Off to the Races...

This weekend Jason and I decided to try something new and we went to the Emerald Downs Horse Races.  We had bought our tickets through a website called Groupon a while back because it was a pretty good deal for admission and some food.  Weekend and weekend went past and we still hadn't gone.  Well our tickets were about to expire so we figured we better go.  And luckily we waited until a beautiful sunny fall day, so it all worked out.

Isn't that a beautiful view from the track of Mt. Rainier?!

Waiting for the race to begin

This was our first experience with Horse Racing and to tell ya the truth, it's complicated...at least the gambling aspect of it is.  Complicated or not we were down to try.  So we headed over to the newbee corner where two experts taught us how to gamble.  I still didn't think the expert made any sense, but I nodded my head at everything he said while Jason soaked in all the information to share with me later.

Once we learned the easiest way to bet on the races we jumped right in with our big $2 bets.  Even only having $2 invested in the race makes the race all that much more exciting.  I was jumping up and down screaming for my horse to win (according to Jason I was a little too excited).  And much to my surprise we actually won on one of the races!!!  My whopping $2 turned into $3.60...I was rich!

This is how excited I am to have finally won!!!

This was our winning horse...#7

The races occur every 20 mins or so.  So in between each race you have time to go watch them "load the jocks", warm up the horses and make your bets.

Jason watching the horses come out

Getting ready for the "loading of the jocks"

And they're off!!

Overall I would say this was a really fun day!  We learned a lot about horse race gambling and still want to learn more.  Next up on the "bucket list"...the Kentucky Derby baby!!

By the way, if you have ever wondered how big a jockey is...this might give you a good perspective.  I am 5'9" and an average jockey height is 5'3"!