This story isn't really about money but really about winning money by betting. My mother was a dedicated gambler. She loved to win a bet, now gambling never became a problem for her, but the rush was great.

When I was young and the State Fair was at the old fairground on Alhambra Blvd., my mother always had reserved seats in the grandstand, for every day she had off, that the horses were running.

My Aunt Doodle loved racing also. So every day my Mom had off; my Mom, my Dad, my Aunt Doodle, my Uncle Adrian, my Aunt Pug, and I went to the track. Now for Mom and Doodle it was pure excitement, and I must admit, it was for me too.

Because it was illegal for me to bet until 21, for as long as I can remember, someone always let me bet on the horses. Of course they placed the bets, and if I won the collected for me. My Dad would give me about five dollars and he would sometimes split the bet with me. I could bet on my choice. If I lost my money, my day of betting was over.

One year, when I was sixteen, we went to the fair as usual. I had a stage concert I wanted to attend. So I took my ticket for the grandstand and went to the concert, while the rest of the group went to lunch. After the concert, I headed for the grandstand before the first race. It was a quarter horse race, very short and very fast. No one else was there yet so I bought a Racing Form as sat down to wait.

The horses came out on the track and there was one horse, I just knew was going to win. All my years of horse racing, I always bet on my impression of the horses as they paraded before the grandstand. I was positive this horse was going to win and he was a long shot.

But no one came. I paced! I went to the bottom of the stairs! No one came! I stood at the entrance to the betting area! No one came!

The announcer, "One minute to post time."
I got in the line for betting, head down, just knowing that the police were going to grab me out of line.

"Two dollars on number four to win." I said.

I got a ticket. No one grabbed me. I rushed back to my seat. "They're off and running" came over the loudspeaker.

I scream and yelled for my horse! HE WON! HE WON!
No one came. My mother and my aunt always were fast to collect their winnings.

I thought that I had to get my winnings before the next race. They were willing to sell me a ticket, but would they give me my winnings. This was going to be even more risky.

No one came. I paced! I went to the bottom of the stairs! No one came! I stood at the entrance to the betting area! No one came!

I took a deep breath, I got in line for cashing in my winning ticket, head down, just knowing that the police were going to grab me, out of line.

The man counted out, "Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, one, two dollars and fifty cents, $42.50, next."

I grabbed my money and rushed back to my seat.

Everyone was there, "Where have you been" My frustration and anxiety showing in my voice.

"So what's with you?" they all wanted to know.

I explained my terrible nerve racking experience. Everyone laughed and laughed at my frustration. My Dad explained there was a crowd at lunch. He also assured me that even though it was illegal for me to bet before the age of 21, it was hardly likely I would have been arrested and I didn't have to cash in my ticket before the next race, it was only my mother's excitement of winning that she collected right away, not a race track rule.

I love to gamble to this very day, especially on the horses. Even though, I'm legal to gamble, I still must see the horses before I bet and I always collect my money after each race. When you WIN MONEY, on a race, get it while you can.

~ Joyce Ormond