Filthy Business

[poliphilo]

We watched the race on TV. My mother's horse shared the lead for two and a half circuits and then dropped back on the final stretch- coming in second to last. We were expecting a disappointment, this was its 30th outing and it had never won.

A few minutes later the trainer rang. The horse, she said, had "struck on"- which is racing jargon for "kicked itself in the shin". It was seeing a vet. A few minutes more and we learned it had severed a tendon. Racing shoes are thin- for reasons of weight- and sharp as blades. The vet advised having the horse put down. My mother consented.

I'll tell you what I wanted to do. I wanted to gather up the racing memorabilia with which this house is filled and chuck it all in a skip.

Comments

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

I guess she has paid good money for a share in this poor horse? What a waste all round. I've never understood the joys of horse racing - but then, I'm a useless gambler.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Not a share; she owned it outright. Her retirement hobby- though supposedly run as a business- loses money hand over fist.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Perhaps a more conventional investment next time?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

A stamp collection would be nice...

[trixibelle-net.livejournal.com]

:o(

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I'd tend to share your view.

This sort of thing has a very high nausea factor for me.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

This is just crazy. It makes me really sad.

[w. lotus (from livejournal.com)]

That poor horse.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That's just sad. Was that the only horse she had? I hope so...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Sadly not. She has three left- and they cost the earth to maintain.