A gamblers diary

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A gamblers diary

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Exhibit patience, Control your emotions, Exhibit patience, Control your emotions. I found my shelf repeating these two confirming statements over and over as I made my way to the front gate at Woodbine Racetrack. It is just ten days away from the opening of the local thoroughbred season; pardon the horse pun but I’m already chomping at the bit. Horseracing has always been something I’ve had a great passion for and despite experiencing the typical up’s and down’s of any degenerate gambler I’ve come to the conclusion that they may just be forced to bury me track-side because I’m not going anywhere.

A new season brings with it all the anticipation that one normally associates with the early days of spring. Wipe the slate clean and begin anew. This year is going to be different. If this sound familiar to you, you’re likely a gambler or somebody that has the misfortune of living with a gambler. But this time I mean it, I’m not fooling around this time, I will emerge victorious. Any gambler who is even half way along the path of success knows just how ridiculous this statement is however I’m not talk about any winning scheme, fool proof plan or gambling coo. This time I’m going to win because I will no longer take this beast on alone. I have read every book on the shelf, tried every possible profitable angle and even seen a shrink to assess my problem but these "solution" only left me wondering in the end what I had done wrong. I shall suffer this anguish no longer, I have here by decide to document my life with the horses. I will attempt to document a year in the life of a horseplayer in an interesting, informative, amusing and incredible no hold barred fashion. With my trusted pen and pad at my side win or lose I will feel no anguish, I could confidently spend a years worth of income in just one day knowing the great story the day would produce. Im not sure how many autobiographical tragedies have ever been write but I am struck with a odd exhilaration at the thought of myself become coming the lead character in my own tragedy. I’m a writer and writing is one of those gifts that just keeps giving. I am a horseman, this has burned through my chest and brand my heart. I am a gambler tackling the worlds most impossible game and if you ask how I do it I’ll say "Exhibit patience, Control your emotions"

Day 1

I guess it’s good to get out once in awhile

Despite being well equipped to wager on horseracing from the comfort of my living room or anywhere else for that matter I found my self schlepping it to Woodbine Racetrack well over a week before the spring racing meet was set to begin. Three buses, two coffees and two hour out of an other wise hectic day. I slept in and wasn’t on the bus until two in the afternoon about two hours after the start of out of town racing or simulcasting if you prefer. Oh, Thank heaven for simulcast wagering. Simulcast wagering makes year round gambling a reality for all gambler across North America by offering tracks all over North America and sometimes the world. Its also a brutal was of bye passing city, state or track regulations that limit the amount of racing day allowed in any given year. I had planned to spend the early hours of the day preparing for the evenings racing card at Mountaineer Park in Virginia in the comfort of my own livingroom with the luxuries of my over worked coffee perk and a pound of Canadian Bacon. All my wonderful plans however were dashed by a memory that seemed so distant despite being only a week or two old. Just a week early with similar plans dancing in my head my hopes were thwarted, cutoff, wasted well I stood before a brand new self serve wager booth at my local OTB (Off-Track wagering location). A brand new self serve wagering terminal, that would not except my old self serve account card. A sign posted above the terminal stated that those who had yet to receive a new card were required to pick up there new card at the race track it self. As a terminal horseplayer I am thankful to have an card that allows me to place wager through an account using several convenient methods that include but are not limited to telephone, computer and self serve wagering booths. unfortunately when your account is empty you must find your way to one of these electronic tellers and "feed the beast your money". So I found myself sans card and needing to make the three bus trip to Woodbine Racetrack to resolve this dilemma. I was told by a very wise lady "do not delay get your card today". She told me I’d be sorry and filled with regret if I waited until I needed it. But, for the moment I was forced to make my bets the old fashion way, at the teller window, in line behind the technologically challenged and for the moment the need for a new card slipped my mind. Until one week later in the midst of another daydream involving my recliner, fuzzy dog slippers, a pound of bacon and of course my ever trusty coffee pot.

Getting anything that involves id is always a problem for me, I never seem to possess the required documents and this Monday afternoon was no exception. Thank to the great management staff at Woodbine Racetrack however I was quickly on my way, new card in hand and she’s pretty snazzy. Wish me luck.

Zoltan Black