A Day at the Races

Last Saturday was a banner day for my girls and me. My partner (Law, not domestic) Paul invited us all to the horse races, and we accepted.

D2, D1, and D1's boyfriend all met there. (We'll call D1's boyfriend "Thomas," since that's his name). Alas, Wifey said it was too hot to go, so she stayed home in our house's hot garage applying varnish to a picnic bench --but that's another story.

Anyway, we met at Calder Race Track, and Paul had already won a few races, so he gave Thomas and the girls the proceeds --$150. We had lunch, and started picking ponies.

D2 was on fire! She stuck with her number (3) and brought in some long shots. Paul made sure everyone won, by spacing our the picks, but then even HE was surprised. D2 picked an Exacta (correctly pick the top three finishes (win, place, and show)) in a race in San Francisco that was simulcast to Calder. The #3 horse in that one was such a prohibitive longshot that few bet it. The Exacta won.

Paul sent the girls and Thomas to cash the ticket, and D1 came back breathlessly proclaiming "They need a Social Security number to cash the ticket!" The $1 bet paid off $974!

Paul loves the track, but gambles modestly. His average yearly outlay is no more than the average salary of a middle class worker. Ha! But the payoff was even large for him!

We split the winnings among the 3 youngermembers of our group, and they took $500 each. D2 no longer sees the point in going to college and getting a job.

I explained to her that the difference between a professional gambler and an amateuer is that the pro loses his money much more slowly.

But not Saturday!

D1 and Thomas went from the track to Palm Beach, where Thomas's mother's boyfriend treated them to a weekend stay at the Breakers. The Breakers was full, so they roughed it at Brazilian Court. Shocker: D1 now wants to move to Palm Beach. She likes the "pace" there...

D2, Wifey and I headed to Gainesville for a recruitment program. UF targeted D2 because of her test scores, and they spent a day telling her what a great school UF is.

She actually did the Gator chomp when asked. I nearly got ill watching that. I spent the time secretly making the "U" sign.

D1 is back at school/internship this week, although she has her final exam this Thursday. Her summer sessions are nearly 1/2 over.

D2 started working as a summer clerk at my office, answering phones, getting coffee, getting lunch, etc... After her 7 hour day today, she's even MORE convinced that working is for the birds. I hope I can keep her away from the ponies.