update, and gives you untold amounts of free advertising. I'm glad Paul and Leanne (well, Leanne, as Paul isn't on Facebook) have got the ball rolling in the Otago region and - to steal a line from the telethon era - I hope all others do the same.
Bum moment
Well, much like the #MomentOfTruth announcement with Kim Dotcom and his raft of refugees, my suggestion of punting Moment Of Truth was a fizzer, as it was a late scratching on Friday morning. Then again, considering the Internet Mana party's rapid slide into political obscurity after Hone was kicked out of his seat on Saturday night, maybe the late scratching was appropriate.
Lazy Fiver
It wasn't a win, but a $2.10 placing for Red Ripper on Saturday keeps the ball rolling if you follow the Lazy Fiver principle of $2 to win and $3 to place. Sunny Ruby (Motukarara, Sunday, race 2) did well on her grass track debut last week, so go again.
