Over recent years it has become one of the harshest insults you can hurl at another Aussie. Being tagged as un-Australian is a pretty hard label to wear yet I’m wearing it today by choice.
Sometime this afternoon a bunch of horses will run around a big track. While that’s happening, the majority of Australians will be glued to the radio or watching the event live on television. Work places around the country will run special sweepstakes and have lavish lunches. Just about every hotel and restaurant in Australia will put on a special lunch event that will spill well into the afternoon.
All we’ve heard about in the news over the last week has been the Melbourne Cup.
Today, millions of Australians will spend many millions of dollars on this annual horse race. While most will have a little ‘flutter’ there will be others who will spend money they can’t afford. It’s been reported that one punter has put down a million dollars on the favourite. If he wins he will walk away with three million dollars. If the nag doesn’t come in he will walk away from far more money than I’ll ever own.
I know it’s a case of each to his or her own, but horse racing does nothing for me. I won’t be putting any money on the gee gees today. I won’t be listening to the race. I don’t care who wins. I guess I’m just un-Australian.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
well, as long as you know it I suppose it is ok;)
I love reading your Aussie dialect that comes through in your posts.
You’re not that “un-australian”…I don’t bet on the gee gee’s either. At school it was just a good excuse to get out of class and watch the race in the library, and at work, it’s a good 10 minute distraction, but that’s about it.
Admittedly, I’m curious to see how Makybe Diva goes – she’s from my home town – if she wins, they’ll be partying for a week!
I guess it is a part of our Australian culture, but I am with you Rodney. It is just a horse race after all, hardly worth all the hype that it attracts. In fact I am sitting in a deserted office at the moment, manning the phones, because I am just not particularly interested in horses running around a track.
Horse racing leaves me cold. Ever since I was young, watching the cricket on TV, horse races would continually interrupt the action.
I hated racing then, and I still hate it now. It just seems so boring and pointless.
Hey Rodney I’m with you. I appreciate the holiday but couldn’t give a fig about the races.
What caught me about your post was your use of the phrase “un-Australian”. What does that phrase actually mean (going a bit deeper than the horse racing!)
Cheers,
I think ‘un-Australian’ is something that some people choose to use to mean that others don’t think the same as they do.
its just a way to force people to follow the crowd. i always thought that it was more australian to feel a kindred with your nieghbour, reagrds of where your passions lie.
i am fully with you. I made a similar protest yesterday.
Say no to gambling!
just like it’s “un-australian” not to have lamb chops on the bbq for australia day? haha
I’m a bit late on the comment here, but I agree wholeheartedly. I spent the day wondering what all the fuss was about. There was some talk they were going to give us the afternoon off work, but I was thinking only in context of a few hours extra study for an upcoming CPA exam.