You know your academic program is really intense when you spend over an hour of class discussing strategies to win at horseracing.

Note: I’m not about to tell you what those strategies are, but let’s just say it isn’t as difficult as you’d think to make a bit of money on the numbers, but it’s probably not very exciting and the margins are very low.

However, with this advice firmly in hand, we headed today to Newmarket, the seat of British horseracing.

After some time watching horses being trained, we went to The National Stud (no really, it’s called The National Stud… they have t-shirts). It turns out, once a really successful horse can no longer race, they send him here to do the really hard work. Specifically, getting it on with every mare in sight. I mean, there are a few drawbacks. They give you neither time nor privacy. If the sex is really good, you don’t get to go back for seconds. Also, since there’s payment involved, it’s technically horse prostitution. But whatever, it’s gotta be worth it. I mean, wouldn’t you want to say you were part of The National Stud?

So, with our solid 2 hours of experience with horses behind us, we went to the races, expecting to score some cash. And ultimately, we didn’t do too badly. I ended the day up a solid £11.60 (about $21 for the exchange-rate challenged), and I didn’t even follow the set strategy very well.

Horse racing is pretty cool stuff. Especially if you like to make money. In excruciatingly small amounts at a time. But no, you’re there for the camaraderie, the drama, the really ugly aristocrat girls in ridiculous clothes, right? Good. I’m here to take your money.

Posted on July 6th, 2004 by Lee
Tagged: Cambridge, Photos, Studyabroad