"Should not be Played for Investments purposes"

Racing horses has been going on as long as there have been men riding the animal. Horses even race one another for fun in the fields and pastures. Running is in their blood. And what a sight they are when running full out, stretching their necks, bodies, and legs to cover the ground and whip the wind through their manes and tails.

Even the Indians had races to see which band and tribe had the fastest horses. Young men would swing up onto the back of a horse and strike out along a chosen path with hooves thundering along the ground. Any time bands or tribes gathered for trade there were many contests of strength and skill between the men and the animals. It was a less bloody way to show which band or tribe was superior.

Today, horse racing still has the same headiness about it as it did in centuries past, only now the winning horse brings pride to the owner, trainer, and jockey and few minutes of adrenaline pumping excitement to the person who places a bid or just picks which horse they believe will win a race. Some people pick their winners from breeding lines, some from past races, some from the jockey, and then there are others, like my granddaughters, who pick the horse that is the prettiest or a color they like.

Last night my husband and I took our oldest daughter and her family to the yearly horse races at the Crooked River Roundup in Prineville, Oregon. The girls pointed and got giggly when two Rodeo Queens rode by as the head of the first race procession. They each picked out a horse they wanted to win the race. One because of the color of the horse and one the colors of the jockey. Then they ate popcorn and watched the tractor pull the starting gates into position. When the race started and the grown ups stood up, they hopped onto the bleacher they were sitting on and watched and cheered.  They were as enthusiastic as the group of adults in front of us who had money on the race.

My husband and I bet on a few. Our horses didn't come in the money until the last race and we made $2.40. Yes, going to the races once a year is a treat and as the lottery claims: "Should not be played for investment purposes."