The Definition Of Optimism

I've discovered the true meaning of optimism while reading this week's New Zealand Best Bets, the A5-sized form guide of which I was editor from 1969 to 1975 (and nothing much has changed since).

Optimism is summed up in the name Invasion Of Privacy, a trotting mare racing this week at Winton in the South Island. She is 13 years old. She has raced the grand total of 147 times. She has won once. She has been second twice and third twice. And she has won $10,313.

At her last two starts she has been beaten 32 lengths and 56 lengths respectively. Without having her full record at my disposal I suspect those margins may not be unusual for her. What I do find astonishing is that at her second last start, when beaten 32 lengths, there were actually four other horses in the race on which less money was invested.

She proves the theory that only the good ones go fast enough to hurt themselves.

You have to be made of special stuff to look forward to training one like her every morning, let alone never tire of the thrill of raceday.