Did your Fathers Influence you into This" Life"?

[Clem D]

I remember being on his shoulders as a little guy, watching the horses turn for home at Monmouth Park. The smoke from his trademark Lucky Strike burning my eyes, but there was no place I'd rather be.
As a 6 year old I should not have any routing interest in the horses, but I was not your average 6 year old. I already knew how to read the racing form and could pick my share of winners. I knew what a parlay was and how much a 3 teamer cost and paid. If I wasn't at the track I was at the local bar with him drinking shirley temples with a pocket full of quarters for pinball or the pool table while the old man got sauced. I thought this was what every kid did, and if they didn't boy were they missing out. I was going to be just like him When I grew up.
Everything I loved I learned from Dad.

Most of the above are part of a book and screenplay I have been working on.
Just curious how many of you can identify

 

[Morris]

That's pretty ironic. My Dad smoked Luckys and we went to the track every day. I was about 20 when we started going and when Saratoga had a 24 day meet we went every day day.

I used to bring the beer and he drank Carling's Black label. One day I brought Gennesee and he said what the hell is this? He drank Gennie ever since then. Lots of memories and stories that I'll never forget.

 

[hedgehog]

I knew what a parlay was when I was 5 or 6 years old :scared I picked winners at the horseraces and football, when I was a kid...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

 

[PocketAces]

100% rang true. I would love to read that manuscript.

Everything that I do to relax and have fun I learned from my dad.

From what I read on this site it sounds like you were/are just as good of a son to your dad as he was to you.

 

[IX_Bender]

Wholeheartedly no.

 

[MadJack]

Did your Fathers Influence you into This" Life"?

That was my Grandad's job, almost exactly like you and your dad, the bar, the racetrack, the cigarettes, the segrams miniatures and me drinking shirley temples. :toast:

 

[gardenweasel]

my dad loved the track....i never got into it...but he got me into other stuff.....lol

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

My dad used to take me to the track. Las Vegas is and has been the vacation city of choice in my whole family......mostly bc of my grandpa. Rumor has it his dad was killed over gambling. It is in the blood.

 

[Jinxbreaker]

Actually my MOM got me hooked by going with me to the Dog track when I turned 18(gotta love those $2 Q's)....good times and still MISS her ALOT!!

 

[SixFive]

My dad instilled in me my love of sports and competition. The gambling I picked up on my own.

 

[Terryray]

My dad instilled in me my love of sports and competition. The gambling I picked up on my own.

yup, like me.

My dad never smoked or drank. An athlete his whole life. Watches lots of sports. Used to coach swimming, gymnastics and soccer. He does play a little poker and slots.

But my mom's dad was a boxing trainer and horse player in his spare time. He was a pretty stubborn French-Canadian, who, for example, tightened up a sort of girdle he wore every day to hold in his guts as he didn't trust any hospital or doctor to perform a hernia operation.

I never knew him well, he died when I was very young. But we did get some of his horse betting info in mail for a few years after that.

That grandpa did just small and careful stakes, and lots of research on the ponies. Had stacks of old "Daily Racing Forum" and with slide rule (this was 1930s thru 60s) worked out his own speed system every day.

So now that I spend time handicapping, and visited mom at home, it doesn't bother her much. She grew up with it!

 

[Cold]

Wholeheartedly no.

Same here.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Father (now 86) was not into sports (other than than attending his sons games)--his gambling is confined to 25 cent tonk game at American Legion in afternoons --before he retired I never knew him to bet on anything.

He and mom religously drink one beer each night at 7 in evening with exception of Friday night when they go to American Legion for night out after church-then they have a few.

 

[Palmetto Pimp]

I would love goin with my dad to the track since i was 13 he wld have me go up to the machines and place his bets for him lol