My real name is Graeme, 45 and married with a fur child, a brown ****** that regards the wife and I as servants on call 24/7.It is all worth it as the mutt is very fond of us.
'Diogenes' comes from the frustration of a gullible romantic that has reached age 45 and had most of his illusions popped by that rain of daggers called life experience....and still clings to a sense of humour despite it all.
My first bet was in 1973...Kununurra race day and I had a whopping 20 bucks and watched the Gee Gee's thru the rails as they thundered past in red dust.
I had ten from Mum and ten from a bloke who often stayed at the motel Mum ran. I had drinks bought for me by friendly people all day and at the last race I went to the yard and saw a small grey horse with a frizzy bunch of top hair like a pineapple...he was jumping and kicking and going off a treat. My innocent view at 12 years old was that the horse was cute and full of beans....I now realise that was probably right on the money
The bookies had 'Bunchy Top' at 26 to one and on went the twenty I had.
Sat back on the rail and screamed myself hoarse as he charged home
(pun intended) past all these chestnut giants.
When I got home with my winnings Mum threw a fit and tore strips off me and made me promise not to bet anymore. It was 4 months average salary(I wonder where it all went lol?)
A year ago I started studying a bit of form in papers.
6 months ago I started wagering a bit, and beginners luck had me halfway to a new wheelchair and I was hooked.
Currently I calculate I have lost 2 wheelchairs and realise I have a long way to go....lol....so here I sit in my creaky one and am happy to have discovered this site....I need educating and the 'studying form' thread alone was a revelation as to the level of my ignorance!
I love the horses, and I hope to learn how to accurately assess races.
I would love to be able to make a life out of it, and am not convinced it is possible yet.
I live in Perth but have lived in Darwin,Sydney,Kununurra and the southwest of WA as well as Thailand and Japan.
Very nice to meet you all, great thread!
rippabluey@hotmail.com for anyone interested in a yack
All The Best
Graeme