Bill Toga, 72, loves to bet in horse race competitions and he could not avoid missing Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup race.
He was part of punters casting their bets in the race at the Grants Betting House outlet in Suva City.
“I love to bet. I started coming here when I was a young man,” Toga said.
“I love to watch these horses run and they gave me a sense of relaxation by just hanging around with my friends waiting for the races,” he said.
“This year I bet for horse number three which is Incentivise because I love how the horse runs and how the jockey controls her.
“Last year I chose another horse but she did not win. Ever since I showed interest in watching this competition, I had won and also lost some of the bets, but that had not stopped me from coming again to bet.
“It’s all about knowing your horse. You got to watch them run and participate in tournaments so that you can get a fair idea which horse is the best.”
Another punter Temo Nasema said the excitement in betting for horses during races was primary.
He bet for horse No.23, Great House this year.
“The reason I picked this horse because of the jockey has the lightest weight in the race,” he said.
“The trainer Chis Waller has been training all the horses and I have seen some of the horses he trained won tournaments, it’s not just about winning, it’s about how well you know your horse.”
