Looking at my stats brought up a few hits on sulky so I wandered off into the web and followed links to the OHRA’s harness racing website that taught me a new term: The device that the jockey sits in, in a harness race is called a Sulky. Who knew?
I loved the site graphics, which reminded me of a cross of John K of Ren and Stimpy fame, and UPA, the 50s/Flintstone style. After looking around a while, I learned even more: how to bet at a track, which always confused me. When I lived in England or when I watch Coronation Street, it was a mysterious lifestyle to see the curtained-off betting shacks with motor mouthed announcements mumbling out of the doorway. Now I know what they were doing in there, which, to my surprise, wasn’t pornographic at all.
The fastest way to learn how to wager was to sign up and play a free game or two on their Flash horse race game, which I realize that it’s like getting digital crack from a virtual dealer: the first one is free, click here now! I chose to be Marco, the bald, cigar-chomping, Italian mobsteresque stereotype and started to bet my free $100 away.
Disclaimer: there’s no actual gambling on the site, it’s just a gateway drug to get you to the race tracks, conveniently listed in the “character’s favorite place” to gamble.
The process is explained step by step and I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the artist here: Sir/Madam, I love your horse design. Especially this one: Propaganda. I felt an immediate attachment and promptly bet $50 on her.
And lost it in seconds.
That’s what I get for betting on looks.
The only downside on the site I have to mention here is that the sections: History, Ask A Question, The actual Flash horse game, Locations, Jockey info and the Member’s Log in (Check out the utterly bizzare Ron and Don at home videos) are all Mystery Meat Navigation: You don’t know what you’re clicking on until you get there. I had to click on each of the “characters” to get to each section which makes for a confusing first visit. But explore. It’s worth a good few moments in your cube.
*apologies to Robert Palmer for the title swipe.
4 thoughts on “Sulky Girl”
I see Jody Jamieson and Randy Waples came 2nd and 3rd at the Confederation Cup on Sunday. They are profiled on that site as Sulky Drivers under Dawg. The winner, Somebeachsomewhere was driven by Paul MacDonell. Together they established a new world record of 1:49.2 and took home the purse of $493,000. Sadly, Paul is not featured on the site.
You should try real horse race betting sometime. It’s really fun, and one of the few places where how much you win (or lose) is actually correlated with your skill in betting.
I dream of winning $10K from an internet site that doesn’t promote penile health.
My trip to Vegas last year was intimidating with regards to learning how to bet and the whole logistics.
Dead Robot I went there and was totally impressed by the graphics, but the horse race game is soooo hard – its too hard! I couldn’t even qualify for Dawg’s Big Bet $10K (which expires at the end of August I think).