Are You On The Punt?

This may get lost within the miles of column inches that get written today about a race that is considered one of the most important anywhere in the world.

Melbourne Cup day comes with a bit of a rider for me (no pun intended).

I used to love a punt and in a previous life would bet more than I had. I never got into the realms of owing money to outlaw motorcycles clubs or Fat Tony like Krusty the Klown but loved a punt.

I had varied success, usually loading up on multi bets, box trifectas and tri-wins. Dogs were good fun, betting on the number one dog in every race at a certain track on a certain night with no real science or system.

Those days are in the past and now I rarely bet, say for the AFL Grand Final, the odd lotto ticket, raffle tickets at the shopping centre and Melbourne Cup.

This year will be a little different. I won’t be having a wager.

This is not because of any earth-shattering event apart from knowing more about my mind and body and the risks that come with indulging in addictive behavior. I’ll let my involvement centre around the office social club sweep.

STOP THE PRESSES!

I’ve drawn the favourite in the sweep.

Apparently Marmelo is the horse to beat in the big race as 23 of the finest from around the world race around the track adorned with beautiful roses, prepared to perfection by a dedicated team of gardeners.

I watched a really cool piece on the preparation of the track, the inner irrigation technician in me was very interested, and discovered that even the dates of pruning, watering, amounts of water and dynamic lifter are worked out months in advance so certain types of roses are in full bloom on certain days like Derby Day, Cup Day and so on and so forth.

What I love most about the Melbourne Cup is how much of an Australian tradition it is.

Every bit as important at the AFL Grand Final, NRL Grand Final, Boxing Day test and Bledisloe Cup.

Australians have a habit, particularly in the mainstream media of over hyping events, athletes and label things “must watch”, “the most important” and “superstar”.

Recently a Richmond player I have never heard of hung his premiership medal around the neck of a topless woman and photos emerged causing a big stink. There was an investigation, phone records checked and eventually someone was deemed responsible.

The thing that really got my goat in this situation was the headline “Richmond Star named in Premiership Medal scandal”

Star?

Really?

When I was a young reporter working with The Examiner covering cricket and football in Northern Tasmania I had a great mentor named Terry Morris, now there was a legend, who impressed upon me the use of superlatives.
Terms like “legend” are to be reserved for Darrell Baldock, Leigh Matthews, Ted Whitten. “Champion” is to be reserved for people who won something, “Superstar” for the current best in the business (think Patrick Dangerfield, Virat Kohli or Ellyse Perry) and a “star” is someone who is not just run of the mill.

I would imagine this Richmond player would be just that, a player, maybe even identified by his position in the team, of which I don’t know because I have never heard of the so-called “star”.

The Melbourne Cup callers do a great job of calling this great race without the fanfare of misguided superlatives.

“Legend” would be Makybe Diva or Phar Lap, “Champion” is Media Puzzle, “Superstar”, although not racing in the cup, is Winx and “star” would be Marmelo (or so I’m told).

And as another horse gets written into the record books and is assigned a permanent place in Australian horse racing history and/or folklore, a new issue could be bestowed on another champion.

Much like Prince William was issued Duke of Cambridge when he married Kate. His issue of Prince of Wales was removed.

If you are on the punt today, good luck, I hope your horse doesn’t beat mine and you finish in front.

But as my Grandad said, “you never see a poor bookmaker”.