[Gripe Thread] Do you have a spouse/someone in your life who...
 

...bitches at you when you lose about how "gambling is bad" but loves you when you win? You know when they just don't understand that there is a rhyme and reason to the game and sometimes you take a chance and sometimes you're taking less of a chance and getting less paid...well, I just want to gripe that it's annoying when people think gambling is a game that will ruin your life even when you're playing smartly and/or recreationally. It's even more annoying when they want in on your wins but finger-wag you when you lose!

But everyone loves money so when you win it's all hearts and roses and "you're paying for dinner tonight/the mortgage/rent this year" :D

Not everyone has the stomach for betting horses but damn everyone spends money on things they find fun. Why is playing the races such a difference? Why do people compare it to slot machines?! With any other hobby spending all the time would be seen as a passion, but no, spending some hours reading bloodhorse, brisnet, looking over PPs is an "addiction" simply because there's a gambling opportunity - even if being selective about races is part of spending that time.

Do I have to move to China to get some respect for my newfound hobby? :p

Judging from previous posts, are you at a big kind of a crux Mad?

Possibly, what/why do you mean by crux?

That was my first wife. One day she is telling her friends how Gary made all of this money at the track. Next day she says I should know better and we will end up on the street. I told her that when you play longshots there are ups and downs. I was going to school in the morning, the track in the afternoon and I worked at Sears in the evening. I told her I was doing everything right and to STFU. Divorced her and lived somewhat happily ever after.

When your significant other asks how you did at the track, ALWAYS just say you broke about even. If you say you won, the hand comes out, and if you say you lost, you get a lecture.

When I was dating my first and only wife (marriage lasted 4 1/2 years) during the Santa Anita winter meet that started Dec 26th 1986, there was a speed bias of epic proportions that lasted almost a month. I am extremely good at fishing out who goes to the front, by far my best handicapping skill. Unfortunately back then at SA the only exotics were the early and late doubles and exactas, if they had pick 3's and 6's I would have made a lot more. I was pretty much only win betting and if my horse was 8-1 or over a win/place bet. At the time the day job was $12.50 an hour + overtime. I was able to get the track quite often, holiday shut down, vacation days, and if I drove fast could catch the last 3 races after work.
I don't have hard numbers on what I won, but I paid off my truck, bought a bunch of new furniture, bought my soon to be wife a couple year old low mileage Camaro, and ended up with $10,000 cash. This all started with a $500 stake. In that month I never had a losing day, had a few break evens when I went all in on the late double and misfired.
My girlfriend, soon to be wife rarely went with me to the track she would visit her parents where I dropped her on the way to the track. Her parents smoked like chimneys inside the house, but did not allow alcohol or sports watching, so I did not want to hang out there. When I went to pick her up she would always just extend her hand and expect $100 bills.

So the speed bias ends, I take some time off from the track and we get married. I keep watching the race replays on channel 56 and decide I will return the first day after speed has a good day. So I head back on a Saturday, wife stays home. I go to track, I get home. Hand comes out, this time I inform the wife I lost $500. First she thinks I am joking as all she knows is the hot streak where I either won or broke even a dozen+ straight times. She then goes into a tirade about how irresponsible I was
and what $500 would have bought. I lost a whole month's rent!

Reminds me of this joke which I think I've posted before.


A man goes to the track and has a system to bet $5 on the favorite and if he wins he puts it all on the next one still betting the favorite. If he loses one he stops and comes home.


One day he wins 8 in a row and has over $10,000. The last race the fav is even money. His horse is leading the whole way and gets tagged at the wire for second.
He goes home and his wife says, "How did it go today honey?" He replies, "Ahh I lost five dollars".


(Actually this is more like Inner Dirts story)

Doc Sartin used to tell us that no matter how he did at the track, shen he came home, he handed his wife a 100 dollar bill. Kept her happy and him sane.

After a 12 hour day and working her butt off yesterday we finally sat down for dinner last night about 9p. My wife says “is Saratoga running Monday? Let’s go out to the track.”

It’s hot as hell in Houston.....sitting in the simulcast might not be a bad idea......for a Monday day off

I thought you were going drive up for the day! :lol:

This is a slight variation of a story Harvey Pack used to tell at Saratoga every year from the time I first went to the track until NYRA pushed him out. Somehow even though you knew it was coming, Harvey still kept you mesmerized. Or, as a simile, it would be like never tiring of Bruce Springsteen playing Born to Run in concert.

Another story was this one:

Harry Truman died the day after Christmas, 1972. Services were scheduled a few days later. Right after the service the track announcer told the crowd, "Let us have a moment of silence for President Harry Truman, who was buried today." The track goes dead silent until one patron yells out, "The hell with Harry Truman. I'm getting buried right here."

My wife used to mildly chastise me for my drinking and gambling. Not anymore
A few years back my company had a spouse invited few days in Las Vegas. On of our vendors had a private party for us one evening at the Bellagio. At the time I was a smoker and this was a non-smoking room, so I had to step out into the Casino.
While I was enjoying my cigarette, a guy came by and tried to bum $10 for food money. I refused and told him he would just gamble it away. He said he didn’t gamble. I still did not give in telling him if he didn’t gamble it away he would just by alcohol with it. He said he didn’t drink either.
Ok I will give you the $10 if you come with me and meet my wife. “Why would I want to do that?” he asked.
I just want to show her what happens to a guy who does not drink and gamble.

:D:D

I like the "I'm always breaking even" strategy.

:lol:

lots of good ones in this thread.

I get no respect...

Story of my life. No respect.

After the race I was so excited, I yelled out "Honey I got a big one!!"

She told me I have nothing to be ashamed of :rolleyes:...

No respect, I tell ya.

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