The track's a whirl of colour,
of swirling anticipation,
a loud buzz, a festive crowd
for 'the race that stops a nation.'
Champagne and fancy hats.
The flutter of skirts, or money.
They’re off! The crowd roars. Me too.
(Many are once-a-year gamblers; others…)
It's already Tuesday here in Australia: the first Tuesday in November, on which day there is only one race I could mean when I refer to The Cup. The Melbourne Cup has long been known as 'the race that stops a nation.' It's a public holiday only in the State of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital; but elsewhere many people, and many places of business, pause for the running of the race. After all, at most places of business, someone will have organised a 'Cup sweep' for the employees. (I don't 'have a flutter' myself, as I don't gamble, not even a little bit, having once been – briefly – married to a compulsive gambler. However , I quite like to see the spectacle.)
Written for Quadrille #235 at dVerse: 44 words which must include 'whirl.'
Nice one,
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog
Much♡love
You're welcome. Glad you liked this little effort.
Deleteso atmospheric and pictorial Rosemary and that final thought left in the space of a totally different kind of gamble/gambol
ReplyDeleteYes, as you see from my background notes, I am too well aware of the perniciousness of problem gambling. Thanks for your appreciative comment.
DeleteI had never heard about this race (to be honest I have not hear a lot about any races).... here in Sweden we have very little horse racing like this, but we do have plenty of harness racing :-)
ReplyDeleteShock! You never heard of the Melbourne Cup? LOL. Here, we imagine it's world-famous. But in truth I don't pay much attention to horse races either, except this one. It's impossible to live in Australia without being highly aware of it.
DeleteThe magic without the loss perhaps - always one to celebrate - Jae
ReplyDeleteThe event does have a lot of magic about it.
DeleteReally enjoyed the race ..Especially since an Aussie horse won. First time ever I think.Nice ambience. .Im a once a year gambler. Always choose by the name. Evidently that's not the way it is done.:)
ReplyDeleteI didn't have any personal favourites this year; took no notice of it until the last minute. Then, on name alone I liked Buckeroo – ha ha, that came last. On looks I loved Presage Nocturne, which finished way back too. Perhaps it's just as well I don't gamble! Yes, good it was an Aussie horse; also a triumph for a woman jockey.
DeleteLove the spill of this line:
ReplyDelete"The flutter of skirts, or money."
Well done.
De
Thanks, De.
DeleteYou do a great job capturing the excitement, and in just 44. Well done.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you!
DeleteI hate the Melbourne Cup and horse racing in general. 😢
ReplyDeleteBut that's me.
It's not just you. Since I posted this, a friend has enlightened me about the horrors of horse racing. I hadn't realised, but she supplied facts and figures. Now I hate it too.
DeleteI love how your “whirl of colour” draws me right in, and that final wink about gamblers feels so warmly human.
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Thank you, but I'm afraid it was intended more seriously than a wink. (I was once married to a compulsive gambler.)
Delete